Legalizing Marijuana in the United States Essay

i. As a fiber source, hemp could be used in everything from textiles to automotive composites. The fiber is also gaining popularity as insulation.

Medical marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a controversial topic because many find it beneficial as others find the usage to be recreational. Throughout the years, medical marijuana has gone through periods of times in which it was legal and illegal. Over the years laws have been developed in order to try and regulate the usage of the drug. Studies have shown many the benefits of treating diseases and symptoms. Today it is used in treatment with many different diseases and disorders such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and multiple sclerosis. As medical marijuana has different species and uses of the product, it is important to depict where the drug can be used for treatment. The usage of this drug enables patients to have a more positive and livable outcome with treatments.

Marijuana is a drug that divides people. Some people claim it as the wonder drug of the '90s, capable of relieving the symptoms of many serious illnesses. Others curse the day the cannabis plant was ever discovered. From pain relief to stimulating the appetites of patients on chemotherapy, marijuana seems to have plenty going for it as a medicine. The legalization of marijuana is a large controversy in many parts of the world today, but the obvious negative effects that the drug induces has kept it from being legalized. Many researchers have a strong positive attitude towards marijuana. It has been said that the drug is “worth investigating and even providing as a medicine for pain relief, severe

Some may read the title of this section and think to themselves "is he going to talk about a drug?" No, here is my disclaimer, hemp/industrial hemp as it is sometimes called, is cannabis, but is not marijuana. It does not contain any psychoactive properties so therefore it is not a "drug" which is a common misconception or lie people believe to be true. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) levels in hemp are too low to have any effect whatsoever and are in such low quantities that it cannot be detected by any screening. A person cannot get high by smoking hemp. There is however great potential for this plant though.

Next, let’s examine groups that support marijuana becoming officially authorized. These groups dispute that it has medical benefits for patients that have cancer or AIDS. It helps relieve pain, relaxes, and may help the patients get their appetites back. Marijuana is also known to help slow down the progression of the disease in Glaucoma patients. People suffering from epilepsy use marijuana to prevent the epileptic seizures. It’s also known that marijuana helps with the treatment of people who maybe clinically depressed.

In the United States the most illicitly abused drug is Marijuana, which is made from a Cannabis plant (Merrill 308). Many people have come to the conclusion that Marijuana is a safe and non-addictive drug because of the legalization of Marijuana in the United States. Unbeknown to the public, the carcinogenic compounds are actually greater in Marijuana than in cigarettes (Cohen, qtd. in Margolis 9). Subsequently, studies show that Marijuana ultimately impacts every primary system in the body (Margolis 12). Furthermore, over the years Marijuana has caused health risks such as addiction, irregular brain function, and decreased motor skills.

Marijuana has been used to provide comfort or relieve pain for several severe sicknesses and debilitating illnesses. Some of these illnesses include alzheimer’s, Tourette’s syndrome, and HIV. It can also be used to maintain health, one example of this would be in the American Journal of Medicine where multiple doctors conducted a study

Serious, life threatining diseases like cancer have been effectively treated from medical marijuana. It has been known to suppress cancer, help depression, reduce blood pressure, treat glaucoma, alleviate pain and even inhibit HIV, it is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. “The late Dr. Tod Mikuriya, a former national administrator of the U.S. government's marijuana research programs, appeared in a film about the business of marijuana prohibition shortly before his 2007 death called The Union… ‘After dealing with about 10,000 patents in the last 15 years, I'd say about 200 different medical conditions respond favorably to cannabis,’ Mikuriya said” (Smith). Marijuana is the future of medicine; it will save countless lives without the serious risk of taking others.

Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or medicine. Marijuana smoking remains the most prevalent form of illicit drug use in the United States and has even been legalized medicinally in twenty-four states. Four of these states, including Colorado and Washington, have legalized marijuana for recreational use. This means that it is treated like a controlled substance, like alcohol or tobacco, and anyone the age of twenty-one and above can walk into a public shop and buy marijuana for legal use. Who are we kidding? Marijuana will always be prevalent, legal or not. Where it is not legal, more than half of these states’ drug arrests are for weed. It is the least dangerous recreational drug and has little to no risk factor and has prevalent medical and industrial benefits, leaving us confused by claims to keep marijuana illegal.

As defined by the World English Dictionary, hemp is the “the tough fiber of this plant, used for making rope, coarse fabric, etc.” (World English Dictionary) Marijuana not only has an abundance of

Today, many teens have have experimented with marijuana. The main way people experience marijuana is by smoking it. Smoke of any kind can cause cancer in lounges. A professional doctor once said “Marijuana’s potential as medicine is seriously undermined by the fact that people smoke it. Thereby increasing their chance of cancer, lung damage, and problems with birth weight.” --John A Benson, JR, MD. When teens try smoking it affects their lungs and can affect their lives. The effects of smoking aren't just done to teens, adults can be affected by it. This proves to us that only people in medical need should be using it. Over time people have found safer ways to deliver the beneficial effects of medical

The use of marijuana is associated with the stimulation of appetite and relief from nausea. Marijuana use reduces muscle spasms and relieves eye pressure for glaucoma patients. The drug is also used in the treatment of health complications such as epilepsy, AIDS and HIV, sexual dysfunction, anxiety and panic attacks, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and

The use of cannabis toward medicine should not be shocking to anyone, since it has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, it has been under medicinal aid for an estimated 5,000 years. Western medicine truly grasped marijuana’s medicinal abilities in the 1850’s. Infact, doctors documented over one hundred papers about how marijuana helped numerous disorders, such as nausea, glaucoma, movement disorders, pain relief, depression, and anxiety. It also helps cancer patients and those with HIV or Aids. Currently, many American patients have access to marijuana use so that they can have effective treatments for their illnesses. Medical marijuana use is achievable because

Hemp is able to make thousands of products; the fibers in hemp are the strongest and last the longest. Homes could be built and naturally insulated with hemp, thus reducing or completely cutting out heating cost- saving us money on bills. Hemp can also give us oil, paper and medicine. Hemp clothed American soldiers during the Revolutionary war, the sails that pushed our ships on the path to the colonies were even made from hemp and the fuel in Henry Fords Model-T was made from hemp. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and were puzzled over the best ways to process the fibers for clothing and rope. In 1619 the Crown ordered the colonists at Jamestown to grow hemp to satisfy England’s enormous demands for maritime ropes. Jefferson even invented a device

One major topic in the marijuana community is the medical use of this drug. Many people argue whether it should be used this way or not. ¨Experts report that there are currently 4.2 million medical cannabis patients in the United States, and these individuals believe they are receiving genuine medical benefits from using marijuana.¨ (Netzley 26). This is stating millions of people using this drug for medical purposes are feeling better from it. People who have cancer or any form of chronic pain should be able to use this to help them, its not only used to take away pain but is used for nausea and appetite loss. ¨Researchers have learned that this chemical binds with receptors in muscles, nerves, and the brain to reduce pain.¨ (Netzley 27). Many people use this drug to ease pain from multiple sclerosis, HIV, or inflammatory bowel disease to help relax their body. A lot of the people who use this drug for pain, can take it in many forms like smoking, eating, or in pill form.