The Benefits Of Marijuana

Marijuana is a naturally grown plant that has beneficial properties and the ability to create textiles, paper products, and other goods. Marijuana is currently illegal in many states in the United States. The legalization of Marijuana will produce enormous tax revenue, reduce crime, give us a renewable resource, and give sick and suffering patients a new effective medicine. The legalization of Marijuana in the United States would both benefit the well-being of its citizens as well the economy.

As of April 2017, 29 states in the United States have legalized medical marijuana. That now makes 58% of the 50 states that have recognized the medical benefits that marijuana can provide. Marijuana should be legalized in all states for health purposes because it can reduce seizure activity for those with epilepsy, provide better long term relief to people that have chronic pain (stemming from a variety of health issues) versus the use of opioids, and has been effective in not only treating the symptoms and side effects of cancer, but in killing cancer cells in preclinical trials as well.

Jacqueline Patterson was born with cerebral palsy. This condition makes her experience stuttering, crippling pain, and muscle imbalance. She has four children and was living in Kansas City, Missouri. Now she lives in California, where a judge determined that her cannabis use is medically necessary to ease her symptoms (Price, In Pot We Trust). Cannabis use for medical purposes and the relief of various symptoms has been around since before recorded history as the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that, “The earliest written reference is found in the 15th century BC Chinese Pharmacopeia, the Rh-Ya.” While cannabis can be used for recreational purposes, recent research and history provide evidence to its medical benefits (Procon.org, 2017). While the Chinese Pharmacopeia may not have understood the science behind medical benefits of cannabis on certain ailments, it provides a historical background into the use of medicinal cannabis. WebMD defines medical cannabis (or medical marijuana) as, “A drug that is made up of the leaves, flowers, and buds of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Medical marijuana is the use of this drug to help treat symptoms like pain, muscle stiffness (spasticity), nausea, and lack of appetite.” (WebMD, 2017) This definition provides us with a basis for what can be considered medical cannabis and what a doctor can prescribe legally. As with any other drugs like opioids, cannabis can be abused and it is important that we distinguish what can be used

Medical marijuana has been proven to an effective drug in the treatment of a number of encumbering medical conditions. A large number of legitimate medical organizations recognize the benefits of marijuana. It is far less harmful and poses fewer negative side effects than many prescription drugs, including painkillers - and patients often find it to be a more effective treatment for a variety of illnesses. However, it is perhaps the most commonly misunderstood substance in America. The usage of the drug has been widely researched and proven to be a “most viable and safe source of medicine to many Americans suffering from Aids, Glaucoma, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, and Chronic Pains” (Medical Marijuana). According to the Institute of Medicines, (1999) “marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known” (Legalization of Marijuana). More and more resources and case studies will be further discussed and practices to back up the claim, and determine marijuana’s medical value.

Marijuana has been used for its medicinal properties dating back to 2737 B.C. when it was used by the Chinese. From the Chinese, it began to spread throughout Asia and continually outward. Many different cultures began to use marijuana as a form of treatment for certain ailments. While there is a lot of debate on what exactly marijuana treats, there seems to be an overall consensus that it does provide some medical benefits. By delving into the history of marijuana use and its effects, one can see how this affects individuals in modern time, specifically focusing on high school/college students.

It is a debate that continues to rage on in restaurants, recreational parks, homes, and legislative offices among other varied locations. The debate as to whether marijuana can and should be used for medicinal purposes has divided opinion across the global community. Among all the current trends in medicine today, the potential for marijuana as a tool for medical treatment has proven to be one that is highly controversial and divisive. The extent of this divisive factor is that the use of medical marijuana is legal in some states and illegal in others. In addition, some countries like Holland allow public controlled usage of marijuana while in other countries possession of a small amount

The most commonly used illicit drug in the United States is marijuana (Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana, 2010). Its use is prevalent among young people (Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana, 2010). Rates of marijuana use have stabilized in the past few years after years of rise according to a yearly survey of middle and high school students (Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015). However, the number of young people who believe marijuana use is dangerous is declining (Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015).

Medical marijuana has been used for centuries to combat pain, weakness, anxiety, insomnia, female problems and nausea. Today it is commonly used by cancer and AIDS patients to stimulate hunger, combat nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy or other drug therapy and reduce pain. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing eye pressure, especially in the cases with glaucoma. Medical marijuana, or cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and there is some evidence of cannabis being used medicinally for over four thousand years. Many believe that medical marijuana is a healthy and natural alternative to dangerous and toxic pharmaceuticals that often have side effects worse than the original condition. The United Sates

Marijuana has been used in many herbal remedies for years. In more recent years, it has been used by people going through radiation therapy. While chemotherapy is an effective treatment to diseases like cancer, side effects include loss of appetite, fatigue, and hair loss. People going through chemotherapy use marijuana. Marijuana is found to treat nausea and vomiting, another effect from radiation therapy. It also helps people going through chemotherapy by making them hungry again. Studies have shown that people who use marijuana tend to need a lot less medicine to treat pain. While most people going through chemotherapy prefer not to smoke, there are many other ways to ingest marijuana. The most common way marijuana is ingested by cancer

The city once known as the spa city will now be known as the “pot city” and will become the first in all of Southern California to allow large scale marijuana cultivation and sale. Not only will cannabis now be medically used, individuals can now have it for their own uses. With the passing of Proposition 64, adults, twenty-one and over, now have the ability to legally consume and grow marijuana for personal use. Under the proposition, a tax on sale and cultivation of this drug will be levied. With this new legislative act, companies have now taken charge and began the establishment of facilities and organization. These large scale cultivations will be known throughout the Valley. Although there are negative views and ideas on large scale

Although marijuana may have been seen as “The Devil's Lettuce” for the past 30 plus years, Nixon may have been wrong. Recreational marijuana can offer benefits to both the medical and economical aspects of America. However if it were available readily in stores it may be easier for minors and Black Market dealers to obtain. Marijuana is seen in different ways by many people to some it's dangerous and to others it helps take the pain away, then there's people who just like to get high,no matter where you stand it offers a very profitable route.

A study of two glioblastoma cell lines (malignant brain tumor), has shown that a combination of THC and CBD led to specific anti-tumor effects that were not observed with a dose of the individual substances. These results suggest that a combination of CBD and THC could improve the overall effectiveness of THC in the treatment of glioblastoma in humans.

The legality of cannabis varies from country to country. Possession of cannabis is illegal in most countries and has been since the beginning of widespread cannabis prohibition in the late 1930s. However, many countries have decriminalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis, particularly in North America, South America and Europe. Furthermore, possession is legal or effectively legal in the Netherlands, Uruguay and in the U.S. states of Colorado and Washington as the federal government has indicated that it will not attempt to block enactment of legalization in those states. In December 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the sale, cultivation, and distribution of cannabis. There are many different types

Marijuana is believe it or not, one of the safest ‘illegal’ drugs on Earth. It is safer than legal alternatives: alcohol or tobacco. According to CNN “1 in 8 Americans smoke marijuana on a regular basis.” the drug can provide medical benefits, lower social costs, and better the economy. Therefore Marijuana should be deemed legal for recreational and medicinal usage across America, because it provides medical benefits, lowers social cost, and betters the economy across the board.

Cannabis and its extracts are said to treat many diseases including those affecting the immune system, inflammation, pain, seizures, mental disorders, and even substance use disorders. After assessing a lot of evidence revolving the uses of medical marijuana, a committee of the independent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that they found a significant amount of evidence in treating muscle spasms in MS sufferers, easing nausea post chemo, as well as effectively treating chronic pain with cannabis. Although they found limited evidence in using the drug as treatment for PTSD, anxiety, IBS, and epilepsy, there are still a lot of claims to the medicinal benefits for these conditions. (Mantel, 2017. p.10-13) The powerful cannabinoids found in the plant are believed to play a major role in its "healing"