The Multi-Beneficial Herb: Marijuana

Thesis: Marijuana has never caused death or cancer. Marijuana has been proven to help people in pain, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Marijuana is causing more harm staying illegal than becoming legal.

Glaucoma is an eye condition in which the optic nerve becomes damaged over time, reducing side vision. One cause of optic nerve damage in glaucoma is higher than normal pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure).Using medical marijuana can help decrease intraocular pressure. The idea of marijuana helping treat glaucoma dates clear back to the 1970s. Studies conducted then showed that smoking marijuana lowered the intraocular pressure of people with glaucoma. However, the pressure is only lowered for a short period of time, approximately three or four hours. This brief period of time could be a major disadvantage for using marijuana as a glaucoma treatment. Glaucoma is a disease that should be treated 24 hours a day to be comfortable.

“According to the United Nations, 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana—more than 3.8% of the planet’s population” (Drugfreeworld.org, 2014). Marijuana is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world (Sewell). It has received a plethora of criticism in the past and its negative reputation has carried on throughout history, making the legalization of marijuana one of the most controversial topics today. Marijuana does not deserve the reputation it receives, and in actuality it serves many medicinal purposes for the human body. Marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states for medical use.

For many years, the prohibition of marijuana has led people to believe that marijuana was extremely dangerous, therefore, it could never be legal; but, most dangers spoken about marijuana are myths as it is found less harmful than alcohol, and even tobacco. In 2007, research done by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare came to the conclusion that alcohol was a large contributor to death and the cause of more than 3% of the overall disease and injury in Australia, while marijuana was accountable for no deaths and only 0.2% of disease and injury. Despite what many are told to believe, this research poses that marijuana holds way fewer risks than alcohol does, and alcohol is legal. Around 88,000 deaths occur each year due to alcohol consumption, and half of those are due to binge drinking. With this in

Marijuana is no longer used just to achieve euphoria or by hippies to show rebellion against the United States authorities. In today’s world you do not need a lava lamp and a van down by the river, you can now receive marijuana from doctors. The medicinal use of marijuana is fairly new in the U.S. One of the most common diseases medical marijuana patients suffer from is glaucoma. Although it is now legal, recent studies show hemp may not be the answer for glaucoma patients. The benefits of marijuana’s use for glaucoma treatment has not proven to outweigh its risks.

Many people from all around the world believe that marijuana is an addictive drug that has ruined the lives of millions. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 37,000 annual U.S deaths are the effects of alcohol alone. Alternatively, there is not even a category for the deaths caused by marijuana. Many of us think that marijuana kills brain cells but studies show teens that use marijuana as well as alcohol suffered significantly less damage to the white blood cells in their brains. Alcohol use contributes to aggressive and violent behavior while marijuana will only make a person feel more comfortable. “Alcohol is clearly the drug with the most evidence to support a direct intoxication, violent relationships, whereas cannabis reduces the likelihood of violence during intoxications” (Shuette, 2013). The government does not even track violent acts specifically related to marijuana use. Marijuana and alcohol should be switched where marijuana is legal and alcohol is not because it will benefit people more than alcohol will.

In the United States, twenty-one states have no laws on legal marijuana use, even for medicinal marijuana. Another twenty-one have legalized marijuana for medical use only. As for the other eight, those states have legalized the use marijuana for medicinal and recreational. The states that have fully legalized marijuana have seen a boost in the economy due to taxes from marijuana sales. Along with helping the economy, marijuana is proven to provide medical aid for illnesses, such as cancer and Parkinson’s Disease. The legalization of marijuana for medicinal and recreational use will be a benefit to society.

Medicinal marijuana is proven beneficial for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and more patients. These are some of the most worst diseases on the planet and we have a plant that can help patients in multiple ways but until recently we didn’t legalize this. There's a chemical found in marijuana that stops

Another advantage of legalising marijuana may be the medical benefits of cannabis which can be used to create a safe therapeutic effect, when used medicinally in its purest form. Studies also show the marijuana when used under a supervised routine of medical care can be used to reduce stress, as well as relieving and reducing nausea from cancer patients who participate in chemotherapy. Other medical source’s state Marijuana, once again when used under supervision for medical reasons can be effective in treating glaucoma, through relieving pressure on one’s eye socket, as well providing relief to those suffering from AID’s and Multiple sclerosis. Whilst to put in perspective the damaging effects of marijuana in

There are many scientifically proven health benefits to smoking marijuana the first of which is it can be used to treat glaucoma and other eye disease. Pot doesn’t just treat glaucoma it can be used to prevent it. According to the National Eye Institute "Studies in the early 1970s showed that

This article discusses the actual controversy of marijuana uses, for both recreational and medical purposes. McCarthy emphasizes on the opinion of different optometrists, who are concern because patients are being asking questions related to marijuana uses and glaucoma, whether it is beneficial or not to treat such disease. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not have a scientific evidence of marijuana effectiveness to treat glaucoma. In the 1970s different studies were conducted, showing that marijuana could lower intraocular pressure. Nonetheless, doctors do not back these studies, because medicinal marijuana can also make a weak intraocular pressure, and even harm the nerve. As a result, he states that marijuana is an ineffective

Another study shows medical marijuana is consistent with leads to increased marijuana use which helps many individuals cope with stressful life events. There are also studies that associate medical marijuana with helping depression. Another benefit of being able to smoke medical marijuana is that it may help reverse the carcinogenic effects of tobacco and actually improve lung function. A study has shown that medical marijuana does not impair lung function at all. It helps control epileptic seizures. The THC in marijuana can help slow the damaging effects of Alzheimers disease. It lessens the side effects caused from hepatitis C. Marijuana can also treat inflammatory bowel disease. The list of all the things that medical marijuana can help and or prevent goes on. There have been many studies to prove what all medical marijuana can help with. It can help in so many ways. The world could be a healthier place if people were able to smoke in all fifty states of America. Smoking marijuana could make the world a lot happier because it could possibly keep people from dying sooner than they do because of all the diseases and pain, and just problems in general. Smoking marijuana can help many people with stress disorders. Marijuana

Think about it being stressed and worried about what might come out of you see any medicine is it fun. So here is what people need to think about the benefits and medical marijuana. First, It can help individuals lose weight “cannabis helps the body regulate insulin production and manage more caloric intake more efficient” (Whitley N.P.). Cannabis also helps regulate and prevent diabetes. One major benefit he has is it helps fight cancer. Sadly “it only helps fight certain kinds of cancer” (Whitley N.P.). For examples there are promises in treating autism, regulate seizures, hope broken bones heal faster. Cannabis also helps treatment for ADHD, “ it is a safer and more efficient than most medications like Ritalin and Adderall” (Chip N.P). Lots of people don't truly comprehend what positive benefits medical marijuana has. There are so many more benefits as listed above. Numbers of people have been strongly affected by the use of this new medicine. Especially, people with anxiety, lung health, Alzheimer's, muscle spasms and the common eating disorders. Patients are always looking for the best way to help them get cured and medical marijuana shows great

Moreover, most people agree that marijuana is not as highly addictive as caffeine. (The elements of moral philosophy) One of the other important defend that people who want to legalize marijuana usually said is the health effects of marijuana. More and more researches are conducting to prove the assumption that “addiction and dependence are relatively minor problems, especially compared with alcohol and tobacco” and “moderate use of marijuana does not appear to pose a risk for otherwise healthy adults.” (6 Powerful Reasons to Legalize Marijuana) Additionally, the Times also stated that marijuana can alleviate epilepsy, pain from AIDS, nausea from chemotherapy as well as treating glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, muscle spasms related to multiple sclerosis.

The use of marijuana has many medical benefits. It can be used to treat a number of health issues including chronic pain, nausea, muscle spasticity, and other conditions.