Cannabis Argumentative Essay

Imagine having a son or daughter who has six or more seizures a day. If you could could decrease the number of seizures they had a day by half, wouldn’t you consider medical marijuana? It is well known that medical cannabis has been used to cure many medical conditions for a long period of time already. Among the diseases marijuana can help treat, nausea, glaucoma, anorexia, epilepsy and more. Medical marijuana also helps with the side effects of many treatments, such as cancer chemotherapy. There are many health benefits of marijuana; it may have some negative effects, but the pain and symptom relief of many diseases and disorders makes it well worth it.

Since the 1970’s, marijuana has been an extremely controversial drug. While some argue that it does not harm to your body, and can do good in the world, others classify it as a “gateway” drug. As the number states in the U.S. legalize the drug increases, 26 to be exact, the debate is only getting more heated. Also known as weed, cannabis, dope, etc., marijuana has been scientifically proven to do good in the medical world, be safer than alcohol and tobacco, and increase a growth in our economy.

Natural supplements are widely used throughout the world and are recommended by holistic doctors for patients who do not want chemically made medication and alternate treatments. Although natural supplements are better for the human body, cannabis is a product that is not seen as positive example of natural supplements. Cannabis is a plant that has many strains and can be used to treat different medical issues. Even though most sport organization have cannabis on a list of banned performance enhancing drugs it should not be banned; because it does not truly give a competitive advantage to an athlete, it can be used for pain medication and long term health problems that may be caused from over usage of this drug should not be the concern of sport organizations, but a personal decision made by each athlete. Unfortunately, cannabis does have negative side effects such as a change in the state of mind, killing brain cells, and societies’ negative perspective on cannabis.

Increasingly, more and more evidence shows how cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis is making a positive impact in treating children with rare diseases, particularly seizure conditions. The story of Jayden David, first shown on the Sanjay Gupta’s documentary Weed Wars, is only one of many that deserves to be told, as it highlights just how CBD oil is making a difference in the lives of families that dared to try their luck with an alternative form of treatment. CBD hemp oil, derived from the cannabis plant industrial hemp has been shown to alleviate a myriad of health conditions. Research and personal stories are expanding the dialogue on just how medical cannabis could be beneficial in treating conditions such as Dravet syndrome that plagues Jayden. CBD oil had made an incredible impact in Jayden’s life by reducing the frequency of his seizures and improving his quality of life.

Marijuana, in a medical form, can reduce seizure activity in people with epilepsy, especially when all other forms of treatment have been exhausted. One such case was with a girl by the name of Charlotte Figi, who first started having seizures at 3 months old, and by the time she was 5 was having 300 seizures each week. When the hospital told the parents there was nothing more they could do for Charlotte, they turned to medical marijuana. After working with doctors to find the correct dosage of cannabis oil that was needed, Charlotte, at the age of 6, was only having two to three seizures per month (Young, Marijuana Stops Child’s Seizures, CNN.com). Additionally, while the personal stories of those who have seen a reduction in the number of seizures that occur from the use of medical marijuana are more prevalent than that of published studies by doctors, these studies do exist and show

“In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis, marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care.” Francis Young, DEA Administrative Law Judge, stated. Marijuana was thought of as a drug that was enormously harmful to the user’s health and well-being, but the truth about it is that if used correctly, marijuana has the ability to alleviate a variety of medical conditions, some that were thought to be “untreatable.” An immense amount of research and evidence has proven repeatedly that marijuana is able to treat many problems that plague much of our nation. Medical marijuana needs to legalization across the United States because of its ability to aid those with respiratory issues, to assuage one’s struggle with mental disorders, and it has a profound ability to mitigate the side effects often seen with people who are burdened with cancer.

A new marijuana-derived drug may treat epileptic children, without the high. Within clinical studies, now researchers are taking statistical data to test 150 children that haven't been helped by standard seizure medications. If Epidiolex proves itself, it will supply additional evidence that marijuana may serve as a potential cornucopia of medical leads to be used for future drug development.

An example of the success of this treatment is a five year old girl who suffered from Dravet’s Syndrome. She would have three hundred episodes weekly, people would normally think that prescribing cannabis to child is complete unacceptable, but in this instance it could not have been a better blessing. The medical marijuana brought down her seizures from three hundred a week to only once. Now forty other children in her state are using the same strand of marijuana to treat their syndromes and it has been a positive outcome.

Colorado legalized medical and recreational use of marijuana. Charlotte Figi was a three month old baby when she had her first seizure, as time went on they progressed and came more often lasting about 3-4 hours. She was hospitalized many times and her parents had to prepare for the possibility the these seizures she was have could kill her. The seizures she was having is called grand mal seizures, she was having about 300 of them every week, after a while of this she lost the ability to walk, talk and eat. Charlotte had some very serious seizures that sometimes made her heart stop. The doctors didn’t know what to do for the little girl any more so they suggested putting her in a medical induced coma for a little to giver her body a rest. Charlotte's father did like this idea and went and did a little research for himself. He found a video online about a boy who went through the same thing Charlotte was. He found that the boy was controlling his seizures by smoking medical marijuana. Charlotte's mom and dad decided to give it a go. They found the Stanley brothers, one of colorado’s biggest marijuana growers and dispensaries. At the time the 6 brothers were crossbreeding a strain of marijuana low in THC the chemical in marijuana that’s psychoactive and high in CBD a chemical in marijuana that has medical benefits and no psychoactive properties. Paige Figi Charlotte’s mom was the first person to give her daughter cannabis oil and after the first time her seizures stopped for 7 days. Charlotte continues to use cannabis oil as her treatment to this day. She only has seizures 2-3 times a month and can walk, talk, and eat by herself now. (Young) Kristen Courtney was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 16 which quickly turned into an autoimmune disorder that left her bedridden for four years. She had enough one day and started juicing raw cannabis and after a month, she

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.

I have witnessed the usage of medical cannabis and its excellent results when in comes to those who suffer from epilepsy. Charlotte, a little girl who suffered from this illness had her seizer frequency reduced form 50 episodes a day to 2—3 episode in a month. Now having the strain of cannabis named after her and now called Charlottes web. I believe that marijuana has many benefits for those with what was thought of scarcely treatable diseases. Physically it acts as a muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory and psychologically it acts as a stimulant. For instance, as an ex athlete I feel like the utilization of a muscle relaxant would have been helpful from the everyday strenuous exercises. In return I feel that with my body being able to recover quicker on a daily bases, my career and skill level would have been extended and improved. An ice bath was recommended for muscle recovery and relaxation, but in my case and many others it was painful to go through and marijuana would have made a great alternative in my opinion. Not only would it benefit the body, however for the mind as well. Also when it comes to treatments with patience with a nervous system disorder, such as Parkinson’s disease and Tourette’s have also been put under a certain control. Cocaine and crack I have no experience with but I know it’s highly addictive.

Marijuana laws in the United States have long been too strict and unfairly harsh regardless of which side of the marijuana debate you are on. Marijuana is considered a schedule 1 narcotic by the DEA the same as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, which seems to be a bit of an over exaggeration and the laws regarding marijuana far too stringent. Marijuana is effective as a medical treatment for a plethora of different medical conditions, even with the proven medical benefits some states still do not allow marijuana to be used as a medical treatment. With all the evidence that marijuana isn’t harmful recreationally should it be legalized for recreational use is the next question that comes about. A final argument would be that the resources being used to fight marijuana, including housing offenders could be going to more productive uses.

There are a lot of negative material out there on the negative effects of Marijuana use. However, I currently am looking at this in a whole new light now that I have watched by 4 ½ month old grandson have 4 grand mall seizures in less them a months’ time. Talk about the feeling of helplessness when his current “Psychotropic” medication (Keppra) is not working. I have researched and researched and have read about the potential positive effects of Marijuana. Cannabidiol Oil (CBD) produced from the Marijuana plant and is a non-psychotropic medication. When it comes at looking at the side effects of Medical Marijuana the seizure medications, I would take the Medical Marijuana all day long. I have a strong belief that patients should

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.

Opponents also support that marijuana may affect brain development and irritate the heart and the lungs. It may be true, but it is not a reason for criminalizing the use of marijuana since we know that smoking cigarette causes lung cancer and many heart diseases. Moreover, mental diseases such as the Parkinson’s disease and the Multiple Sclerosis can be treated with marijuana thanks to two substances it contains called cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol, which permit to reduce inflammation, control spasms, and even prevent neurological damage. For instance, an Australian mother Cheri O'Connell revealed in a report of Herald Sun News about the benefits of liquid marijuana, which she says saved her epileptic daughter Tara who was only given months to live. In fact, Tara could barely walk or talk, and she slept as much as a newborn. She endured more than 20,000 seizures every year; her condition left her parents and siblings, exhausted and scared for the future. Running out of options, they met another family, who had lost a similar battle. This family advices the O’Connell’s to try Marijuana. Then, they did so, and Tara is now seizure-free, walking, running and even dancing after one year of treatment. Cheri says, "We didn't see her having a future at all. But I can now see us being able to