Arguments Against Medical Marijuana

In the United States, we have enacted numerous bans and restrictions against certain drugs and substances with the purpose of protecting the general public from their negative effects. On this list of illegal drugs are harmful and addictive substances such as cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. A substance called cannabis, also known as marijuana, is also on this list. As of now, it is illegal to buy, sell, possess, or use marijuana in any shape or form in the state of Louisiana. However, due to the advancement of technology and of human perspective and innovation, it has come to light that marijuana could actually be of benefit to our society through its medicinal uses in treating a range of conditions and diseases as well as its possible social benefits in helping individuals stray from heavier drugs by acting as a substitute. Now that the wheels of time are turning and that medical marijuana is becoming a budding industry, the question remains: should marijuana be legal all across the United States of America? With the benefits it could bring with its medical, social, and economic uses, marijuana could be a profitable asset to our society if it were to be legalized, and I believe that we should strive for that outcome.

The medical marijuana debate is an interesting one because there’s such a wide diversity of opinions and views that oppose each other. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. They consider these drugs to have no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse and to be some of the most dangerous drugs, because they’re highly addictive and may cause severe psychological or physical dependence. Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD, ecstasy and meth. Many who are against marijuana believe the drug is dangerous, harmful and feel it should remain illegal.

    According to a survey by pubmed.gov, “92 percent said that medical marijuana alleviated symptoms of their serious medical conditions, including chronic pain, arthritis, migraine, and cancer.” 86 percent of the United States believe that Cannabis has valid medical uses, says statista.com. Definitions.com states that, “medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis or marijuana, including constituents of cannabis, THC and other cannabinoids, as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy.” Medical marijuana should be legalized, because it can be a safe and effective treatment for a plethora of illnesses.

As the world advances people’s conceptions on the world change as well. Things that were viewed as bad in the 1900’s are now acceptable, and sometimes encouraged. Almost every aspect of life today as we know it is different from what we wear, to the jobs we have, and especially what we do in our free time. One thing that is was not very socially acceptable even in the last 5 years, and is a major topic all over the United States is marijuana legalization. It has always been used, but only in private or small groups. Marijuana which has been frowned upon for a long time, and users are labeled as “burnouts” and “losers” who are failures in the world. The world is changing its view on marijuana though. In the United States 27 states and D.C. have legalized marijuana

The topic of medical Marijuana brings much controversy when discussing amongst people that are for it or against it. Medical Marijuana has been the heated topic of discussion for the past few years now mainly for it’s medical benefits and the fight to decriminalize the herb.

There is a lot of controversial arguments over whether the medical field should fully embrace the use of Medical Marijuana in the treatment of patients. There is evidence based practice that proves Medical Marijuana can help treat patients with signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Breast Cancer, Diabetes, Glaucoma, Mesothelioma, Multiple Sclerosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The lists are endless of benefits of how Medical Marijuana helps treat patient’s signs and symptoms. There is also arguments against using Medical Marijuana to treat patients. Arguments against the use of Medical Marijuana include: evidence based practice lack consistency, concerns over side effects, and that it interferes with memory, learning, judgment, and perception.

What if your child was dying? What if nothing the experts tried worked? What if your only choice was an untested drug? What would you do then? These questions, while hypothetical to many people, are the reality of others. The snake oil man of olden days could be compared to medical marijuana dispensers today. Many view medical marijuana as something adults should not partake in let alone children. Others see it as perfectly fine, comparing it to alcohol or tobacco products that need some monitoring, but not much. Giving it a medicinal purpose seems to make marijuana more authoritative.

Marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance and is a mood – altering drug that can produce a calm feeling. Marijuana contains THC, otherwise known as, tetrahydrocannabinol. The plant can be smoked, brewed, eaten, etc. Marijuana also has medical use for pain management, and other chronic conditions, such as cancer. “Cannabis can be traced back to 2900 BC to the Chinese Emperor Fu His” (Davis, 2015). There are positive and negative aspects about this “drug” and what it is capable of doing. However, through the eyes of the media, and the public forming their own opinions about it, it seems to have raised some moral and ethical issues.

Marijuana, also known as ganja, mary jane, pot, and dope is widely used by teens and adults. Today, society has come a long way officially 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Although many people believe that marijuana is a gateway drug, and has been discouraged by society, it has been proven that “less than 8% of Americans smoke marijuana versus 52% who drink and 27% of people that smoke tobacco cigarettes” (Moore). This concludes the idea that alcohol is the real gateway drug, and marijuana holds less side effects. Recreational marijuana use would not pose a massive threat to the health of humans the way that alcohol destroys internal organs. Legalizing marijuana would allow more research about the

We demand the release of all people imprisoned on marijuana charges and that their criminal records be expunged. We demand that all property seized in marijuana raids be returned to the rightful owners at once. We demand that our law enforcement officers make more efficient use of our tax dollars and use the resources they have at their disposal to go after violent criminals and crimes that actually have victims. We demand the right to grow marijuana for personal consumption, just as alcohol can be brewed at home legally and so long that it is not sold it should therefore remain untaxed. We demand that you stop treating us like second class citizens for consuming something that is less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco, both of which are legal and cause numerous deaths each year. Cannabis has never caused one. this was a statement made by the USMP (united states marijuana party).

The topic of my debate was “is it okay for Christians to agree on the legalization of Medical Marijuana?”. I was supposed to debate for the no side which meant that I did not believe that Christians should agree with the legalization of Medical Marijuana. Some of our support for our stance on the topic were the effects of using marijuana and our Biblical reference.

The first recognised use of marijuana dates to 2737 B.C. where Chinese medics used this plant to treat several diseases like malaria. Marijuana first started being popular and draw worldwide attention was when the U.S. outlawed alcohol in the 1920s, many people turned to weed as a replacement for the extremely popular alcohol. Since then there has been a staggering trend in recent decades in the use of ‘pot’. Marijuana was first classified as an illigal drug in 1970 when the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) identified weed as a schedule 1 drug which is considered an illicit drug. This has caused controversy worldwide that is still ongoing today. In today's climate, one of the most controversial issues is if Cannabis should be legalized

Marijuana should be a medicinal option because it relieves major chronic pain to many symptoms. According to the Herald Editorial board, Marijuana shows a great impact on pain, “from a widespread number of causes, including cancer, spinal cord injury and disease, severe spasms, post-traumatic stress disorder, nausea, glaucoma, Parkinson’s and other debilitating ailments.” This drug is useful, as patients at times cannot use certain drug due to allergies or other complications. Marijuana helps elevated those who suffer severe pain that other drugs cannot, but doctors still prescribe stronger and more addictive opiates that are legal. If marijuana was a legal drug for the purpose of medication, marijuana can potentially save lives. Marijuana should be prescribed as there are fewer side effects compared to the drugs prescribed by doctors. Why would the government not allow doctors to prescribe patients with extreme health issues that can potentially help elevate their pain. There are individuals who suffer from epilepsy, epilepsy is a condition that causes nerve cell activity to disturb the brain. At times individuals can have up to 10 seizures a day, at any given moment. Having 10 seizures a day at random times makes it difficult for them to go on with their day, but marijuana can decrease the amount seizures into one day. It’s remarkable on how marijuana can reduce the amount of seizures an epileptic person has. Marijuana needs to be an option for medical purposes for the amount of benefits it provides.

“The White House of National Drug Control Policy reports that prescription drugs are second to Marijuana as the drug of choice for teens. But medical drugs account for seven of the top ten drugs used by high school students.”

Medical marijuana is very a big and controversial issue in today's society, currently the community is divided on the issue. Questions are always being thrown around such as "how does marijuana affect the body?" and "what good does’ marijuana do for a person?" Researchers have tried to answer these questions with multiple studies and they have shown some of the positives of medical marijuana. If something is able to help someone who is in dire need why not use it on those people to find a better solution for them. I myself am on the supportive side of the issue of medical marijuana. I don't think it should be legal to just anyone though I believe there should be a legal age law, a driving while under the influence, and a public intoxication law in effect for medical marijuana to be legal.