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.

Studies have proven that marijuana is no more harmful to a person’s health than alcohol or tobacco. Every year, tobacco kills roughly 390,000 people, alcohol contributes to 80,000 deaths in America and marijuana contributed to 0; no deaths from marijuana have ever been recorded in US history (Abovetheinfluence.org). When smoking tobacco, the user inhales tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and 200 other known poisons into the lungs (Abovetheinfluence.org). All forms of tobacco, including cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco, contain the addictive drug nicotine, and can also cause cancer. Alcohol alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing. Alcohol plays a role in at least 50 percent of traffic deaths, about half of murders, and about 25 percent of suicides (Abovetheinfluence.org). Marijuana side effects include delusions, impaired memory, hallucinations and disorientation, which are no different from the side effects of alcohol alone.

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.

No matter what it’s called: reefer, hemp, cannabis, or weed, the medicinal properties of the leafy green herb have been recognized for centuries and the medicament was readily available in pharmacies as early as 1840 and continued to be for nearly another one hundred more. Then came “Reefer Madness”, a propaganda movie critical of the effects of marijuana and the plant, despite its known benefits, became prohibited. Fast forward to 1996 and the Compassionate Care Act of California gave the first hope to patients in need of new treatment alternatives. Though some states have legalized the use of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use, it remains illegal federally. Legalization of medical marijuana will offer a safer, more cost-effective approach to disease management for people suffering from debilitating conditions, as well as generate state and federal

Legalizing marijuana is crucial to the medical field because many patients cannot use this marvelous plant to relieve their pain. This plant can help patients with multiple sclerosis, nausea from cancer chemotherapy, HIV, nerve pain, and seizure disorders. Many patients must go behind the doctors back and consume cannabis or give it to a loved one to relieve their pain. Only twenty-nine states have allowed the use of medical marijuana. Furthermore, that means that twenty-two states do not allow the usage of any form of Cannabis. Marijuana should be an all-around legal

In the United States, marijuana legalization is a highly debated topic. Marijuana has many benefits to the body and the community. It can be used medicinally or recreationally and serves a number of purposes. Marijuana has been proven to treat a number of diseases and conditions, causes a decline in deaths due to overdose from opioid pains, and serves a plethora of additional benefits. I strongly feel that sooner rather than later, marijuana should be federally legalized so that citizens can have access to the benefits of this plant.

“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.

Chemotherapy related nausea, glaucoma, migraine headaches, and epilepsy; all of these common medical ailments can have devastating effects and cause pain and discomfort to the sufferer. What they also have in common is the potential treatment of these illnesses with the use of medical marijuana, which can alleviate symptoms, bring relief, and help manage pain. The process has been simplified with a physician simply recommending medicinal marijuana, by concluding, after considering other treatment options that marijuana may benefit the patient and has become fairly easy to satisfy. Medical marijuana is a majorly controversial topic and encompasses legal, ethical, societal, and workplace issues, creating many arguments about how it should be handled at the state, federal, and local levels, particularly in relation to how employers interpret employee use of the drug. 23 states,

Medical marijuana, also called cannabis, is used in some places as a medication to treat diseases and symptoms. Many people consider it helpful and harmless making it the most used illicit drug in North America. With legalizing medical marijuana people can alleviate some health problems and help ease physical pain, but it also can bring many concerns, questions, and responsibility.

When people hear the word marijuana, they often think of a gateway drug. Marijuana has been one of the top misunderstood “drug” there have been and will probably remain on being a misunderstood “drug”. Should marijuana be legalized? This has been a controversial question for a long time now. Marijuana should be legalized. Not only is marijuana beneficial to many people but it can even have an impact in our future. Marijuana should be legalized because it can help bring more money to the country, it is beneficial in the medical industry, and it is safer to use than other legal drugs.

Numerous drugs that remain prescribed for the same diseases as medical marijuana are administered concurrently, this increases the risk of numerous adverse health effects. Approximately all drugs, counting legal drugs, act as a greater danger to an individual’s health than medical marijuana does. Marijuana is non-toxic and cannot be used to overdose. The death count of those overdosing from marijuana is zero (greenrushdaily.com). In comparison to those overdosing on prescription medications, in 2015 alone prescription opioids killed more than 33,000 people in the United States, this was more than any other year on record

Over the past few years, medical marijuana has become a popular issue in the public domain. More states are legalizing the drug for medical use. On one hand, an increasing amount of people believe that marijuana alleviates pain, nausea, and other ailments. On the other hand, many still argue that not enough research on the subject has been conducted to justify rescheduling marijuana and that it creates harmful social effects. This multi-faceted issue not only raises medical and political debates but bioethical debates as well. For example, when debating between the pros and cons people list about medical marijuana biomedical principles such as nonmaleficence and beneficence clash with one another.

By comparison, marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 37,000 annual U.S. deaths, including more than 1,400 in Colorado, are attributed to alcohol use alone (this isn't including accidental deaths). On the other hand, the CDC does not even have a category for deaths caused by the use of cannabis. -“The estimated fatal dose [of THC, the primary active compound in marijuana] in humans derived from animal studies is between 15 and 70 grams. This is a far greater amount of cannabis that even a very heavy cannabis user could use in a day,” - Prof. Wayne Hall. While alcohol on one hand makes people become belligerent marijuana calms people down and helps them relax.

(Marijuana, 30). Medical marijuana is said to have many uses. It can help with seizures or epilepsy. Medical Marijuana was legalized in 1996. People have used this plant for many different medical reasons, how and why do people use it? What are cannabinoids? Why should we legalize it?