LEGALIZING MARIJUANA: GOOD OUTWEIGHS BAD 

 Published on December 17, 2002 
 © 2002- The Press Democrat 

 BYLINE:    MAGGIE GRADY

 URSULINE HIGH SCHOOLJUNIOR, 16 

 PAGE: D10 COLUMN: Point of View 

High levels of stress have always run in my family. I jokingly tell my mother that she needs to
 smoke weed so she can chill and not worry so much.

 It's always been a joke around our house, but there is actual evidence that smoking marijuana
 can help relieve stress. 

 It can also help relieve symptoms from many other illnesses. According to the BBC news,
 marijuana is proven to help relieve symptoms from migraines, glaucoma, chemotherapy, stress,
 Crohn's Disease, AIDS and Multiple Sclerosis.

 It can't cure these diseases, but it can help relieve the pain and discomfort caused by them.

 The legalization of marijuana, even just for medical use, is a controversial topic. There are
 some cons to marijuana use; it can trigger schizophrenia or depression, according to the latest
 issue of the British Medical Journal.

 But professor Joseph Ray of the University of Sydney, Australia, said, ``Whether the use of
 cannabis triggers the onset of schizophrenia or depression in otherwise vulnerable people or
 whether it actually causes these conditions in non-predisposed people is not yet resolved.''

 So the verdict is still out on the harmful effects of using marijuana.

 I think the laws against marijuana are a waste of a perfectly good source of pain and stress
 relief. If a person on chemotherapy never eats because of the radiation, and smoking marijuana
 is the only way to get that person to eat, then I think that there should be no question about
 whether or not to use marijuana.

 Marijuana is not only being considered for legalization for medical reasons. Some states,
 including Nevada, California and Arizona, are considering easing the laws on recreational
 marijuana use.

 In Nevada, one liberal proposal would allow people to carry up to 3 ounces and citizens over
 the age of 21 would be able to buy marijuana in state licensed shops.

 As Nevada State Representative Chris Giunchiglian says, ``Marijuana is now three times eaiser
 to get than alcohol and tobacco simply because it's not regulated. I would rather tax it like
 cigarettes and put money into education and rehabilitation than put it in the hands of drug
 dealers.''

 I agree with Giunchiglian because the government could make so much money off of the tax
 on marijuana and they could put the money toward a cause that needed it.

 There are people all over the country who would benefit greatly from the legalization of
 marijuana, even just for medical uses.

 My grandmother has glaucoma, and my aunt has Crohn's Disease. The use of marijuana could
 help reduce the pain caused by these diseases for both of them.

 Overall, I think that not legalizing marijuana, especially for medical uses, is a huge waste of
 resources. There is more good than bad that would come from legalizing marijuana. PHOTO:
 mug: Maggie Grady