The Benefits of Medicinal Marijuana Usage Essay -- Exploratory Essays

The Benefits of Medicinal Marijuana Usage All ears were listening intently at what the professor had to say on the subject. Many viewers were in shock and disbelief at what some of the potential medical uses of marijuana are. At the conclusion of the lecture, many whispers filled the courtroom and the judge entered from behind his desk and sat down. Richard Johnson sat in silence waiting in anticipation to hear what he had to say. Johnson and his wife Ellen, were arrested August 24 and charged with numerous drug-related offenses. Authorities seized approximately 1,030 live and dead marijuana plants, worth between $300,000 and $900,000, at their house. The judge positioned his glasses on the tip of his nose and stated, " The Johnsons have pleaded guilty to one charge of cultivating marijuana for the use of terminal cancer patients in conjunction with their chemotherapy treatment. At this time you may be dismissed and this case will resume next week." Richard and Ellen were handcuffed and taken back to their jail cells where they had plenty of time to think about their mishaps. Outside the courtroom, Johnson's attorney, Roger Simms, said he hoped Harvard psychiatry professor's testimony Monday would educate people on various medical benefits of marijuana. Simms stated that there are many books on the subject containing the history of medical use dating back 3,000 years in China. The Chinese emperor, Shen Neng, introduced many pharmaceutical drugs including marijuana. Emperor Shen Neng prescribed marijuana tea for malaria, beriberi, rheumatism, and curiously, poor memory (Earleywine, M. 2002). Marijuana eventually spread from China to India. The sacred Indian text, Atharvaveda, listed marijuana as a holy pl... ...ana. New York: Oxford University Eustice, Carol. (2004). Medicinal Marijuana: A Continuing Controversy. Retrieved March 11, 2004, from http://arthritis.about.com/cs/medmarijuana/a/ marijuanadebate.htm Medicinal marijuana: the struggle for legalization.(1997). Retrieved March 11, 2004, from http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9702/weed.wars/issues/background/ Medicinal Marijuana.(2000, August - September). Retrieved March 11, 2004, from http://www.hc-/sc.gc.ca/english/feature/magazine/2000_08/marijuana.htm Medicinal Marijuana. (2002). Retrieved March 11, 2004, from http://www.cannabis-/ seeds.biz/medicinal-marijuana.htm Roffman, R. (1982). Marijuana as Medicine. Washington: Madrona Pubishers Savage, David G. & Bailey, Eric. (2003, October). Medical Marijuana Cause Boosted. Retrieved March 30, 2004 from http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread 17573.shtml