Medical Marijuana Argumentative Essay

The cannabis plant (marijuana) has been used medicinally by a variety of cultures around the world. It was used as medicine in the United States until when a new tax fee led to its discontinued use. Congress has voted on several bills to legalize the medical use of marijuana; however none of those bills were passed. In June 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal laws against marijuana, including its medical use, are valid. The government has authorized few research studies into the health effects of medical marijuana.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved

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.

Medical use of Marijuana is probably the most discussed topic of the legalizing campaign over the recent years. Some opponents of Marijuana say that it does not have any medical uses at all, and argue that Marijuana is only harmful and should remain illegal. Others for legalization have an opposite view that is starting to gain more recognition as time goes on. Around the late 1990’s, some members of the nation’s medical establishment began to acknowledge marijuana’s potential health benefits. One respected health organization, the Institute of Medicine, released a report in 1999 which stated that “nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety can all be mitigated by marijuana (Medical). In an article Drug Legalization, Advocates of medical marijuana say that in many cases it is the only treatment that has been shown to work. “It is a very effective medication for people who have failed to get good results from standard medications,” says Ethan Russo, a neurologist who has studied medical marijuana, “and that is why so many people are devoted to risking their lives and career to get this drug”(Drug). There are many reports that Marijuana can help with conditions traditional medicines do not seem to help with. Marijuana has also been a huge help to patients with Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Glaucoma, and Insomnia. With a lot of prescription medicines being expensive, Marijuana would be a cheaper alternative to buy if people chose to do so.

Marijuana is a drug misunderstood by many nation wide however, most people do not consider it 's legitimate medicinal application. Medical marijuana defined by Drugfacts refers to the use of the whole unprocessed plant to treat a disease or illness. The Drug Enforcement Administration has listed it under the schedule I classification which is the same classification that heroin, LSD, ecstasy and many other drugs are under. The classification identifies the drug as a dangerous substance that has no recognized medicinal use as reported by the DEA. It 's classification as a highly regulated Schedule I drug makes it challenging to study its medical benefits. Due to this classification, marijuana is commonly regarded by the general public as possessing "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse" (DEA.gov). The DEA has yet to acknowledge many conducted scientific studies that point to the very tangible medical benefits of cannabinoids (Voth and Schwartz 1997). The blockade on marijuana research has caused a severe halt in reaping the benefits of THC. The drug is a better alternative than many drugs given to patients as seen in some cases of neurological disorders such as epilepsy and chronic terminal conditions like cancer, because of its "analgesic, sedative, and anticonvulsant" properties (Abood, Sorensen, and Stella 2012). Marijuana can serve as both a viable treatment option and improves the quality of life through its pain relieving capacities. While

The debate for years \that has divided the question is weather not any good. Many states have legalized medicinal marijuana. The states that have legalized has it helped or has come from its use. What is the purpose? What should the guidelines be? The Medical board and the Government have hopes that in legalizing it, medical marijuana will help those with diseases to be able to cope much easier. However, the determination of which ones that should be allowed to have the okay to be able to use it. Even though some people may argue against medicinal marijuana use and legalization, there are too many reasons why it should be.

When they use medical marijuana for epilepsy medicine they only want the cannabidiol not the tetrahydrocannabinol. Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the chemical in marijuana that gives you the “high effect”. So, without being able to get high there are no reasons to get addicted to it. Another argument is that medical marijuana has not been tested long enough to be considered usable for medicine. Well it has been tested and almost all studies have shown improvement. Plus it is approved by the FDA.

People think that medical marijuana is too dangerous to be used. “Although medical marijuana has been smoked widely in western countries for more than four decades there has been no reports of lung cancer or emphysema attributed to marijuana, but really can impact cancer patients” ( Lester Grinspoon). When anyone puts something into their lungs it is gonna have a negative impact on their health, but there has been no reports of people getting lung cancer from using medical marijuana. When someone who has been struggling to get through treatments of cancer or back problems, people try to use medical marijuana instead of using the pharmaceuticals that are prescribed by their doctor. The major go to is medical marijuana and it is because of the impacts it has on you while dealing with cancer, or back problems it is not just something that people use for no reason, don't get me wrong people do abuse medical marijuana, but that is with everything, people abuse everything. Medical marijuana has taken down the number of painkiller

“The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions” (NIDA). Currently, one of the most discussed topics in the United States is rather or not to legalize marijuana for medical use. Many facts point to the significant value the drug would provide to the medical community. There is indeed opposition to the legalization of it, due to the idea that marijuana alone can become addicting and would cause more harm than good. However, the medical use of marijuana can have a major impact on reducing certain side effects a patient may face while enduring treatments such as chemotherapy, it can aid the U.S in curbing the American Opioid Epidemic, and it can help exterminate certain diseases. Medical marijuana has already been legalized in 29 states and Washington D.C. Other states that are behind on legalizing it can learn valuable lessons from the success of legalization in the 29 states and D.C.

Knowing the full list of diseases and medical issues marijuana can help treat is unknown. It is very hard to have scientific evidence showing the causes marijuana has on a person due to the fact it is just starting to be legal in states. In states where it is illegal there can be no study’s done. With the new up rise of states becoming more accepting of marijuana on a medical stand point, it is only a matter of time before more research will be released. As of right now there are 29 states and the District of Columbia who have legalized it. As Mantel stated, “medical marijuana advocates want all states to legalize it (marijuana), while opponents say only the Food and Drug Administration should approve drugs for medical use” (605). What stinks with our system is that medical professionals, like doctors, can land themselves in legal trouble if they recommend or discuss marijuana with their patients (Mantel 605). Which our patients rely on the word of their medical professionals. Therefore, they are going to prescribe you the norm when it comes to prescribing most things. Sadly, those prescriptions are mostly opioid based drugs.

Marijuana “refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant,” and “the plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other similar compounds” (National Institute “Marijuana”). Marijuana, also referred to as cannabis, is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States of America (National Institute “Marijuana”). The legalization of marijuana, for medical purposes in particular, has been a highly debated topic in the United States for several years now. Although some U.S. conservatives are against medical marijuana legalization because it can be a gateway drug and lower young people’s I.Q.s, I believe that medical marijuana should be legalized because it can help with several medical conditions, and it would boost the economy.

Marijuana, scientific name: Cannabis Sativa, is pertained to as dried: flowers, stems, seeds and leaves of the hemp plant and has been recorded in history as early as 2727 BC used by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. This contains a substance that triggers to alter the mind’s way. This substance is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is commonly called by teenagers as “weed”.

The medical use of marijuana has been a discussion that has been in the news and all around us recently. This is currently a hot topic of interest. There is an enormous amount of evidence that marijuana could be effect against many things. For example evidence shows it could be used to help relieve pain during chemotherapy, but along with this there is also evidence that at times marijuana can cause harm to someone as well. As nurses we must see each side of the debate to make our care for our patients sounder. One quote that directly applies to this topic, which is very important, was written in the Journal of Clinical Nursing:

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