For 47 years, marijuana has been considered a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA due to its potential for addiction; however, there are many medical uses for marijuana. It can be used to treat things like chronic migraines, epilepsy, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It has also been shown to increase the brain's creativity. But where does it come from? The cannabis plant is native to Central Asia, where its fibers were used to make fabrics and ropes. Its medical use dates back to 1830 when Sir William Brooke O'Shaughnessy, an Irish doctor, discovered that cannabis extracts helped reduce stomach pain and vomiting in those suffering from cholera. It wasn't until much later that scientists discovered that THC was the source of these effects. THC, also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, is a cannabinoid. “Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant that interact with receptors in the brain and body to create various effects.” (What is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)?, 2017) This same THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects of the plant in its recreational use. This recreational use wasn't seen in the United States until the early 1900s. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayMexicans who immigrated to the United States during the Mexican Revolution introduced the practice of smoking marijuana recreationally to the American people. In 1931, the Great Depression caused - in parallel with the prohibitionist vision of intoxicants - the fear of "evil weed" and 29 states had outlawed the use of marijuana. In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act was the first federal law to criminalize marijuana nationwide. This law imposed a tax on the possession, sale, and transfer of any cannabis product outside of industrial uses. In 1970, President Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 as part of the war on drugs. This act repealed the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug along with drugs such as ecstasy, LSD, and heroin. 26 years later, in 1996, with the Compassionate Use Act, California became the first of 29 states to legalize the medical use of cannabis. In 2016, recreational use of marijuana became legal in eight states and the District of Columbia. However, it is still illegal under federal law. In the state of Pennsylvania, possession of 30 grams or less of non-medical marijuana results in 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. At the federal level, however, possession of any amount carries a prison sentence of years and a fine of up to $1,000. Federal law does not care whether the marijuana possessed is for medical use or not. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, 574,641 people were arrested for marijuana possession in 2015. At that point, only 14 states had legalized medical marijuana. Economically, the incarceration of these nearly 600,000 people has cost taxpayers up to $19,200,000,000. But what would happen if this number were reversed? Many people don't consider the economic benefits of marijuana. Marijuana can have a huge impact on tax revenue. For example, “in 2015, Colorado collected more than $135 million in medical and recreational marijuana taxes and fees. Sales in the state total more than $996 million. Sales in North America grew 30%, to $6.7 billion, in 2016, and are expected to increase to $20.1 billion by 2021, according to Arcview Market Research. (The economic advantages oflegalization of weed, 2017). Legalizing marijuana can also create many new jobs. “An RCG Economics and Marijuana Policy Group study on Nevada says legalizing recreational marijuana in the state could support more than 41,000 jobs through 2024 and generate more than $1.7 billion in earned income.” (The Economic Benefits of Legalizing Weed, 2017). This revenue and job market comes from the multiple uses of marijuana. Although the largest use is still recreational, marijuana has many medical and industrial uses. According to an April 2017 survey conducted by Marist Poll, “22% of American adults use marijuana [~54,510,216 people], and 63% of this group say they use it regularly.” Although this survey does not explicitly state it, it can be assumed that these are recreational users. According to ProCon.org, there were approximately 1,246,170 medical users in 2016. These medical users used medical marijuana for many different things. Marijuana has been shown to help reduce nausea and vomiting, especially in cancer patients undergoing chemo. A 2009 study at Complutense University in Spain found that THC actually induces the death of brain tumor cells. A 2015 clinical review concluded that marijuana can be an effective treatment for patients with chronic pain. Although there is no hard evidence, preliminary studies have linked marijuana to the management of ADHD symptoms. Aside from that, one of the most common medical uses is for anxiety. “A 2014 study from Vanderbilt University found that smoking marijuana can increase the presence of natural chemicals in the brain called endocannabinoids, which are reduced due to chronic stress.” (Marijuana and Anxiety: A Guide, 2017). Together, marijuana can also be used to treat PTSD. Researchers believe that marijuana's role in "memory quenching" may help patients forget the experiences that caused their PTSD. As someone who suffers from PTSD, I think something like medical marijuana could be very helpful. In addition to multiple medical uses, it can also be used in many industrial ways. A variety of marijuana, known as hemp, is grown specifically for industrial use. Various parts of the plant can be used to make items such as clothing, plastic, cosmetics and many other products. Fabrics made from hemp are cheaper and more environmentally friendly, more durable, hypoallergenic, softer and more resistant to UV rays than other fabrics. These qualities make hemp clothing very useful in developing countries, as well as in the United States. While marijuana has many benefits, it is important to also consider any negative aspects. One of the main arguments supporting this is that smoking marijuana can have negative effects on the body. While this is true, marijuana can be ingested in many other ways. The growing trend of “vaping” is one such way. A vaporizer constantly heats cannabis to a temperature high enough to extract the good stuff, but too low for the potentially harmful toxins that are released when cannabis is smoked. The beneficial effects of marijuana are also found in edible forms. “Edibles” are simply regular food products that contain cannabis. You may have heard the term "pan brownies"; they are considered "edible". Marijuana can also be ingested in pill form and as a topical treatment. These forms are all safer for the body than.