Should Marijuana Be Allowed For Medical Marijuana? Essay

Marijuana is composed of approximately over four hundred chemicals. According to the Mayo Clinic "Marijuana contains at least 60 chemicals called cannabinoids. Researchers are evaluating how effective some of these cannabinoids might be in controlling symptoms of certain medical conditions. For example: THC, an abbreviation for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the main component responsible for marijuana's mind-altering effect. It also may help treat signs and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting that are associated with a number of medical conditions. Cannabinol and cannabidiol, these compounds have some of the properties of THC, but cause less psychoactive effects — the high. [...]” Medical marijuana can be used to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from anxiety to more life threatening diseases like cancer.

With more studies being completed, along with states legalizing medical marijuana the acceptance for this once “harmful” drug is increasing. There are twenty-eight states that have legalized marijuana for medical use. The first state to legalize marijuana was California back in 1996 ("What Are the Non-smoked Ways to Use Marijuana Medically? - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org"). Within then the other twenty-seven states have followed, setting possession limits. Each state has compiled a list of approved conditions allowing patients to obtain marijuana for medical purposes. Patients also must register with the state and pay a registry fee before they are allowed to start treatment, this fee varies state to state. Some states accept other states’ registry ID card while other state do not. There are a general estimate of 2,604,079 nation wide users of medical marijuana.

According to the authors, recent studies have shown that there is another compound in marijuana that is increasing the attention of both scientists and medical marijuana providers known as cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is not an intoxicating product, and does not produce a high when alone, but some researchers claim it may calm the anxiety produced by THC. Some research suggests that marijuana with a better balance between CBD and THC is less risky than the high-THC, low-CBD strains that now dominate the upper end of the marijuana market (Caulkin 9). With scientists discovering the new compound CBD, it makes them more interested in doing further research in order to discover more roles of other compounds

The cannabis plant contains over 85 cannabinoids, with tertahydro-cannibinol (THC), the principal psychoactive compound and Cannabidiol (CBD) forming the largest constituent. According to the website Medical Marijuana Inc, CBD or Cannabidiol Hemp Oil is derived from high CBD, low THC hemp plant. Since hemp oil only contains only a small trace of THC, it is considered a non-psychotic product. Hemp oil works by interacting with the body through the endocannabinoid system or the endogenous cannabinoid system. The system contains millions of cannabinoid receptor sites located around the Central Nervous System (CNS), immune system and the brain. The systems plays an important role of regulating the body’s homeostasis or state of balance by impacting functionalities such as hormone balance, sleep, mood, immune response, appetite and pain.

Under Federal law, only FDA-approved medications are legal to prescribe—and marijuana is not one of those approved medications. Still, more than a dozen States have approved its use to alleviate a variety of symptoms. Many of marijuana’s effects (including its psychoactive or mind-altering properties) stem from an ingredient called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which resembles a chemical that the body and brain make naturally. THC attaches to specialized proteins, called cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), to which the body’s natural chemicals normally bind. Along with THC, the marijuana plant contains over 400 other chemical compounds, including other cannabinoids that may be biologically active and vary from plant to plant. This makes it difficult to consider its use as a medicine even though some of marijuana’s specific ingredients may offer benefits.

(Breene, Sophia). Cannabidiol contains pain relieving, anti-inflammatory and antipsychotic properties which makes many doctors believe that medical marijuana, or drugs made from cannabidiol at the very least, can help with “cancer related pains, pain from HIV or AIDS, [and] pain related to multiple sclerosis.” (Nampiaparampil, Devi) Medical marijuana works similar to opioids by binding to receptors in the brain however with medical marijuana THC mimics the natural neurotransmitter anandamide, (Breene, Sophia) a chemical that boost memory and learning, dulls pain, and stimulates appetite, by replacing it and binding itself with another neurotransmitter called dopamine, the chemical that mediated pleasure in the body. (Mandala, Anany). Do to THC’s interruption of the brain's natural processes, and the affects of smoke being inhaled when marijuana is consumed, medical marijuana may not be the alternative people are looking

In the United States, more than ten states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical reasons. These states include California, Hawaii, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, Rhode Island, Nevada, and Washington among others. The Supreme Court of

It has been found that there are at least two active chemicals that researcher’s believe have medicinal application. It includes Cannabidiol (CBD), which impacts the brain, with no highs. Then, there is Tetrahydro Cannabinol (THC), which consists

I write to you to deferentially ask for that you support the Legitimate use of Medicinal Marijuana Act, bill number H.R. 2373. This will give authorization to licensed specialists to endorse marijuana as a treatment choice to their severely ill patients. This decision can and will saves a lot of lives, especially our babies and elderly.

These qualities include treating multiple afflictions such as nausea, vomiting (Consroe), appetite loss, anxiety, pain (Marijuana), and multiple sclerosis (Abuse). Medical marijuana is able to assist doctors with relieving patients from these multiple difficulties because marijuana contains a chemical called cannabinoids (Abuse). Cannabinoids are produced by the human body and can sharpen memory, thought processes, concentration, movement, awareness, and the five senses (Abuse). The cannabinoids that marijuana produce include cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (Abuse). Tetrahydrocannabinol is used mainly for treating pain, inflammation, and muscle control (Abuse). Cannabidiol is used to treat pain, inflammation, epileptic seizures, and quite possibly mental illnesses in the future (Abuse). These cannabinoids can increase the effects of cancer killing and treatment of HIV and AIDS (Abuse). Studies conducted in 2001 also shed new light on the incredible properties of medical marijuana by discovering that it can be used to treat patients with a terminal illness or a chronic disease

In 1996, California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medicinal use. Now 23 states and the District of Columbia allow cannabis to be sold for medicinal purposes. In 2013, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, with Alaska, Oregon and the District of Columbia doing the same in 2014.

All of the sates where medical marijuana has been legalized, under state laws, are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

Weed, bud, ganja, chronic, dro, herbs, grass, trees, pot, reefer; these are all names of the one drug that causes so much dispute, marijuana. Loved by so many, and hated by the law. It’s a two sided argument which everyone has their own opinion on. Is there any specific reason why weed should be illegal, or is the government just making money from catching people with it? Is there any real medical purpose for marijuana, or is it just a gateway drug for kids? These are the questions everyone should know the answers to. Whose side are you on?

Is it possible for an illegal drug to be deemed legal for medical purposes? Well for an illegal drug like marijuana, that is the question. There are currently many people who use marijuana legally to suppress their illness. Marijuana should be allowed for medicinal purposes.

It is heavily debated as to whether or not marijuana should be legalized. There are numerous reasons for and against legalizing marijuana, some say that the government can tax it, some say that it helps with certain medical conditions. People also say that it is not a gateway drug and does not lead to drug abuse. Then there is the question of should we legalize it now even though there is no way to test the levels in your blood at a routine police stop. There are some really good points as to why marijuana should be legalized and some good reasons as to why it should not be legalized, the truth is that people are going to smoke marijuana whether it is legal or not.