Author Archives: Shayla Myers

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.”

Shayla Myers RS3

Anna Crozes. “Recreational marijuana from a teacher’s perspective (OPINION).” The Oregonian: Oregonlive. Oregonlive.com. 28 Jul. 2015. Web. 28 Jul. 2015.

In Anna Crozes’ article “Recreational marijuana from a teacher’s perspective (OPINION),” Anna personally addresses her complaint on the controversy of marijuana. Through OregonLive, the official Oregonian Newspaper, this former High School teacher speaks up as the voice of teachers who oppose recreational marijuana. To Anna, the word “public space” has now become inconsistent with what she believes is personal freedom. Therefore, she argues recreational marijuana should be abolished.

Anna’s Croze is a former High School teacher, and a current elementary school teacher in the city of Northeast Portland, Oregon. Ever since marijuana was recreationally legalized in her state for ages 21 and over, marijuana has become more relevant to her life. “The word ‘public’ is defined in Webster’s as ‘relating to or affecting all the people or the whole area of a nation or state.’” Stating the definition of the word “public” immediately calls out the audience of marijuana users. This intended sarcasm was to bring attention to the public smokers  indefinite impact on those who surround them.

It is implied that Anna herself does not take lightly how often marijuana interferes with her, outside of teaching. “I have been exposed to marijuana smoke coming out of a Mariners game… a concert at the Sleep Country Amphitheater… and, on a few occasions, in the parks near my home.” All of the areas Anna has stated was throughout public spaces, not only meant for her, but for everyone’s enjoyment. However, with Anna walking her dog daily in the park, running into marijuana smoke is inevitable. To Anna, these instances conflict with her “rights to have a drug-free public setting.” Instead of smoking in the private confinement of a home, its when uses smoke outside with the “public” that collides with her routines that spark Anna. To be able to go out and enjoy a public setting as a park, or a concert without breathing in marijuana smoke is what Anna feels she has the rights to.

Although marijuana was legalized to adults 21 years and older, it’s ease of access plays factor on teens. Midway through Anna’s article she goes over marijuana’s impact during the time she taught at a High School. “…There are times the kids come to class so high you can’t even have a conversation with them.” Anna’s argument implies that part of being a teacher is by communicating with a student. If she can’t carry out a conversation, she then questions, how can she teach?

After explaining marijuana’s impact amongst students, she then goes on to comparing the school setting to a public place. “ Aren’t our schools a ‘public’ place?…Doesn’t the teacher have the right to teach and the students the right to learn in an environment created for learning?” This set of rhetorical questions was inserted to help persuade her audience of teenage smokers. In Anna’s view, it seems as if teens smoking marijuana don’t have the sympathy or respect of a learning environment and take advantage of marijuana’s legalization. “This is in part why I now teach elementary school, where a teacher can experience enthusiasm and love for learning from the students…” For Anna, switching to elementary school was a way to get back to students that still enjoyed to learn and didn’t have marijuana in their systems to block their learning capability.

In Anna’s close, she ends with a plea. “ The public needs to voice their opinion and stand up for their rights to have a drug-free public setting.” Anna knows she is not the only one who values the same opinion and feels like she needs support of others that want to put marijuana to an end. Public space to Anna is her freedom, and she is not ready to give up.

National Public Radio.“When Weed Is The Cure: A Doctor’s Case for Medical Marijuana.” Alt-PressWatch. FreshAirPhiladelphia.com. Fresh Air Philadelphia

14 Jul. 2015. Web. 19 Jul. 2015.

When many think of medical marijuana, instinct leads to the controversy of patients usage.  However, through this interview on Fresh Air Philadelphia,  National Public Radio, insight is derived from the opposite side of the spectrum. Dr. Casarett, author of “When Weed Is The Cure: A Doctor’s Case for Medical Marijuana”, and director of the hospice and palliative care program at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, argues his view on medical marijuana. Doctors are the ones with authority to prescribe such medicine and in this case,  Dr. Casarett just might not prescribe it to you.

Initially, Dr. Casarett got into the subject of medical marijuana, out of hospice and palliative care, due to one of his earlier patients. She was an advanced cancer patient who thought marijuana might simply help. Regardless of his own opinion, from that time, Dr. Casarett answered based a system taught to him ”…. I started to give her the answer that I was taught in medical school that medical marijuana is not a real thing. Marijuana is an illegal drug.” Sometime after it, however, he himself decided research up on it for he didn’t technically know if his words, spoken, were true.

In Dr. Casaretts studies, he has found that medical marijuana does have its positive effects that can be observed in its present state. “There’s a fair amount of science behind it, and there probably will be more with every passing year as we get more experience doing research.” With marijuana being proven to help nerve cells from shooting out pain, it exemplifies its constructive usage. Nevertheless, Dr. Casarett goes on about his concerns for the future. “ What makes me a little bit nervous,… there’s been enough research done to make many of us worry that long-term cognitive effects… have found some combination of a decrease in neuropsychological function,… associated with thinking and memory.” Being stated, his view has been on edge for medical marijuana can help many of his patients for the time being,  however, questions, what are the odds of it hurting them in the long run?

Dr. Casaretts interview portrayed how most doctors are on the same boat as most Americans; in terms of knowing the cause and effects of smoking marijuana. All he can go by is his own personal values and beliefs. “It’s not something I promulgate. I wouldn’t actually tell a patient that I think you should use medical marijuana.” Although he notices the positive impact that marijuana has upon its users, Dr. Casarett still sticks to his own gut until he gains surety within the opposing view.

Fresh Air Philadelphia’s interview on Dr. Casarett was valuable towards my research for it shows a unique perspective of medical marijuana usage that can be debated. My classmates would find this source useful as well for it gives a point of view that seems to be obsolete. Most would just research what the patients have to say on marijuana consumption and forget the doctors themselves are the ones who prescribe it.