Why is Marijuana Illegal? | Examining the Health Aspects of Cannabis
Why is Marijuana Illegal? Countless studies have highlighted the industrial and medicinal uses of marijuana (cannabis), yet the federal government claims that it has ‘no accepted medical use’ and continues to classify it in the same category as heroin, MDMA, and PCP. Despite the ruling, the medial marijuana market is priced at around $1.7-billion — that’s almost as much as the explosive Viagra market, coming in at around $1.9 billion.
Why do so many individuals suffering from disease swear by marijuana if it has no real medical use? And furthermore, were the thousands of studies on the medicinal benefits of marijuana completely incorrect?
Studies have found marijuana use to be beneficial in treating multiple sclerosis, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, brachial plexus neuropathies, insomnia, pain, memory disorders, anxiety disorders, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and many more conditions – so why is marijuana illegal?
Marijuana Plant, Hemp, and Cannabinoids
Some cannabis activists actually state that certain properties of marijuana can act as a “cure-all” in the right forms. You may know that marijuana is usually quite high in THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the compound responsible for the psychoactive effect of cannabis. In contrast, it is also low in CBD (cannabidiol) content. Both THC and CBD are known as cannabinoids, however, which interacts with your body in a very unique way.
What you may not be familiar with is how CBD has been shown to block the effect of THC in the nervous system. This allows marijuana plants to exhibit the most psychoactive effects. Hemp, on the other hand, is high in CBD and low in THC. This is due to the fact that it is bred to maximize its fiber, seeds, and oil. Of course these key properties are what it is most commonly used for.
You see, hemp is a very powerful industrial substance, but it also has a number of health benefits. Interestingly enough, THC-free hemp is actually quite popular in protein drinks, green superfoods, and even clothing. This type of hemp has zero psychoative effects, yet it is still illegal to grow within the United States.
Related Interest: Marijuana Found to Kill Cancer Cells – The Marijuana and Cancer Relationship
Two tablespoons of shelled hemp seeds contain about 11 grams of protein and 2 grams of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.
Cannabinoids are promoted as a health-promoting substance in the popular documentary “Run from the Cure” with Rick Simpson. The entire documentary is available free on Youtube:
The film speaks specifically on Hemp Oil, which Rick Simpson and his followers say can even cure cancer. Speaking on the subject of marijuana benefits, particularly in the form of Hemp Oil, Simpson states:
“I have been providing people with instructions on how to make Hemp Oil medicines for about 8 years. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Throughout man’s history hemp has always been known as the most medicinal plant in the world. Even with this knowledge hemp has always been used as a political and religious football.
Why is Marijuana Illegal when Pharmaceuticals Kill More than Traffic Accidents?
Why is marijuana illegal when research has shown marijuana to be beneficial to health? The federal government even goes as far as to classify marijuana as dangerous – leading to the substance being outlawed. Many pharmaceuticals, on the other hand, have gone unchecked despite causing more fatalities than traffic accidents. In fact, even slightly more than the recommended dose of Tylenol can kill you, while THC-free hemp will simply boost your immune system.
You do not have to smoke marijuana to enjoy its benefits. THC-free hemp, which comes without any mind-altering effects, is a great health superfood that is used by many. For the government to classify marijuana in the same category as heroin and PCP while allowing deadly pharmaceuticals to go unregulated shows how little they truly care about public health.
Whether individuals choose to use marijuana or hemp should be their choice. There is plenty of information available portraying the positive aspects of these plants, but government censorship still persists. No matter what, being able to use these substances is our given right, and no authority should be able to take that away from us.
 | Natural Society staff contribution |