The document discusses the history and current status of cannabis laws and policies in the United States. It notes that an increasing number of people are using cannabis instead of prescription drugs to treat conditions like chronic pain. While some states have legalized medical or recreational cannabis, it remains a Schedule I drug at the federal level, making research into its medical benefits difficult. The document argues that cannabis policies should be reformed, as cannabis poses fewer health risks than other substances like opioids and has shown medical promise for various conditions. However, changing laws could also potentially increase abuse and availability, especially among youth. More research is still needed to fully understand the public health tradeoffs of cannabis legalization.

1. The other side of Cannabis
By: Luis Lazo-Silva

2. Ever heard of the word
Cannabis?

4. No that’s Cannibalism…..

5. Cannabis is derived from the cannabis plant which is called
cannabis sativa
The main active ingredient in cannabis is called delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly know as THC
THC is where you get the “high” from and according to type of
cannabis you acquire there is a wide range of THC potency
between the products

6. Gathered Data has shown that people are increasingly
substituting prescription medication, alcohol, and illicit drugs
with Cannabis. Thus singling a shift in the public's
understanding of Marijuana’s medicinal benefits
People suffering from Chronic Pain have been recently using
cannabis instead of prescription medication because of how
effective it has been treating pain, improving the quality of
patients lives, and posing no risk of serious side effects

7. Issue:
● Every state should consider a recreational or medical option
because of the amount of people who rather use cannabis then
over prescription drugs
● Classification as a schedule 1 drug has made it difficult for
scientist to prove its medical benefits and for those who need to
get it
● There have been many arrest because of Cannabis but when
Colorado made it recreational there crime rate went down
drastically
● Society today is being divided by this issue, mainly doing with
how it seen in your state and generations before have a
different perspective

8. How the Cannabis policy
came into place over time...

9. 1936
The anti-marijuana propaganda film “Reefer
Madness” is released

10. 1937
Marijuana is effectively criminalized by the Marijuana
Tax Act

11. 1956
The Narcotic Control Act sets the minimum sentence
for marijuana possession at 2-10 years

12. 1971
President Nixon declares “The War On Drugs” which
makes restrictions even tighter. Marijuana becomes
a Schedule 1 drug because the Government says it
has a high potential for abuse and no accepted
medical uses

13. 1986
Anti-Drug Abuse Act sets new mandatory minimum
sentences for marijuana. Adding that repeat
offenders can face life sentences for multiple
nonviolent misdemeanors

14. After the 2017 ballot

15. Why these policies should be changed
Schedule 1 status can make studies difficult
Cannabis can be useful in treating glaucoma, epilepsy, and
cancer
Marijuana has fewer side effects than Painkillers
Unlike prescription drugs nobody has overdosed on
marijuana
Unlike prescription drugs,which can lead to heroin addiction,

16. What it can replace as well….

17. Pain Relief:
● Multiple Studies have shown that marijuana is an effective treatment
option for people with chronic pains
Fact: 44 Americans die each day from painkiller overdose

18. Anxiety:
● Cannabis can treat anxiety but not for everyone, smoking
dope can cause acute anxiety and paranoia, but that
effect is often connected with the type of strain that the
user consumes
● Sativas strains are cerebral highs, can induce anxiety
(especially for infrequent users)
● Indica strains are body highs, have shown to reduce
anxiety

19. Stimulants:
Be wary on the strain but cannabis can replace prescription stimulant
Sativas are more effective than Indicas at treating ADHD and ADD

20. Sleep:
Marijuana can treat sleeping problems which is one of the most common
uses
Studies and anecdotal reports suggest that it is safer and similarly
effective at treating insomnia than prescription drugs like Ambien

21. Depression:
Several medical marijuana patients have reported that cannabis serves
as an effective treatment option for depression
Less serious side effects than those that are caused by taking
antidepressants

22. Potential Questions:
Increased both marijuana use and marijuana abuse/dependence. If we were to
change these laws would it get out of hand?
People 12 to 20 years old are 5 to 6 percent more likely to try marijuana for the
first time.Legality increases the availability and acceptability of drugs Would
this change and make the percentage greater because people would be more
exposed?
Would this eliminate the black market for the drug?
Studies also reveal that marijuana potency has almost tripled over the past 20
years,raising serious concerns about implications for public health,especially
among adolescents, for whom long-term use of marijuana may be linked with

23. Research Available
Center for medicinal cannabis research
National Institute on drug abuse has conducted studies on providing information
about cannabis (unbiased)
Every state in the US has different views on cannabis and several are fighting in
legislature to get the laws changed. Check out the different laws put by different
states

24. Potential Challenges
This topic is viewed by many as controversial because there a lot of people who
need it medically but if we were to change laws so that it would easier for those to
acquire it. It would just make it easier for those who abuse it to acquire it.
This topic involves a lot of scientific research because it has been made a scedule
one drug without any research actually going into it making it harder for many to
get it. So research is needed to prove it is benefit more than a downfall but we just
started to be able to conduct research since states just decided to make it medical
or recreational.
Prescription drugs would be greatly impacted if cannabis was legalized. Making
them very defensive on this topic, trying to get legislature not pass any of these
laws because potential of them running out of business

25. Specific Sources
Abuse, National Institute on Drug. "NIDA's Role in Providing Marijuana for Research." National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA). N.p., 11 Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Miyamoto, Ryan. "Home." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
"State Marijuana Laws in 2016 Map." Governing Magazine: State and Local Government News for America's Leaders.
N.p., 30 Jan. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.