(Claim V). However, in reading the DEA’s clam, one must keep in mind that “drugs” (as they use it) includes both marijuana and heroin, and therefore may be partially invalid when applied to the central marijuana debate. By using the word “they”, the DEA groups marijuana with more dangerous drugs. It should also be recognized that the DEA has an obvious bias against legalizing drugs; if all drugs were legal, who would continue to pay their salaries? Doctors and the DEA, however, are not the only ones with opinions about marijuana’s medical re-legalization. Mike Dooley, a member of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML), made news when he recommended that Elvy Musikka, a patient legally supplied with marijuana from the U.S. government, spoke to an “Experimental Living” class at Western Michigan University: “Elvy Musikkia, a professional speaker, has glaucoma and take marijuana as part of her treatment for the eye disease. Glaucoma patients smoke marijuana cigarettes because it relieves the eye pressure that leads to blindness” (Kemp). However, Dooley supports more than the medical legalization of marijuana. “Dooley says using marijuana for medical purposes is just one use of the plant, but people need to recognize that it has more positive uses” (Kemp). Like many other advocates of legalization, Dooley wants more than just medical legalization: “‘Why are we outlawing this particular plant?’ Dooley said. ‘What is wrong with adults smoking marijuana in their own environment?’” (Kemp). Opponents of legalization efforts worry that legalization for medical purposes will eventually lead to non-medical abuse. An example of this type of medical abuse can be found in the 1995 Comedy, Friday. In the film, a corrupted priest tries to obtain marijuana from Smokey, a neighborhood pot addict. Upon noticing the marijuana, he s...
