Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 5650 Last November, Nevadans voted to approve the rec- reational use of marijuana. And with every state that considers the use of medical or recreational marijuana, tempers flare from both sides of the passionate debate as marijuana, slowly but surely, becomes decriminal- ized and accepted as mainstream. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for at least medical use, and new laws help researchers study the drug’s medicinal value and better understand its impact on the body. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, marijuana was commonly used medicinally and recreationally. Gradually, many drugs, including marijuana, were regulated by laws requiring their sale by pharmacies with a prescription. During Prohibition, marijuana gained popularity as a cheaper substitute for alcohol, but events, rooted in dubious scientific studies, racism and a backroom deal by America’s wealthiest, crimi- nalized marijuana. Using cannabis and other drugs came under increas- ing scrutiny after the formation of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1930, headed by Harry J. Anslinger, as part of the government’s broader push to outlaw all recreational drugs. Anslinger claimed cannabis caused people to commit violent crimes. The government pro- duced propaganda films promoting Anslinger’s views. Newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst’s empire used the “yellow journalism” he pioneered to false- ly demonize the cannabis plant and spread a public perception of connections between cannabis, used by Mexican Americans and African Americans, and vio- lent crime. Andrew Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury, and the wealthiest man in America, invested heavily in ny- lon, DuPont’s new synthetic fiber. He considered ny- lon’s success to depend on it replacing the traditional resource, hemp, one type of cannabis. All this led to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 which effectively made marijuana illegal. Efforts to decriminalize marijuana started in the 1970’s as new scientific studies proved various health benefits. Today, studies show about 200 different medical condi- tions react favorably to medical marijuana, specifically two active chemicals, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahy- drocannabinol (THC). For example: Marijuana may slow the progression of glaucoma and prevent blindness. It controls seizures caused by epilepsy by binding the brain cells responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation. CBD may help prevent cancer cells from spreading, by decreasing the replication of a gene called Id-1. It improves the mood of the user, reducing anxiety and depression. Marijuana eases the side effects of the harsh treatments for cancer and hepatitis C, relieving nausea, muscle aches and loss of appetite. More people are willing to explore the benefits of medical marijuana as a nat- ural symptom and pain management drug. America is facing a growing nar- cotic prescription pain killer epidemic, as people are succumbing to fatal overdoses each day. The deaths of superstars Heath Ledger, Mi- chael Jackson and Prince from prescription pain killers shined a light on the crisis. Charlotte Figi was just three months old when she be- gan having seizures lasting from two to four hours, often requiring hospitalization. After two years of suf- fering, Charlotte was finally diagnosed with Dravet Changing the Narrative The Helpful Herb