Essay about Medical Marijuana

The cannabis plant (marijuana) has been used medicinally by a variety of cultures around the world. It was used as medicine in the United States until when a new tax fee led to its discontinued use. Congress has voted on several bills to legalize the medical use of marijuana; however none of those bills were passed. In June 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal laws against marijuana, including its medical use, are valid. The government has authorized few research studies into the health effects of medical marijuana.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved

Marijuana is a misunderstood drug. Many assume that the usage of marijuana, or cannabis, is dangerous, but it can be the exact opposite. So why is the legalization of marijuana in the United States such a problem for many people today? Considered to be a gateway drug and the reason for the downfall of our youth nowadays, marijuana has developed a negative reputation. Lester Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard University, states, “Few drugs in the United States have produced as much affective heat as marijuana, particularly during the last decade. The controversy essentially revolves around the question of how dangerous or safe the drug is." However, many people are persistent users and believe that this drug is no more harmful than

Medical marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a controversial topic because many find it beneficial as others find the usage to be recreational. Throughout the years, medical marijuana has gone through periods of times in which it was legal and illegal. Over the years laws have been developed in order to try and regulate the usage of the drug. Studies have shown many the benefits of treating diseases and symptoms. Today it is used in treatment with many different diseases and disorders such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and multiple sclerosis. As medical marijuana has different species and uses of the product, it is important to depict where the drug can be used for treatment. The usage of this drug enables patients to have a more positive and livable outcome with treatments.

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.

Many medically ill patients experience agonizing pain everyday that they can not easily control with regular pain medicine, so what’s the next best thing? There have been many recent cases where medical patients have used medical marijuana for therapeutic uses and found that it had slowed the progression of their disease or helped cure it. Medical marijuana has started to become more popular with medical communities and researchers. Medical marijuana can affect many things in a positive way such as financial situations and social aspects, while having benefits on medical illnesses. Medical marijuana that does not contain the THC drug should be legalized in the United States because it would provide therapeutic benefits without making the user feel high.

As more effective treatments for diseases and cancers are being developed, a safe and promising drug is being under attack for its many misconceptions. Marijuana use of both medicinally and recreationally, has been hindered by the misconceptions it has faced due to it being on the schedule 1 drug class of the U.S government. These misconceptions of medical marijuana have hindered its legalization by having people continue to believe them, refusing to learn the beneficial properties of medical marijuana, and as a result have affected people who could benefit from this form of treatment.

    Many people suffer unbearable pain and discomfort from their illnesses and seek any method that might bring relief. Many suffer from chemotherapy treatment, HIV infection related wasting, glaucoma, or other serious ailments that carry an unbearable amount of pain. They first try the drugs that their doctors have prescribed. These prescribed legal drugs seem to have some benefits, but often carry with them many side effects that may be more harmful than helpful. Many patients give the legal drugs a try and find that they are not effective in relieving them of their symptoms. As a result, many turn to marijuana for its medicinal use. Because it is an effective treatment,

Marijuana is a drug that divides people. Some people claim it as the wonder drug of the '90s, capable of relieving the symptoms of many serious illnesses. Others curse the day the cannabis plant was ever discovered. From pain relief to stimulating the appetites of patients on chemotherapy, marijuana seems to have plenty going for it as a medicine. The legalization of marijuana is a large controversy in many parts of the world today, but the obvious negative effects that the drug induces has kept it from being legalized. Many researchers have a strong positive attitude towards marijuana. It has been said that the drug is “worth investigating and even providing as a medicine for pain relief, severe

marijuana, from being sold in the marketplace. Yet, even with prohibition, marijuana use has only decreased minimally. Because of its illegality, only the bad aspects of marijuana use have been made known. However, there are many positive aspects of marijuana legalization, including its application concerning medical cures.

Medical marijuana is cannabis and cannabinoids that are recommended by doctors for their patients. Sadly the use of cannabis as medicine has not been accurately tested due to production restrictions of governmental regulations. Many projects suggests cannabis can reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, improve appetite in people with HIV, AIDS, and reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms.

We now realize that medicinal pot is an effective, and sometimes superior medication, and that the last 70 years of prohibition have been uncalled for. Its uses are numerous, and it is a terrible injustice that patients are being denied access to this wealth of uses. One of the best uses of marijuana is for pain relief, mainly neuropathic pain, which is pain associated with nerve damage. It can be used to control nausea,

The United States government restricts and makes marijuana illegal, including marijuana for medicinal purposes. However, in June of this year it was reported that 25 states including Washington D.C., have made medicinal marijuana legal, and 3 states have pending legislation or ballot measures (ProCon.org). Using medicinal marijuana on ill patients could help, and possibly, save their lives. For example, medicinal marijuana could help cancer patients, those who suffer from depression, and aids patients. Annually, 7.6 million Americans die just from cancer, 15 million are diagnosed with depression, and 50 thousand are affected by AIDS. (World Cancer Day & DoSomething.org). The use of medicinal marijuana is a controversial issue in today’s society.

Before talking about medical marijuana and it’s benefits, it is important to understand the background of why marijuana was made illegal in the first place. It all began in the early 1900’s after the mexican revolution. At this time there was an extremely large amount of mexican immigrants moving to states like Texas and Louisiana. These immigrants came to America with their native language, customs and culture. One of these customs was the use of marijuana. IT was used as a medicine and a way to relax. While americans referred to the plant as “Cannabis,” mexican immigrants referred to the plant as “marihuana.” This was a foreign term to Americans, and it was used by the media to portray the plant as a “dangerous foreign drug.” The media spread false

According to article, “Recent Research on Medical Marijuana,” written by Paul Armentano, and published on NORML.org in 2015, he mentions in the United States, federal prohibitions outlawing cannabis ' recreational, industrial, and therapeutic use were first imposed by Congress under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In the article, “23 Health Benefits Of Marijuana,” by Jennifer Welsh and Kevin Loria, published on Business Insider.com in 2014 they emphasizes: “There are two active chemicals in marijuana that researchers think have medicinal applications. Those are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which has pain relieving and other properties” (Welsh and Loria 1). In “Medical marijuana could reduce painkiller abuse, study suggests,” article published in an online newspaper the Los Angeles Time, in 2015, Melissa Healy wrote: “Could medical marijuana be an antidote for the nation 's scourge of fatal overdoses caused by prescription pain medication? A new study suggests the answer is, “yes.”

Drugs: anyone especially juveniles should not use them because they can cause severe mental and physical damage. Wait, what about Marijuana? Marijuana is a very controversial topic, not as bad as abortion, but similar. Interestingly, medicinal marijuana in California was considered legal in 1996; recently recreational marijuana has been legalized in particular states. Since Marijuana has been legalized, about five hundred to one thousand dispensaries have opened. Weed was, and still is, the most popular drug on the market. In actuality, it is also the safest drug on the market, because prescriptions are considered drugs and too many can kill you. Surprisingly, it originated from Central and Southern Asia. Marijuana consists of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or commonly known as THC, which is not an addictive ingredient. Other illicit drugs like, cocaine, meth, and acid include deleterious ingredients. These addictive hallucinogens can annihilate a life in one simple usage, in which many forget. Another thing people forget if the fact that weed helps people, by calming their anxiety, easing their pain, and helping them eat. Selling, cultivating and distributing marijuana will positively affect the city of Desert Hot Springs by providing a safer product, increasing tax revenue and promoting more jobs.