The Pros And Cons Of Medical Marijuana

According to National Institute of Drug Abuse, Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa—the hemp plant. The marijuana is often called pot, grass, reefer, weed, herb, Mary Jane, or MJ. Most users smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, among other names; some use pipes or water

The question of whether or not marijuana should be legalized for recreational and medicinal use has been a three decade long conversation. There are many pros and cons to legalizing marijuana. There are many different ideas about the effects of marijuana, but as with any drug answers are going to vary depending on the person you survey. Age, health, and mental stability are all factors to consider how a drug can positively or negatively affect you, and marijuana is no different. To be legal or not to be legal is the million dollar question up for debate.

Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Our public policies should reflect this reality, not deny it.(keith stroepe). Marijuana should be legalized for medical use across the country. Marijuana has been used medically, recreationally and spiritually for about 5,000 years. Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana was classified as a Schedule I drug because it was considered to have no “accepted medical use in treatment in the United

Medical marijuana has been one of the most controversial topics in politics for years regardings its legalization and any possible benefits. Marijuana is commonly referred to as the “gateway drug” and has been thought to be what causes the downfall of our youth in today’s society. This has caused Marijuana to earn a bad reputation due to the immense surrounding propaganda and bias opinions. Cannabis is the scientific name of the plant which is absolutely natural and free of chemicals, but the psychoactive components in the plant has been proven to be of medical use. If medical marijuana is prescribed correctly it has the potential to help thousands of patients due to the variety of benefits it can medically provide. Medical Marijuana should

Before 1937, marijuana was freely bought, sold, grown, and smoked in the United States. Since that time, all of these activities have been illegal, but many groups and individuals have fought to decriminalize marijuana. The congressional decision to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug in 1970 has made the legalization campaign more difficult, since it officially established marijuana as a dangerous, addictive drug with no medicinal benefits.

Medical use of Marijuana is probably the most discussed topic of the legalizing campaign over the recent years. Some opponents of Marijuana say that it does not have any medical uses at all, and argue that Marijuana is only harmful and should remain illegal. Others for legalization have an opposite view that is starting to gain more recognition as time goes on. Around the late 1990’s, some members of the nation’s medical establishment began to acknowledge marijuana’s potential health benefits. One respected health organization, the Institute of Medicine, released a report in 1999 which stated that “nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety can all be mitigated by marijuana (Medical). In an article Drug Legalization, Advocates of medical marijuana say that in many cases it is the only treatment that has been shown to work. “It is a very effective medication for people who have failed to get good results from standard medications,” says Ethan Russo, a neurologist who has studied medical marijuana, “and that is why so many people are devoted to risking their lives and career to get this drug”(Drug). There are many reports that Marijuana can help with conditions traditional medicines do not seem to help with. Marijuana has also been a huge help to patients with Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Glaucoma, and Insomnia. With a lot of prescription medicines being expensive, Marijuana would be a cheaper alternative to buy if people chose to do so.

Legalizing marijuana has always been an interesting topic for many people to dispute about. Some people say it is good, while others say it is bad. No matter what topic you speak about, it has its pros and cons. For example, marijuana can be used in great ways if legalized. Through money given from dispensaries to the crime rate lowered because of the ability to acquire marijuana in legal ways. Some bad examples are that it can be a gateway drug and can cause one to want a “better high” to people thinking it affects people's lives. Legalizing marijuana (medical and recreational) will help the United States with money, crime, and other numerous ways.

Why Medical Cannabis is still federally banned? Well Marijuana has been illegal since the 1950’s, due to the enactment of federal laws like the “Narcotics management Act of 1956” that set necessary sentences that relate to drug-related offenses, as well as marijuana. A Montana grower is now in prison. “Chris Willams a Medical Marijuana grower in Montana now faces the rest of his life in prison because a Medical Marijuana law was canceled.”This law didn't include the medical use of Marijuana. I believe Medical Marijuana ought to be legal below tax and distributed to only patients with treatable diseases.

When people hear the word Marijuana, many think of it as a negative object, that is not necessarily the case. In some circumstances Medical Marijuana can help many people that have illnesses or conditions that can help them relieves their symptoms. Many states have already made Medical Marijuana legal and more states are fighting to have it legalize. For many years people have turned to medical marijuana instead of painkillers and opioids which could end the “opioid crisis”.

     Medical marijuana is used for a number of different diseases. It is prescribed mainly for loss of appetite due to HIV and Glaucoma, but is also prescribed for Muscular Dystrophy, Alzheimer’s, chemo patients, and people with psychological problems. It helps these people deal with the pain they are having. If some of these patients didn’t have medical marijuana they would go through very harsh pain and may want to give up on life. According to Dr. Lucido, “with the correct use of prescribed medication for pain, anxiety, and even hypertension commonly produces tolerance and some measure of physiological dependency.” Whoever gets prescribed medical marijuana really does need it.

Marijuana’s medicinal properties are one of its greatest benefits. According to Joycelyn Elders, MD, medical marijuana use relieves symptoms of diseases like AIDS, MS, and cancer (Elders). The New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel has added 43 new conditions that are now treatable with medical marijuana (Hefler). Unfortunately, not everyone has the same view of this medical progress. Governor Chris Christie “reluctantly signed” a bill to make PTSD treatable by marijuana, claiming marijuana is a “gateway drug” (Hefler). Opponents of legalization use the term gateway drug in discussions of marijuana to bring harder drugs into the conversation as a boogeyman tactic. If anything pot has demonstrated itself to be a gatekeeper because in states where pot is legal opioid related deaths have dropped nearly 25 percent (Strouse).

Marijuana’s medicinal properties are one of its greatest benefits. According to Joycelyn Elders, MD symptoms of diseases like AIDS, MS, and cancer can be relieved through medical marijuana use (Elders). The New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel has added 43 new conditions that are now permissible to be treated with medical marijuana (Hefler). Not everyone is thrilled by this medical progress though. Governor Chris Christie “reluctantly signed” a bill to make PTSD treatable by marijuana claiming marijuana is a “gateway drug” (Hefler). The term “gateway drug” is usually brought out in discussions of marijuana to bring harder drugs in the conversation as a boogieman tactic. If anything pot has demonstrated itself to be a gatekeeper because in states where pot is legal opioid related deaths have dropped nearly 25 percent (Strouse).

Legalizing medical marijuana is a controversial topic that most individuals tend to shy away from, but with the passages of laws in 23 states, the conversation is becoming inevitable (ProCon.org, 2015). While proponents of medical marijuana argue that it is a safe and effective treatment for various health symptoms, opponents argue it is dangerous, addictive, and a gate way to harder drug use. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the issue, the policies surrounding the issue, the pro/con of legalizing medical marijuana, and to provide recommendations.

For those who never give the legalization of marijuana a time of day or those who are hesitant on giving it a chance, are now starting to believe that the legalization of the substance would ultimately be helpful for the United States. One of the main reasons why non believers are starting to convert is because of the medical advantages the substance has to offer. Some of the states in America have already legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes and even other countries, including our neighbor Canada have a set of strict laws for marijuana allowing the use of it for medical purposes (Curry, 2012). States in the U.S and other nations have permitted the usage of marijuana strictly for the medical aspect and to even give it the title like medicine should change some views on how “dangerous” it really is, especially since there has been no reports or any recorded issues with the substance being used for medical purposes only. Marijuana if used correctly is a great medicine that can relieve great pain for its user. It is also very beneficial to people who suffer on a daily basis with migraines, OCD, ADHD, ADD, and studies show it may even prevent Alzheimer’s. The substance also has no recorded or tested drawbacks from using it (20 Amazing Things, 2013). Another great medical benefit of the usage of marijuana is, unlike other sleep aids, painkillers, alcohol

Should Marijuana be Legalized? Over half of Americans answer ‘’Yes.’’ Marijuana is greatly frowned upon, not just in America, but all across the globe. But these laws against Marijuana are up for debate in several countries. Especially in the United States. There are sixteen states in this country that allow medical usage of Marijuana.