Tyler+Dabbs

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 * 1) Patients whose doctors have diagnosed them with a debilitating medical condition are subject to arrest
 * 2) Can assert the medical use of marijuana as an affirmative defense at trial though
 * 3) Patients will need to show that the doctor who made the diagnosis was one with whom the patient has an ongoing, bona fide physician-patient relationship
 * 4) Patients need to show that marijuana is likely to provide him or her with therapeutic or palliative relief
 * 5) Defense is not available to anyone in possession of more than one ounce of marijuana or who uses marijuana in a public place
 * 6) For patients who don’t qualify for the full affirmative defense, there is also a sentencing mitigation whereby, upon conviction, they can present evidence of “medical necessity”
 * 7) If the court agrees, the maximum penalty that can be imposed is a $100 fine
 * 8) The law does not include caregivers, dispensaries, or home cultivation to provide patients with a safe source of their medicine
 * 9) For non-medical purposes possession of any amount of marijuana, even as little as a single gram, can land you in jail for up to a year
 * 10) Plus a $1000 fine
 * 11) Arrest rate for African-Americans in Maryland is almost 20% higher than the national average
 * 12) Over three times that of whites in the state
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Better approach would be decriminalizing marijuana
 * 14) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Those caught in possession of a modest amount would be given only a civil fine
 * 15) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Without the possibility of jail time, saving valuable law enforcement resources
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Pros of medical marijuana are: marijuana is effective at relieving nausea and vomiting, especially caused by chemotherapy used to treat cancer
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana can relieve spasticity of the muscles that is sometimes associated with multiple sclerosis and paralysis
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana can help treat appetite loss associated with HIV/AIDS and certain types of cancers
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana can relieve certain types of pain]
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana is safe, safer in fact than most other prescribed medications to treat the same symptoms
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Studies show that smoking marijuana alone, does not increase the risk of lung diseases
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana has been used for centuries as a medicinal agent with good effect
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cons of medical marijuana are: frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Frequent use can impair your cognitive ability
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Smoking anything, whether it's tobacco or marijuana, can seriously damage your lung tissue
 * 11) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Not enough evidence supports marijuana as an effective pain relieving agent
 * 12) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana carries a risk of abuse and addiction
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Smoked marijuana contains cancer-causing compounds
 * 14) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Smoked marijuana has been implicated in a high percentage of automobile crashes and workplace accidents
 * 15) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Clinical trials to evaluate of the effectiveness of marijuana to treat certain conditions have been restrictive and limited
 * 16) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Until marijuana is downgraded from a Schedule I drug of the Controlled Substances Act, widespread clinical trials are unlikely to happen
 * 17) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">If we really want a conclusive answer whether marijuana is valuable for symptom management, it needs to be evaluated using the same standards as other medications
 * 18) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Fourteen U.S. states have active medical marijuana laws
 * 19) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana is the dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants, leafy annual plants with parts that are used for as herbs, animal food, medicine and as hemp for rope-making
 * 20) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Many believe that objections to marijuana first rose sharply as part of the U.S. temperance movement against alcohol
 * 21) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cannabis is known to ease pain disorders, including the side-effects cancer patients experience throughout treatment
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">One of the biggest concerns is that the ease of access to marijuana, medical or otherwise, will mean that children have easier access to a drug that could hurt them
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Medical marijuana is legalized in just a few states including California and Colorado
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Many disapprove of medical marijuana because they believe it is a step toward legalizing all illicit drugs for general use
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Others argue that marijuana is far safer than alcohol, which is legal, and that medical marijuana provides a safe and natural treatment for a variety of chronic issues
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">It’s a debate that rages everywhere around the country
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Whether it should be legal or not is an emotional topic
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Other drugs, other than marijuana, are more addictive
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">No one has ever died from marijuana overdose
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Claim that it is safer for the patient and less damaging to the body
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">People claim that it will be abused, not just for medical reasons
 * 11) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">People will lie to doctors to get a prescription
 * 12) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Abuse is a big argument
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Requires addiction treatment

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] D.C. picks six companies to grow medical marijuana
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Short term side effects
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Short term memory loss
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Long term effects like lung cancer
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Weakened immune system
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Increased heart attack risk in the hour after smoking
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">But it treats glaucoma
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Helpful if experiencing side effects from AIDS
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Treats multiple epilepsy
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Illegal at the federal level
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Legal in certain states
 * 11) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Government deems drugs in this category to have a high abuse potential
 * 12) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana is a lousy drug but can be a great medication
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana is an excellent nausea suppressant and appetite enhancer
 * 14) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Very useful in treating the symptoms of cancer
 * 15) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Also HIV
 * 16) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">And hepatitis C
 * 17) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Does not have recreational use
 * 18) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">But clearly has medical use
 * 19) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Leads to structural changes on the brain
 * 20) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Effects are outweighing the benefits of medical marijuana <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]
 * 21) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Lacks FDA approval
 * 22) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Leads to harder drug use
 * 23) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Interferes with fertility
 * 24) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Impairs driving ability
 * 25) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">They say that medical marijuana is a front for drug legalization and recreational use
 * 26) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Legal in Washington, DC
 * 27) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Eighteen states pending legalization
 * 28) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">People ask if it is too dangerous to be used as a medical resource
 * 29) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Provides relief for migraine
 * 30) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Regular pain
 * 31) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Spasticity
 * 32) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Crohn’s disease
 * 33) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Arthritis
 * 34) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cancer
 * 35) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cachexia
 * 36) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Alzheimer’s disease
 * 37) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Anorexia
 * 38) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Motion sickness
 * 39) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Neuropathy
 * 40) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Menstrual cramps
 * 41) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Brain injury
 * 42) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Broken bones
 * 43) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Tourette’s syndrome
 * 44) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Common headaches
 * 45) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Some people support that teens should smoke marijuana if hurt
 * 46) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Or if they have cancer
 * 47) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Only if it will help them medically
 * 48) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Children entering drug abuse treatment routinely report that they heard that “pot is medicine” and, therefore, believed it to be good for them
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Clearing the way for growers to start producing hundreds of plants in as little as a month
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">They were chosen based on their ability to grow “quality” marijuana “in a safe environment”, that includes heavy security
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">They will be tasked with producing thousands of plants annually
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">As many as 10 cultivation centers, where up to 95 marijuana plants could be grown at a time at each location
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">It takes about 90 days to grow the plants and have them ready
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Health Department does not expect to complete the approval process for dispensaries until June
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Marijuana growers may be able to start production in less than a month
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">As soon as you say pot, people have Cheech and Chong image