Shayla Myers
Belville, Russ. “Marijuana Legalization In Oregon.” Eugene Weekly 30 Apr. 2009. Alt-Press Watch. Web. 3 Aug. 2015
When it comes to the controversial topic of marijuana, the positive impacts of marijuana generally gets shot down. It comes to no surprise that negative thoughts of marijuana tend to rule out the positive for marijuana has a poor reputation. On the other hand, there are those who can see the positive in marijuana. For Russ Belville, marijuana is just “… a wonderful change in Oregon, but only a beginning.”
Russ Belville is the National Outreach Coordinator for the Reform and an Executive Director and Producer for National Cannabis located in Portland, Oregon. Standing as the voice of “cannabis nation”, Russ hopes to have his cannabis nation heard by hosting his own radio show. To convince activists and leaders in his community, he has inserted credible information from higher authorities and thoughtfully critiqued his audience for Ross believes they should start seeing the good use in marijuana.
Right away, Russ beings his article on a positive note. “As we celebrate the 10 years of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, let’s reflect on a decade of compassion and success.” By starting this, it shows how he wants his audience perceive marijuana; as positive as he began. Russ then goes on to explain how marijuana has protected many sick and disabled followed by a quote from Francis Young. “…Safest therapeutically active substance known to man.” Francis Young is a DEA Administrative Law Judge, which for Russ, shows its significance coming from such high authority.
Next, on a more serious tone, Ross then discusses problems within the community. “Marijuana’s illegality to the non-medical user means businesses will still urine-test their employees, with no exception for the medical users.” As earlier addressed, Ross doesn’t believe that the actions taken by businesses align with the good that’s come from marijuana. His stance for the nation of cannabis not stands recreational users, but also the medical users. “…Medical marijuana patients will continue to face these hurdles and never truly receive the treatment they deserve” He is bringing light the issues he feels needs to be resolved.
Russ then inserts statistics within the article. “Medical users of marijuana only represent… one in 20 of all marijuana users in Oregon. Prohibition of marijuana to those 19 nonmedical users is costing taxpayer dollars in a proven futile attempt to stop their use while Oregon looks to cut school days and programs in order to save money in this economic downturn.” Subtlety, his sarcasm leads his overall big picture of writing this article for activist and leaders. “Meanwhile that one medical user faces high medicine prices… job loss…because we deem it illegal for the other 19 adult users.”
Towards the end of his article, Ross discusses the irony behind marijuana’s’ Schedule I status. Apparently, the government ranks drugs in schedules that classifies from I to V. “… the ‘dangerous’ Schedule II drugs to the relatively safe Schedule V drugs.” Being said, marijuana is a Schedule I drug. Ross then reasons why. “There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.” This insert has brought attention to an obvious issue, but then he goes on adding his own commentary. “Despite the fact that only 9 percent of marijuana users develop dependence, compared to 15 percent for alcohol and 32 percent for tobacco.” For Ross, marijuana is “mis-scheduled” and needs to be re-evaluated. To him marijuana is a wonderful change, but “only a beginning.”