Marijuana: Drug or Cure? Essay

Background: The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 established the federal prohibition of marijuana. Dr. William C. Woodward of the American Medical Association testified against the Act, arguing that it would ultimately prevent any medicinal use of marijuana. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 established five categories, or "schedules," into which all illicit and

How would most Americans react if the law allowed the use of heroin, LSD, or amphetamines for medical purposes? Many of us would react in disbelief mainly because of the effects of these powerful and addictive drugs. However, in Arizona the law permits the use of heroin, LSD, and amphetamines for medicinal purposes, yet the medicinal use of marijuana remains illegal in the United States ("Facts"). Because marijuana is categorized as a Schedule 1 drug under the federal Controlled Substance Act ("Issues"), physicians cannot legally prescribe it. The national debate on the effectiveness of marijuana as medicine is divided between those who advocate marijuana's medicinal value and

Marijuana has proven medical benefits. For example, investigators at Columbia University published clinical trial data in 2007, showing that HIV/AIDS patients who inhaled cannabis four times daily experienced substantial increases in

Joycelyn Elders, former Surgeon General, once spoke about the legalization of marijuana for medical use in a press conference. "It's criminal to keep this medicine from patients," she said (Silverman, 1995, pg. 2). She received criticism not only from many citizens of the United States, but also strong criticism from the President who appointed her. The legalization of marijuana for medical use has always been a sharply debated subject, and many of the debaters are uneducated about the effects of using this illegal drug for therapeutic use. Many studies have been done and the results are clear. As a medical drug, marijuana should be available to patients who do not adequately respond to currently available

Usually when society has a discussion about Tetrahydrocannabinol (formally known as marijuana or cannabis) in general, the conversation about the mostly illegal molecule or plant is usually associated with getting high, gang banging, and drug deals gone wrong. However, Naturally Perfected Movements will enlighten readers that this is not always the case. Many politicians, scientists, doctors, and everyday people seem to believe that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a deadly, harmful substance that can diminish brain cells and could eventually lead to many psychological problems. If used irresponsibly, this could ultimately be somewhat the case. If used responsibly, marijuana could be the gateway to medical breakthroughs like it has been in the past and could become, if not already, one of the most trusted forms of medicine. Also, THC will bring in a prosperous amount of profit that could bring many states out of debt. It could also provide financial needs to impoverished school districts which would help students excel with a highly effective and efficient education. As well as, funding healthcare to those in need of a more sustainable way of affording healthcare. That is why THC should be granted legalization in the United States for medicinal, economical, and decriminalization reasons.

According to “ Marijuana: A Continuing Concern for Pediatricians” from the journal Pediatrics, marijuana has major effects on the human body and one’s personal life. The author feels that people need to be aware of these effects. Therefore, marijuana should not be legalized in the United States. In this article the author wants to advise people of all the effects that can take place after smoking marijuana. One of the author’s largest ideas, is that marijuana is known as a gateway drug. Therefore, the drug itself can cause addiction, and if you smoke marijuana you can likely become addicted to another type of drug. Once someone uses the drug, issues regarding school, grades, money, and a job come into play as well (Marijuana: A Continuing Concern).

In 2000, the citizens of Colorado voted in an amendment to the Colorado constitution allowing for the legalization of medical marijuana. However, the amount of licensed medical marijuana card holders was small until 2009, when the U.S Attorney General gave the prosecution and legalization of marijuana over to the states. After this, the number of medical marijuana licenses increased greatly in Colorado. Then, in 2012, the sale of recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado, to all those over the age of 21, and retail stores began selling marijuana in 2014 (Monte). Public opinion on Marijuana is generally divided fifty-fifty across the United States. Some are strictly against its legalization, even for medical use, and want to see it harshly punished, while others would like to see it as readily available to the public as alcohol and cigarettes. However, in Colorado, one is able to see how the public opinion changes after marijuana’s legalization, as well as the changes in public health and usage of marijuana. Due to intergovernmental relations between the state and federal governments, governmental competition, and the cannabis laws passed by Colorado, the actions of the government have a great impact on the public’s approval of marijuana use, and the amount the public uses it.

The effects of marijuana on the undeveloped minds of teenagers include an impairment in concentration and the ability to retain information. This poses an extreme hindrance to learning and can potentially tarnish the intellectual ability of a promising young man or woman. This has been depicted in studies as students with an average grade of D or below were four times more likely to have used marijuana compared to students with an average grade of A. Another fallacy about marijuana and its perceived “harmlessness” is that it is a non addictive drug. This again, could not be farther from reality. “Of the 7.1 million Americans suffering from illegal drug dependence or abuse, 60 percent abuse or are dependent on marijuana” (The impacts of marijuana use). Although we are led to believe this drug can be used once and forgotten, it is a concrete fact that more than half of all americans addicted to an illegal drug are dependent on marijuana. On top of this “more young people are now in treatment for marijuana dependence than for alcohol or for all other illegal drugs combined” (The impacts of marijuana use). At this point the question shouldn’t be whether or not marijuana is an addictive drug, but rather is there anything more addictive than marijuana. Finally, an old theory that the new pro marijuana culture is trying to dispel is that marijuana is not a gateway drug, or a drug that leads to usage of other drugs. According to a study done by the Journal of the American

Marijuana is considered in popular culture to be a widely accepted mainstream recreational illegal drug used in the United States; its use comes with severe adverse side effects that are often overlooked. Long-Term use of marijuana 'sis shown to have negative effects on physical, mental, and environmental health. Studies have shown that in the United States, up to 20% of daily marijuana users become dependent (Marijuana and Lung Health) showing a physical or emotional need for the drug. Marijuana use has the potential to affect every aspect of a person 's physical and mental wellbeing negatively. Its use also comes with potentially life-altering risks to one 's future including an individual’s likelihood of obtaining a degree, impacting their future earning potential and decreasing their overall reported life satisfaction. Once dependent on marijuana, people stop caring about their schooling. Long-term use of smoking marijuana can result in the inability to learn, retain information and think critically.

Recently, marijuana and prescription medications have been vigorously debated since numerous states in the United States have legalized medicinal marijuana, and in a recent event in the world, Uruguay legalized marijuana and the government regulates and sells it. Many marijuana researchers are saying that marijuana could cease the need for numerous amount of prescription drugs because marijuana can help with such a diverse amount of illnesses and diseases. Marijuana, compared to prescription medications from a medicinal standpoint, has no harmful side effects, marijuana also helps with a wide range of problems and users on marijuana can't overdose contrasted to the numerous prescription pills Americans overdose or die on every year.

Super Grass, Ace, Greta, Ganja, Weed, Mary Jane, Dope, and the Herb, are just a few of the modern terms that today’s users call the drug that is marijuana. Research shows that in recent years the use of this drug has been on the rise, especially among teenagers. Bridget M. Kuehn, MSJ (2011) stated in her article, “As marijuana use for medical or recreational purposes is debated at state and municipal levels across the country, use of the drugs among teens continues to climb”(p. 242). In a survey done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 45,000 eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade students showed an increase in the use of Marijuana in comparison to years passed. From 5.2% of twelfth graders, 2.8% of tenth graders, and 1.0% of 8th graders

The article, “Marijuana and the Teen Brain”, from the Scientific American journal, Claudia Wallis, argues that marijuana negatively affects the teenage brain. Wallis begins her argument by stating her viewpoint on the drug and then proceeds to provide information to support her stance. Multiple studies by scientists/researchers are cited in this article including those based on x-rays of a marijuana user’s brain and others that tested marijuana users on their cognitive skills. Wallis additionally mentions a study on rats which tested the effects of THC. The author provides background information on marijuana to give the reader a better understanding of the concept. This source supports the argument that marijuana use has negative impacts on the human brain because the author also stands behind that argument. Wallis discusses these negative impacts and provides evidence to support her claim. This source cites various studies in which researchers tested the effects of marijuana on the brain which reinforces the argument that marijuana has abnormal effects on the human brain.

4. I do not smoke even my best friend try to convince me. The reason is I afraid to addict it. I will tell my friend that I know marijuana has a good effect. But the problem is not marijuana, It is myself. I cannot control myself to use it on limit. However, I understand why my best friend smoked and I respect my friend choice if it not dangerous to other people. We have own choices but we are friend.

Marijuana has been found to alleviate symptoms of serious diseases. Asthma, glaucoma, and muscle spasms are just a few. It has also been proven to help a

Marijuana is a green or brown mix of preserved, crushed leaves from the marijuana plant. A psychoactive drug, marijuana contains fifty-percent more tar than tobacco. Smoking the harmful plant can damage the brain, lungs, and the male reproductive system and may escalate the effects of epilepsy and psychosis (Kahler, 1988). Within campus colleges and universities, there are a lot of students who are using marijuana recreationally. Long-term marijuana use can induce negative effects on short-term memory, concentration, attention span, motivation, and problem solving, which clearly interfere with learning. Tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana, can reinforce dependence on the drug and on other addictive drugs (Joffe &