Should Marijuana Be Legal? Essay

The truths about marijuana are slowly starting to resurface, the government keeps ignoring that cannabis could one day be as powerful for the U.S. Unfortunately, these truths about marijuana are under a lot of criticism because of the stereotype of what people see as a "marijuana or cannabis smoker." There is a great difficulty in this law because marijuana is still recognized as a harmful and dangerous substance in some states. This can cause problems because each state has their different views and opinions on the matter, and have their own rules and how the rules apply towards it. The twenty-six states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, but California, Massachusetts, and Nevada just passed the law for recreational use. The states that have medical marijuana and recreational legalization are Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Alaska. The states that only have medical marijuana legal are Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii (Ingraham). However, legalizing marijuana could have some benefits instead of being a drug with some bad reputations. Marijuana should be legalized because of medical reasons, safety reasons, and have some benefits to society.

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is a long-standing controversy. For centuries marijuana was prescribed to alleviate symptoms associated with a variety of illnesses. Anti-medical marijuana sentiments began with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act banned the use of marijuana completely, categorizing it as a drug with no medicinal value, high abuse rates, and detrimental health effects (http://www.farmacy.org/prop215/apha.html). Since 1996, numerous states including California, Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have passed medical marijuana initiatives supporting the right to prescribe marijuana for seriously or terminally ill patients (http://www.marihemp.com/marimed.html). The American Public Health Association and the Institute of Medicine represent two organizations that have recently researched and endorsed advancements in the study of medical marijuana. Both groups support the use of marijuana for specific treatments, such as reducing nausea in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, stimulating the appetites of AIDS victims, and limiting spasticity in MS patients.

The debate regarding marijuana for medical usage has become more evident in recent years. There has been a controversy in both the public and healthcare arena. The debate on legalization of marijuana has some advocators emphasizing the benefits of using medical marijuana such as relieving chronic pain, nausea and vomiting while the opponents are emphasizing the ability to become addicted to of this drug and the lack of research done to know the side effects (Porche, 2013). Overall the real question is should marijuana be a medical option?

Until very recently the only research that has been conducted on the medical use of Cannabis has been for the relief of cancer patients. The primary use at this point has been for the relief of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy (Nantional Cancer Institute, 2014). Some of the other uses have been for anorexia and cachexia in HIV/AIDS, chronic, especially neuropathic pain, spasticity in multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury (Nantional Cancer Institute, 2014). The scientific data collected over the years is precisely clear that the use of medical Cannabis is needed and should be allowed everywhere in the United States.

Legalizing marijuana may serve as a medicine for ill and unhealthy people. Marijuana is famously known for its ability to relieve pain for people that suffer with ADDs/ ADHD, Alzheimer’s, seizures, migraines, and physical pain relief like knee or back pain. In addition, marijuana can be used to, “treat those disorders but also cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana kill cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth!” (Torres). American states like Colorado and Washington have already legalized the use of marijuana, not to mention

Many of the arguments that are opposed to medical marijuana consist of ill-advised comments that have not been properly researched. One objection is that tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical found in marijuana, is the chemical that makes people ‘high’. It is true that this chemical has some unwanted side effects, however, cannabidiol does not (Abuse). With the research people have done, cannabidiol is even known to do more than tetrahydrocannabinol can. Another concern that has been brought to light is that certain patients undergoing medical marijuana treatments could have dealt with an addiction problem in the past and therefore take advantage of the medication given to them. To counter this argument, most of the hospitals in the states that have approved medical marijuana as a reliable treatment, issue patient identification to each patient (Marijuana). Medical Marijuana may also be used to treat patients that struggle with former addictions. Many people also argue that there are many other different treatments for pain, nausea, and vomiting. This is true, however, with the proper research, marijuana could be used as a potential cure for cancer as well

Doctors that push for the legalization of medical marijuana have some valid points worth looking at. If medical cannabis can help a sick and dying cancer patients feel better long enough to eat, then it is hard to argue that medical cannabis does not have a meaningful purpose in treating patients. Healthcare professionals in states where marijuana is legal, may prescribe the drug in order to help certain patients deal with pain, or as a sleep aid for those who struggle with insomnia. The drug is extremely effective at “promoting weight gain, controlling nausea, palliating peripheral neuropathy, and reducing muscle spasticity” (Tuyp, 2014, p. 592). The issue is most users that consume cannabis, use it for recreational purposes, and never see a medical physician about their individual use.

In the article “Medical Marijuana Should Be Legalized”, Noel Merino talks about the benefits of marijuana and how it can treat several medical conditions. Merino feels that marijuana should be legalized for medical use because it is actually one of the safest drugs currently existing that can be used therapeutically to alleviate a wide range of ailments (Merino 4). As a matter of fact, some of the most common minor and easily treatable illnesses medical marijuana can treat include a decline of nausea and appetite loss, a reduced amount of intraocular pressure, a decreased amount of muscle spasms, and a declined amount of chronic pain (5-8). It is true that marijuana can still

Should marijuana be legalized in Texas? This a question people have debated for years now. Today, there are 29 states that have some form of weed legalization. Even people who opposed cannabis legalization before are now realizing that marijuana could benefit us in many different ways. But there are still some who say that it would lead to other drugs, raise crime in communities, and harm young children. Although this has been the case for many years, it’s time to change how we think and live in today 's society. Marijuana should be legalized because of all the pros it would bring to Texas such as medicinal, social, recreational uses.

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?

By far the best assignment assigned in this class due to the freedom of choosing the topic you want to talk about. When I opened the instructions about this paper the first thing that popped out on my head was to research on Cannabis since I already had a lot of questions about it and never even bothered on looking up my curiosity. The other reason I chose this was because everyone experiences this at least at some point in their life, and this drug is becoming legalized all over the world little by little. Like what is the difference between Texas and Colorado we are still both part of the United States why can’t Marijuana be legal. If we live under the same country why is it legal only in certain places and not where other unfortunate people live? I wanted to know if there was actually a great reason to not have it legalized but when I researched on “Pot” there was not one fact that made me say that it was a horrible drug and I would never try it. Instead it made me think of weed as a less harmful substance than alcohol and tobacco which are obviously legal throughout our every day life.

Marijuana has always been a big deal in society, ever since it has become known as a street drug. In the current year of 2016, not only citizens abuse marijuana, Celebrities, professional athletes, and college students all abuse the substance for its benefits. We are becoming more aware how recently this year that marijuana has been legalized in ten countries and twenty five states in the United States of America. That is one half of our country that is able to use this substance. By legalizing marijuana we as in the country can reduce harm, save families, save money, and most importantly save lives.

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

It is only recently that hemp was made out to be the demon that it is not. People are told inaccuracies about cannabis and are believing them without sufficient evidence. It has been known to aid in pain management, nausea, epileptic seizures, mental illnesses and addiction. “Recent animal studies have shown that marijuana extracts may help kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others” (NIDA). Though there is not extensive research that has been done, what has been shown is that it can contribute to the medical field, clothing industries, paper mills, food, and many others. Even if there was a small chance to contribute to the betterment of mankind, it would be worth the research to definitively say one way or the other. Five thousand years of history should prove its worth in humanity, however, due to the greed of some and the racism of the era, marijuana has a way to go before its reputation can be as it once was.

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.