Hemp by kyle_margerum

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 •

OPINION

Kaitlyn Underwood, opinion editor Rachael Montgomery, assistant editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/opinion • Twitter: @OUDailyOpinion

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

HEMP

Our View: After the passage of the farm bill, we hope to see both hemp and marijuana legalized everywhere in the U.S.

The U.S. may be moving closer to marijuana legalization with the recent passage of a federal farm bill permitting industrial production of hemp for the first time since the 1950s. Hemp, which can’t get you high, is a variant of the cannabis plant and is commonly used in products ranging from food to clothing. We believe this farm bill is a logical step in the direction of legalizing cannabis across the U.S. The farm bill would permit 10 states to potentially harvest the hemp crop through the establishment of “pilot growing programs,” according to a Vote Hemp press release. We are encouraged by the farm bill’s passage and think it is, in fact, a long overdue acceptance of the harmless cannabis strain. Just because hemp leaves look like pot leaves doesn’t mean the crop is the same as it’s demonized cousin, marijuana. Hemp is harvested for its seeds, oil and fiber and is used The Our View in products you probably have in your house right now, is the majority opinion of like granola bars. So instead of assuming hemp is “bad” The Daily’s like pot, take a minute to learn the differences between the eight-member two. The main distinction between hemp and pot is the editorial board psychoactive effect of the chemical THC, which is found in marijuana. Throughout much of the U.S., pot is still considered an illegal drug, but there is no reason for hemp to be in the same boat. Hemp was outlawed in the 1950s along with marijuana, but we believe that hemp production should be legal in all 50 states and applaud the farm bill’s start down that path. Industrial hemp cultivation would likely boost the U.S. economy as an export to other countries, and it would provide new jobs harvesting the crop. However, the farm bill’s passage is not a sign that the U.S. government is ready to legalize marijuana, according to an Al Jazeera article. Under the bill, hemp cultivation would be limited to colleges and state agencies and only in the nine states where hemp is legal. While we believe the farm bill is a commonsense move toward cannabis legalization, we believe hemp, a non-intoxicating crop, should be legal to grow and harvest across the U.S. The farm bill does seem, to us, to coincide with the legalization of medical marijuana usage in 20 states. Only time will tell, but we hope we will soon see a federal law permitting the use of both hemp and marijuana in the U.S. In fact, a majority of Americans now support the legalization of marijuana, according to a 2013 Pew Research study. And because our government is for the people, by the people, we believe there should be federal laws permitting cannabis usage sooner rather than later.

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MARIJUANA

POINT/COUNTERPOINT

Weed has many benefits Pot should stay illegal for now

f you can buy a ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR boost our economy. gun without a Considering the fact permit, if electrothat the standard price cution is still a methfor a gram of marijuaod of execution and na is $20, imagine the if Mary Fallin is the profit that pharmacies governor of Oklahoma, or dispensaries could then the legalizamake if it were to betion of marijuana in come a commodity, Rachael Montgomery Oklahoma should not to mention the rachaeljmo94@gmail.com be the least of our profit to be had by concerns. commercial growers. As a state we are faced with new, Marijuana is safe compared to legal pressing and legitimately important substances like alcohol. When have issues daily, and marijuana is not one you ever heard of a violent stoner? of them. The fact that Oklahoma is How many “stoners anonymous” ranked fourth in the meetings have you nation for teen pregbeen to? Not only is it nancies is a real issue. not addictive, it is actuEven better, statisally tranquilizing for a tics over the past few brief period of time. If years show Oklahoma you’ve ever seen an epamong the nation’s isode of “Workaholics” leaders in meth labs, or actually worked with arrests and addiction stoners, then you’re cases. more than aware of the So it’s really quite “How many ‘stoners capabilities of people infuriating to watch under the influence of anonymous’ Congress waste their marijuana — slow and meetings have you steady wins the race! time and our precious tax dollars to argue Lastly, if you’ve ever been to?” over a substance that listened to the lyrics causes people to — at of The Beatles, Wiz worst— become more lethargic. Some Khalifa or Pink Floyd and enjoyed members of Congress get their panties them — and if you haven’t, you probain a wad over such non-issues that it bly should have put this column down might actually be in their best interest well before this sentence — then you to wind down and smoke a bowl. should be able to also appreciate the While there are a plethora of reasons artistic doors that marijuana can open. why marijuana should be legalized, I will spare you by only listing the most Rachael Montgomery is a public pertinent ones: relations sophomore. Legalizing marijuana would help

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the smoke in their lungs longer arijuana has been OPINION COLUMNIST than necessary to enhance the classified as a effects of the drug. By taking in Schedule 1 subthe drug in this way, doctors stance by the federal governhave found long-time cannabis ment for more than 40 years users are even more prone to because of its high likelihood of early emphysema than even abuse and because, at the time, the worst cigarette smokers. no research had been done to find and understand the mediJacqueline Schlasner CHANGES IN BRAIN cal benefits of the plant. jschlasner@gmail.com Since the ’70s, however, reSTRUCTURE searchers have dedicated more The changes in the brain time and energy toward understanding marcaused by marijuana occur on two levels: the ijuana and the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol short term and the long term. (THC) chemical the plant contains. Still, many In the short term, THC “disrupts coordinaquestions remain about the tion and balance by binding long term negative and positive to receptors in the cerebellum JUST THE FACTS effects of marijuana use. Until and basal ganglia — parts of these questions have been the brain that regulate balance, • Cannabis users are more thoroughly explored and anposture, coordination and reprone to emphysema swered, marijuana should reaction time,” according to a • THC can disrupt balance, main illegal for our own safety. government website on drug posture, coordination and Because of overwhelming abuse. reaction time evidence of the medicinal Psychologists argue that value of THC, however, many “several lines of evidence exist • Cannabis can worsen schizophrenia states have been racing to to suggest a role for cannabilegalize marijuana for both noids and their receptors in • Cannabis usage can medical and recreational use, the pathophysiology of schizosuppress the immune ignoring some of the more danphrenia.” They recommend system gerous side effects of THC. those who have a genetic preDespite the increase in redisposition to schizophrenia search on cannabinoids in the stay away from the drug. past 40 years, much is still unknown about In those with an existing psychosis, psycholthe long-term effects of frequent use. Though ogists claim that even though THC appears to some studies show that THC could be very help patients in the short-term, “cannabis use useful as a medication, recreational use should worsens the clinical course and overall progremain illegal because of the myriad external nosis of the disorder,” according to the study. factors that can create adverse effects, which only doctors can adequately test for. Jacqueline Schlasner is a professional writing graduate student. LUNG DAMAGE Recreational users of marijuana tend to imbibe the THC via smoke, oftentimes holding The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication.

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