Don't believe the lies! The TRUE benefits of Marijuana.

Originated in the Himalayan Mountains Marijuana is the spanish name for the dried leaves and flowering of the plant Cannabis Sativa.

In the beginning, physicians used the plant for helping with problems such as headaches, insomnia and gastrointestinal disorders. Considered a sedative it was even used to aid in child birth and went on to aid in the treatment of inflammations, ear pains and edemas.

In 500 B.C. the plant was used as a textile plant for fabricating cloth and manufacturing paper.

In Medieval times the plant was used as a diuretic, anti-epileptic and an anti-inflammatory.

In the 19th century Marijuana was considered to be useful in treating headaches, melancholy and insomnia!

As of today Marijuana has been used to be extremely helpful to aid in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, depressions, neuralgias, rheumatism, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, ulcer, cholera, cancer, epilepsy, bronchitis, asthma (because of the property of bronchodilator), and gonorrhea. It has also been used in relieving epilepsy convulsions, multiple sclerosis and spasms.

It is also used to aid in the side effects of cancer chemotherapy by relieving dizziness and vomiting.

So can you tell me WHY such an important helpful plant is illegal? Can you tell me why hundreds, even thousands of people are being punished and jailed every year just because they are trying to get relief from their painful ailment?

Is there a logical reason? No, not really. Mainly because people are brainwashed into believing that Marijuana is a "gateway drug" and can be addictive. How is it any worse than alcohol? It is not worse than alcohol, it is better than alcohol but yet it is illegal? The government has found a great way for making their pockets fatter by bleeding human beings of their money and freedom.

Does alcohol have any benefits? Not ONE single benefit. So why is it legal and Marijuana, who has 100's of benefits is not? You tell me?

I'm going to be honest and admit that I do not smoke Marijuana at the moment. I have in the past but have recently stopped. Why? Well.. because I don't want to go to jail or have my children taken away because I enjoy smoking Marijuana!

Personally, I have witnessed many positive effects of Marijuana. It helps extremely well in coping with moderate pain. Instead of taking prescription pain pills that are PROVEN to be addictive I would prefer to smoke a little Marijuana to alleviate my pain!

Depression. I have suffered from depression and mood swings for most of my life. I am currently taking Prozac. Have you read the numerous negative side effects of Prozac? I have.. and they can be quite scary. I've been lucky enough not to have experienced any of them YET.. but who knows what the future may hold? Marijuana helps my depression significantly. I can be in one of my non stop crying mania self-hating moods and the ONLY thing that has any sort of calming effect on me is Marijuana. Should I keep pumping myself of dangerous chemicals included in anti-depressants or could I simply smoke a bit of Marijuana and feel that sense of relief? That sense of calm that overcomes me?

Sleep. Well, I've always had a problem falling asleep. There are nights I will be up until the wee hours of the morning. Marijuana helps me to relax and fall right to sleep, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated in the morning. I supposed I COULD take a sleeping aid but why would I want to take something again that is proven to be addictive and can make you feel like poo in the morning if you don't get a certain amount of sleep??

Lose brain cells?? Well, you decide for yourself. I'm currently studying to be a Veterinary Technician and have a 93 average! However, this is one more reason why I chose to quit. Most places will not give you a job unless you can pass a drug test. I wouldn't go to work high. I'm not that stupid!.. Some places don't test for THC anymore but most do.. and THC can stay in your blood for 30 days.. so something you did three weeks ago could cost you your job! Ridiculous!

It was not difficult for me to quit. Yes, I do miss it because it helped me in SOO many ways. I did not have any horrible withdrawal symptoms like some would believe and to be honest, I don't know anyone who has had withdrawal symptoms from weed. It's just not there! I would much rather use Marijuana than prescription medication filled with addictive and sometimes dangerous chemicals! Unfortunately, the ignorance of society has made that choice for me! ..

Marijuana is not what the media portrays it to be. Everyone who uses Marijuana is not some brain dead stoner who ruins his life sitting on his couch all day long smoking it! Do you know someone who uses Marijuana? Do you realize that many, MANY business people use Marijuana? People whom you can't even tell?? No. They don't have a big sign on their face saying, "hey, I smoke weed!". Most of them live normal, productive lives probably making more moneyy than you do!''

Alcohol is legal.. and let's be real here.. WHY is alcohol legal?? When people drink alcohol they become mean, confrontational and just plain stupid! Marijuana has the opposite effect. When someone is under the influence they become calm, relaxed and peaceful. They don't want to cause any sort of problems to anyone. They don't want to confront anyone. They just want to be left alone to enjoy their relaxation. All of the stress in their lives seems to be not as important. You don't stress about the small things. You enjoy life and enjoy the small things. Is that such a horrible thing to want? Does that deserve jail time? Fines? No. Only the ignorant believe so.

Apart from the medicinal benefits of Marijuana there are other benefits to legalizing it!

As it stands right now, as long as it is illegal the only ones profiting from it are drug lords and dangerous organizations who are most likely associated with other harder, stronger illegal drugs.

If Marijuana was legalized the country could tax and regulate it the same way it does alcohol and cigarettes. It would be produced in many different forms and would be used to benefit everyone!!

There are a lot of health factors that come with purchasing illegal Marijuana. A buyer never knows what the weed could be laced with. You never know what someone might be trying to sneak into your bag of Marijuana. Wouldn't it be great if it was regulated and produced to be FREE of any dangerous chemicals?? We would KNOW what we are using without having to worry about what some scumbag might have laced it with!

The Government spends millions of dollars a year on the war against drugs. They could be profiting from its use instead of costing the country money on a daily basis.

In places where Marijuana IS Legal like Amsterdam and the Netherlands the standard of living is very high and the "coffee shops" that sell Marijuana account for the strong economy. These places are also well known for having an extremely LOW crime rate. Coincidence?? I think not!

So why is this country so blind to these benefits? We have the facts. Many, MANY people have gotten relief from Marijuana. Why is the Government taking this choice away from human beings when it is soo obvious that alcohol is A LOT worse and has caused many, MANY deaths??

Bush-appointed officials ordered a raid on a medical marijuana dispensary in California during Obama's first week in office, despite the new president's promise to stop the raids on patients.

Sign the petition calling on Obama to stop the raids now!

www.Obama Marijuana Petition.com

10. Prohibition has failed to control the use and domestic production of marijuana. The government has tried to use criminal penalties to prevent marijuana use for over 75 years and yet: marijuana is now used by over 25 million people annually, cannabis is currently the largest cash crop in the United States, and marijuana is grown all over the planet. Claims that marijuana prohibition is a successful policy are ludicrous and unsupported by the facts, and the idea that marijuana will soon be eliminated from America and the rest of the world is a ridiculous fantasy.

9. Arrests for marijuana possession disproportionately affect blacks and Hispanics and reinforce the perception that law enforcement is biased and prejudiced against minorities. African-Americans account for approximately 13% of the population of the United States and about 13.5% of annual marijuana users, however, blacks also account for 26% of all marijuana arrests. Recent studies have demonstrated that blacks and Hispanics account for the majority of marijuana possession arrests in New York City, primarily for smoking marijuana in public view. Law enforcement has failed to demonstrate that marijuana laws can be enforced fairly without regard to race; far too often minorities are arrested for marijuana use while white/non-Hispanic Americans face a much lower risk of arrest.

8. A regulated, legal market in marijuana would reduce marijuana sales and use among teenagers, as well as reduce their exposure to other drugs in the illegal market. The illegality of marijuana makes it more valuable than if it were legal, providing opportunities for teenagers to make easy money selling it to their friends. If the excessive profits for marijuana sales were ended through legalization there would be less incentive for teens to sell it to one another. Teenage use of alcohol and tobacco remain serious public health problems even though those drugs are legal for adults, however, the availability of alcohol and tobacco is not made even more widespread by providing kids with economic incentives to sell either one to their friends and peers.

7. Legalized marijuana would reduce the flow of money from the American economy to international criminal gangs. Marijuana's illegality makes foreign cultivation and smuggling to the United States extremely profitable, sending billions of dollars overseas in an underground economy while diverting funds from productive economic development.

6. Marijuana's legalization would simplify the development of hemp as a valuable and diverse agricultural crop in the United States, including its development as a new bio-fuel to reduce carbon emissions. Canada and European countries have managed to support legal hemp cultivation without legalizing marijuana, but in the United States opposition to legal marijuana remains the biggest obstacle to development of industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity. As US energy policy continues to embrace and promote the development of bio-fuels as an alternative to oil dependency and a way to reduce carbon emissions, it is all the more important to develop industrial hemp as a bio-fuel source - especially since use of hemp stalks as a fuel source will not increase demand and prices for food, such as corn. Legalization of marijuana will greatly simplify the regulatory burden on prospective hemp cultivation in the United States.

5. Prohibition is based on lies and disinformation. Justification of marijuana's illegality increasingly requires distortions and selective uses of the scientific record, causing harm to the credibility of teachers, law enforcement officials, and scientists throughout the country. The dangers of marijuana use have been exaggerated for almost a century and the modern scientific record does not support the reefer madness predictions of the past and present. Many claims of marijuana's danger are based on old 20th century prejudices that originated in a time when science was uncertain how marijuana produced its characteristic effects. Since the cannabinoid receptor system was discovered in the late 1980s these hysterical concerns about marijuana's dangerousness have not been confirmed with modern research. Everyone agrees that marijuana, or any other drug use such as alcohol or tobacco use, is not for children. Nonetheless, adults have demonstrated over the last several decades that marijuana can be used moderately without harmful impacts to the individual or society.

4. Marijuana is not a lethal drug and is safer than alcohol. It is established scientific fact that marijuana is not toxic to humans; marijuana overdoses are nearly impossible, and marijuana is not nearly as addictive as alcohol or tobacco. It is unfair and unjust to treat marijuana users more harshly under the law than the users of alcohol or tobacco.

3. Marijuana is too expensive for our justice system and should instead be taxed to support beneficial government programs. Law enforcement has more important responsibilities than arresting 750,000 individuals a year for marijuana possession, especially given the additional justice costs of disposing of each of these cases. Marijuana arrests make justice more expensive and less efficient in the United States, wasting jail space, clogging up court systems, and diverting time of police, attorneys, judges, and corrections officials away from violent crime, the sexual abuse of children, and terrorism. Furthermore, taxation of marijuana can provide needed and generous funding of many important criminal justice and social programs.

2. Marijuana use has positive attributes, such as its medical value and use as a recreational drug with relatively mild side effects. Many people use marijuana because they have made an informed decision that it is good for them, especially Americans suffering from a variety of serious ailments. Marijuana provides relief from pain, nausea, spasticity, and other symptoms for many individuals who have not been treated successfully with conventional medications. Many American adults prefer marijuana to the use of alcohol as a mild and moderate way to relax. Americans use marijuana because they choose to, and one of the reasons for that choice is their personal observation that the drug has a relatively low dependence liability and easy-to-manage side effects. Most marijuana users develop tolerance to many of marijuana's side effects, and those who do not, choose to stop using the drug. Marijuana use is the result of informed consent in which individuals have decided that the benefits of use outweigh the risks, especially since, for most Americans, the greatest risk of using marijuana is the relatively low risk of arrest.

1. Marijuana users are determined to stand up to the injustice of marijuana probation and accomplish legalization, no matter how long or what it takes to succeed. Despite the threat of arrests and a variety of other punishments and sanctions marijuana users have persisted in their support for legalization for over a generation. They refuse to give up their long quest for justice because they believe in the fundamental values of American society. Prohibition has failed to silence marijuana users despite its best attempts over the last generation. The issue of marijuana's legalization is a persistent issue that, like marijuana, will simply not go away. Marijuana will be legalized because marijuana users will continue to fight for it until they succeed.

Taken from: Alternet.org