What do you think about medical marijuana being legal in California? Asked at Starbucks on East Bidwell Street in Folsom, Calif.
Cathy Martins (Barista): "I think medical marijuana can be a good thing as long as it's not abused."
Suzy Fulkers (Barista): "If people need marijuana I think it is OK to use, but I think if you have a history of addiction, then it is not a good idea."
Fast Facts About Medical Marijuana
What is marijuana?
Marijuana is a substance called cannabis, a plant that contains more than 400 chemicals in the plant. It was used for medicinal purposes as far back as 2,000 years ago in countries such as Greece, Persia, and China.
Was marijuana ever legal in the United States?
Yes, marijuana was legal in the U.S. up until 1937, when the Marijuana Tax Act banned it. Marijuana was also used as a painkiller until the development and acceptance of commercial aspirin in 1899.
If I took marijuana what would it do to me?
Marijuana is said to affect receptors in the brain called anandamides. This causes people to experience distortion, a sense of hunger and a feeling of excitement or great joy. It can also cause anxiety, increased heart rate, red eyes, loss of memory and addiction.
Can I smoke marijuana legally in California?
Only if you have a medical prescription by your physician to treat a chronic illness. Under Proposition 215, marijuana can be used, grown and distributed for medical purposes only. Different counties in California are allowed to create their own restrictions on the amount of marijuana that can be grown and distributed to patients. Because of this, officials cannot determine illegal and legal grows and distributions of marijuana, which allows some people to grow marijuana for their own recreational use rather than medical purposes.
Even with Prop. 215 passed in California, can people still get arrested by the Drug Enforcement Agency?
Yes. Since marijuana is illegal under federal law, the DEA can still arrest individuals for the cultivation and distribution of marijuana. The federal government contends that there is no medical evidence that supports the idea that marijuana can ease certain medical conditions. However, since Prop. 215 was passed, marijuana growers face less severe punishment in California because of confusion between federal and state laws.
Information obtained from an April 18, 2005 foxnews.com article by C. Spencer Beggs and the DEA Web site.
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