The thought that marijuana could be used for medicinal purposes is not a new concept; in fact it has been around for thousands of years. Before I began to do research on this topic I strongly believed that marijuana could be used as an effective medicine. I had heard many stories about its potential for helping cancer and AIDs patients, among other illnesses, to deal with both the symptoms of the diseases and the side effects of the treatments. These treatments could include chemotherapy or radiation in the case of cancer patients. I also was well aware of the fact that marijuana has never had a single recorded case of a person dying from a marijuana overdose. This in itself is cause to say that marijuana could be a safer medicine opposed to other prescriptions. With this evidence alone, it may seem that I am a complete supporter of the prospect of marijuana being used for medical purposes. This is not entirely the case. Before doing any of my research I have heard the horror stories of people becoming completely addicted and having the drug take over their lives. The whole issue of marijuana is a highly debated topic and should be looked at from different viewpoints before deciding a position. Marijuana Effects
As I conducted my research one of the main arguments in this heated debate is about the actual potential for it to help people better cope with the symptoms of diseases. Some people believe that marijuana has much to offer people in the realm of medicine; others say that it does more harm than good. Those who are proponents of marijuana being legalized say that it is of tremendous medical value. They propose that it can help alleviate chronic pain, stop muscle spasms from occurring, cause a gain in appetite and help stop nausea, and also relieve pressure within the eye. A few of the ailments that could be helped by this drug include AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma. AIDS and cancer patients could benefit from marijuana by having both the pain associated with this disease diminished. Also these patients could be helped by having a more stimulated appetite and less nausea. Those with epilepsy could be helped by potentially having seizures prevented. People suffering from multiple sclerosis could possibly have less painful muscle spasms. Also those who have glaucoma could be provided with relief from intra-ocular pressure and potentially be spared severe eye damage. Marijuana Medical
This article as a whole was basically a list of all the ways that it could be helpful for several diseases. It also pointed out that for a very long time marijuana was being used as medicine already so this thought of it being useful is not new. After seeing all of the diseases that it could potentially help with I was surprised. All I could think about with regard to the people who suffer from these diseases is that if I were in their place I would want to try anything that could potentially work. Marijuana Vaporizer
However, there are those who disagree completely and say that marijuana has no place in the medical world what so ever. They cite the fact that marijuana has never been accepted as a true medicine by most major organizations involved in testing and certifying medications including the Food and Drug Administration. Also, it has been pointed out that medical marijuana still cannot be prescribed in the vast majority of the states today. Marijuana is also not sold in pharmacies, and perhaps the most important thing to note is that marijuana is still ranked in the same category of drugs as heroin, LSD, and other illegal drugs. Medical Marijuana
This article was defiantly against medical marijuana. It criticized each any every part of it having medical value. It pointed out that it has never been approved for medical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It also broke down the criteria for a drug to be certified to have medical value and talked about each point and why marijuana did not qualify. This article was, if nothing else, very effective at showing the sharp contrast in views between the supporters and opposition. Quality Marijuana
Another argument that has been made is whether or not marijuana has the potential to be an addictive drug. Some people say that marijuana presents a threat to society due to its addictive properties. There is a good reason to believe in this point of view. During the time between 1992 and 2006 the strength of marijuana massively increased. In fact, it is estimated that this increase could be as much as one hundred seventy-five percent. This caused the number of people who are dependent upon marijuana to increase. There are several risks that go along with dependency upon marijuana. One of these is that some users could possibly drive while under the influence of the drug. Using marijuana impairs motor skills and can lead to accidents. Overall, marijuana is the second most frequently detected drug in driver's systems. Recreational Cannabis Store
When reading this article, it became clear that the author was very against all forms or marijuana both medical and non-medical. It goes on to discuss the evolution of cannabis into what we have today, as well as the reason that it is so addictive. The author of this article also shows the biggest reason they think that marijuana should not be legalized in any form. Medical marijuana is one step closer to legalization. This puts children and teens at risk and this article mainly makes a statement against such circumstances. Recreational Marijuana
On the other hand, there are people who say that marijuana is not addictive and is actually a very safe drug to use. One such person is Paul Armentano author of "Marijuana is not addictive". In his article, Armentano cites a report done by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). According to the IOM, less than ten percent of people who try cannabis meet the description of a person who exhibits addiction. This is a far cry from the number of people who showed addiction to other drugs.
These drugs included tobacco which was at 32 percent, heroin at 23 percent, cocaine at 17 percent, and alcohol at 15 percent. All of these percentages are high compared to marijuana which was at less than 10 percent. Another factor that supports the fact that marijuana is non-addictive is the lack of withdrawal symptoms. Cannabis unlike tobacco or alcohol does not cause severe withdrawal effects. The most notable effects for marijuana are slight apprehension, agitation, and lack of sleep. Tobacco produces similar withdrawal effects, but much more severe by comparison. Many times tobacco's effects are enough to persuade a person to start up again, which is not true for marijuana.
This article to me was very eye opening. It presented a very large amount of information which was focused on the issue of whether or not marijuana is addictive or not. It compares dependency rates with many of the other abused narcotics; as well as discussing the withdrawals that each drug causes. Overall, it clearly is in favor of marijuana being used as medicine, and presents scientific evidence to show why it should be.
One more major piece of evidence that support legalization comes from an article titled "Medical Marijuana". While the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws was conducting a study about the chemicals that marijuana contains, scientists discovered something interesting. The particular chemicals that they studied are called cannabinoids which are chemicals unique to the marijuana plant. These chemical compounds were found to actually be anti-cancer.
This article is very important because of the information that it contains about the distinct effects of cannabis' chemicals. The article also goes on to restate the benefits that were given previously in a separate commentary. Further in the source, the legal victories are also discussed which were related to how medical marijuana was able to get to where it is today.
In conclusion, cannabis being used for medicinal purposes is a highly debatable topic. So many studies have been done with each seeming to produce different results. After reading through all the articles, my opinion has not been swayed by the opposition. I still side with those who believe in legalization for medical purposes. I do however realize that people have very different and very strong opinions on the topic. It is hard to tell exactly who is right or wrong. There is so much evidence presented both for, and against legalization of cannabis as medicine that it is less about who to believe and more about who not to believe.
