Argumentative Essay About Legalizing Marijuana

In the report, “Marijuana and Medicine,“ released by the Institute of Medicine, it is stated “the most encouraging clinical data on the effects of cannabinoids on

The legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic in the media for many years now. There is a major divide in those who believe it should be legal, those who do not, and those who think it could be legal with modifications on the usage. The number of those who support the legalization of marijuana is on the rise with nearly 50% supporting recreational marijuana legalization, and 81% supporting marijuana legalization for medical treatment as of 2015 ("Public Support for Marijuana Legalization, 2015”). Marijuana should be legalized on a federal level because it is safer than alcohol, it will increase the economy, and there is an unfair criminalization of marijuana.

Marijuana, also call “cannabis” is a plant grown all over the world. In the resin of this plant are multiple variations of “cannabinoids”, according to the National Cancer Institute cannabinoids are “active chemicals in cannabis that cause drug like effects throughout the body, including the central nervous system, and the immune system” (National Cancer Institute). This being said many people would argue that anything altering the mental, or cognitive function of an individual should be made illegal, and yet many pharmaceutical drugs, as well as alcohol do just that. One active cannabinoid in cannabis is “cannabidiol” (National Cancer Institute), this cannabinoid can reduce anxiety, pain, and lower inflammation. These effects can even be harnassed without activating the cannibinoids giving the user a “high”. Many cancer patients are exposed to chemotherapy, causing high levels of vomiting and nausea, the effects of cannabidiol could greatly reduce the

However, the most common medical benefits from this drug is the alleviation of the following: appetite loss, nausea, chronic pain, anxiety, sleeping disorders, muscle spasms, and intraocular pressure. This has been confirmed by a small number of controlled studies (Caulkins et al. 95). Medical marijuana largely works because of its main active ingredient, THC (a cannabinoid) . Endocannabiniods are produced in the body which help regulate the response to stimuli. Endocannabiniods have a large amount of receptors, mainly in the brain. THC binds itself to these receptors which give the various effects such as alleviating pain but this also results in the user becoming

A major factor on legalizing Marijuana is health benefit. Studies show Medical marijuana can treat, Glaucoma the study’s shows in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with glaucoma. CBD may also help cancer from spreading. Researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco reported in 2007, Cannabidiol stops cancer by turning off a gene called ID-1. Researchers studied breast cancer cells in the lab with high expression levels of ID-1 and treated them with cannabidiol. After the treatment, the cells had decreased.

Advocates for medicinal marijuana argue that clinical tests have established that marijuana has definite and valid therapeutic values. It is the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana that is the active chemical component for the relief o pain and symptoms. Marijuana suppresses AIDS-related nausea and nausea in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy, along with appetite loss and abnormal pressure in the eye which leads to glaucoma, the #1 cause of blindness. Marijuana is also believed to be a safe and inexpensive alternative in treating muscle spasms, epilepsy, anorexia, asthma, insomnia, depression and other disorders. Marijuana is not only believed to help with physical ailments, but psychological ones as well. A former chairman of the 1991 established Office of Alternative Medicine’s (OAM) Program Advisory Council said, “When used appropriately, marijuana could be extremely helpful to people undergoing certain kinds of emotional crises.”

FDA-approved cannabinoids have been found to be very effective for curing nausea, as specified previously. Not only were the cannabinoids effective in curing chemotherapy-related nausea, but is a medication and treatment preferred by those suffering with chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting compared to other medications. Cannabinoids can provide a great sense of euphoria and a high level of sedation. Receptors for cannabinoids are primarily found in the brain and spinal cord, but are also found throughout the body. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the primary sources of cannabinoids found in medical marijuana. THC induces the feeling of euphoria, whereas CBD provides anti-anxiety effects. It can be smoked,

There have been more than 17,000 published stories and articles on the human body’s cannabinoid receptors and the evidence that favors the use of marijuana to provide symptom relief in many illnesses, including nausea, vomiting, cachexia, muscle spasms, and pain. Marijuana has delivered relief from specific symptoms associated with cancer, severe wasting, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), multiple sclerosis, and other debilitating diseases

They also report that in laboratory testing on animals and controlled testing on humans, that cannabinoids are often effective as analgesics and helpful in relieving post operative pain on the same level as codeine, as well as relieving nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and can reduce muscle spasms and pain related to MS as well as “abnormal skeletal movements related to Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome” (690-691). While medical marijuana has its benefits, it is not without side effects. Like many other medications that are in use for relief of similar symptoms, marijuana can reduce motor skills, making driving and operating equipment dangerous. Marijuana has also been linked to panic attack, depression and anxiety with prolonged use, but remains a viable and preferred method of treatment by its supporters (Hall & Degenhardt 691).

Marijuana usage is a topic that has been discussed for some time now but the recent medical and recreational legalization of this drug has brought about a new area of unchartered territory. The business industry will have to revise many of their employment and safety requirements. After viewing some current policies many businesses are likely to be forced to established new protocols for intra and inner state practices. There are many types of complications as to why the marijuana usage laws should stay at the federal level and not within the state.

The cannabinoid cannabidiol, or CBD as it is often called, has gradually become more popular as an increasing number of studies are pointing to the medicinal benefits of the cannabis compound in treating a variety of ailments. Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound that does not cause a high, as is common with cannabis compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Conventional medicine is generally limited in providing 100% protection, amelioration, or cure in the treatment of a disease. Cannabis provides an alternative treatment option where medicines have failed in effectively treating diseases such as cerebral malaria. Studies have demonstrated that CBD has a neuroprotective effect and could prevent the development of neurological symptoms associated

Legalization of medical use began in 1996 with California, and legalization for recreational use began in Colorado and Washington in 2012. Although marijuana use is still technically illegal under the federal government, there are twenty-six states, plus Washington DC, that allow some form of use. Of these, twenty-one have legalized medical use, eight have legalized both medical and recreational use, and five will no longer sentence jail time for possessing small amounts. All of these legalizations have happened in the last twenty years, showing just how much support has grown recently. In 2006 and again in 2016, Pew Research Center took a poll in which they asked people of all ages about legalization. In the ten years, the support for legalizing went up by thirty-two percent. (6.) It is very obvious from this data that support for this movement is growing, and it will continue to grow.

The most studied effect is the reduction of pain. When cannabinoids bind to receptor sites, they calm nerves. Those nerves then stop sending pain signals to the brain.

Also, cannabis has been found to help people with sicknesses in their body such as cancer, glaucoma, or nerve pain. Scientists and doctors have discovered that marijuana helps to treat muscle spasms, nausea, poor appetite, seizures, and crohn’s disease. The leaves, buds and

United Patients Group has an article named “Illnesses with Medical Cannabis,” that shows the illnesses that can be helped with cannabis. Some were glaucoma, cancer, and certain types of diabetes. Like i said there is medical cannabis, but the thing is that some people are so interested on not messing up their “innocence” label that they are to ashamed to take cannabis even medically. Can you imagine being shamed for the one thing that could help your pain. Just think that could be someone you cared about, maybe even