The Benefits of Marijuana in California

Jasmine Nunley

The Benefits of Marijuana in California

To understand the benefits of anything, one must first become knowledgeable about its history. Since the 1930s, marijuana has been outlawed in the United States. It wasn’t until 1996 that California became the first state to legalize marijuana through the passing of Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act. From this, the marijuana industry surfaced and began its’ journey towards upward mobility. Northern California was particularly ideal for marijuana growth and production. The climate made it easy to grow, the land had little economic advantage because of isolation, and it was more secluded compared to other areas within the region. These idiosyncrasies made up what is now known as “the Emerald Triangle”. The Emerald Triangle, which is housed in between Highway 101 and Highway 299, is composed of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity County. Despite popular belief, the Emerald Triangle was not named due to it being the largest cannabis-producing region in the United States (US) and the world. The term was actually coined by police officers to stigmatize the area and further keep marijuana locked in a romanticized box. It is a derivative of the term “Golden Triangle^[1]”. The economic, social, legal, and health failures of the marijuana industry in the US and Mexico after the late 1970s called for drastic change, which California was more than willing to do. Through much effort, California has strived in promoting marijuana and its’ effectiveness economically, culturally, and medicinally.

        Dr. Samantha Miller provided a cornucopia of information regarding marijuana and its’ effects on the human body during our class lecture. The most perplexing fact was the benefits that marijuana provided for patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). MS patients suffer spasms, some more severe and frequent than others. There is no current cure, so prescription drugs are given to aid pain, nausea, and the side effects from all the medications. As an alternative to a life of constant pills, many patients turn to alternative medications like medical marijuana. A 2003 study found that cannabinol (CBD) significantly reduced pain in people with MS (Bowling 2010). The effectiveness of CBD in the treatment targets the tremors, muscle spasms, and pain of MS. Further research showed that MS patients who smoked marijuana have reported relief of spasms and pain after the second or third puff of the marijuana joint. This indicates a quick absorption into the bloodstream, which causes a rapid transit into the central nervous system. Surprisingly, our bodies naturally contain cannabinoid receptors. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has found evidence of marijuana relieving neurologic and movement disorders (Cody-Bloom, Wolfson, Gamst, and Jin 2012). Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest, therapeutically active substances known to man. Trends of patients switching to this natural treatment have increased, yet the economic and legal issues around marijuana and its’ growth in California have also.