Is marijuana a harmful drug or a beneficial medicine?
A Review of the Literature
Marijuana has been utilized for many years by a diverse selection of people. Each user having their own unique reasons for their strong believe in one natural plant’s ability to heal and enlighten. However the plant remains to be classified as a scheduled one. As stated by the United States Drug Enforcement Association, “drugs, substances, and certain chemicals used to make drugs are classified into five (5) distinct categories or schedules depending upon the drug’s acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential” (DEA). Among marijuana, schedule one also contains heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Since cannabis is compared to a drug like heroin, the uninformed society often questions the legalization and use of medical marijuana. This review of literature considers the use of marijuana and whether utilization of the drug is beneficial or detrimental by responding to the following questions:
What is marijuana?
What are its effects on the human brain?
What are its effects on the human body?
Is marijuana addictive?
What can medical marijuana be used for?
Legal medicines also have side effects; are marijuana’s any worse?
Does marijuana even do the good things proponents claim it does?
Why hasn 't marijuana been legalized nationally yet?
Understanding marijuana and the drug’s effects will help society realize that cannabis is not a severely harmful drug, but a medicine that may have the
Also, marijuana can be seen as being addictive in nature. “Approximately 9% of individuals that use marijuana become addicted” (Marijuana Statistics). Marijuana contains many chemicals, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can cause many positive and negative effects to the human body and brain. A major attribute for medical marijuana is the economic advantages that are produced from the distribution of the drug. Also, the legalization of medical marijuana can portray positive and negative outcomes for law enforcement. Therefore, medical marijuana has many positive effects, such as treatment for diseases, and negative effects, such as immune system suppression. Throughout this research paper, medical marijuana will be thoroughly explained to exemplify the advantages and disadvantages of legalizing the
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.
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
Cannabis Sativa, more commonly known as Marijuana, is made up of dried parts of the Cannabis hemp plant and is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. For centuries, people all over the world have been using marijuana to achieve “euphoria”, but the drug has remained illegal in the United States despite countless efforts to reverse the law. In the last few years, the legalization of Marijuana became both a prominent and controversial issue in our country and remains an extremely touchy subject. Despite its short term effect of distorted perceptions and memory impairment, Marijuana has several pro’s that can not only help individuals but could benefit our country as a whole. These “pros” include medical use, a boost in our
Marijuana is classified by the federal government as a “Schedule 1 Drug” and has become stereotyped as an addictive substance that has become a burden to society, as well as a gateway to other drugs. However, this fallacy undermines the positive aspects that can come from this plant’s natural healing chemicals. In addition, the drug itself is not as harmful as some may perceive. The first generalization that is related closely to the effects of
Recently the drug policies and war on drugs has been increasingly seen in the headlines. Policies taken by the United States government against illegal drugs like marijuana are becoming apparent, and are coming into question. This has caused quite a controversy among supporters and opponents about legalization issues. Should marijuana be used as a medicine, as its advocates say? Or is it a dangerous drug of abuse that exposes users to brain damage and lung cancer? The debate over legalizing marijuana in all probability will continue for a long time, and it is a shame that this debate is so polarized. Marijuana produces long-term effects and damage on the brain. Although there have been reports of successful treatment in the use of marijuana as medicine, there appears to be more negative reasons why marijuana should not be used. Marijuana has been used for treatment of many diseases, some of which include cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, arthrosclerosis, digestive diseases, and HIV/AIDS. Despite the success for some medical issues, marijuana continues to be a “dangerous, addictive drug that poses significant health threats to users. Marijuana has no medical value that can't be met more effectively by legal drugs” ("U.S Drug Enforcement Administration"). The government and medical professionals should make it a point to emphasize the increasing problems of marijuana and its harmful effects on the body, as well as providing alternatives to
The debate regarding marijuana for medical usage has become more evident in recent years. There has been a controversy in both the public and healthcare arena. The debate on legalization of marijuana has some advocators emphasizing the benefits of using medical marijuana such as relieving chronic pain, nausea and vomiting while the opponents are emphasizing the ability to become addicted to of this drug and the lack of research done to know the side effects (Porche, 2013). Overall the real question is should marijuana be a medical option?
Over the past decade, the debate over medical marijuana has heated up fiercely. What was once a fringe-issue has cemented itself in the foreground of American politics. As the laws currently stand, the plant is still considered illegal on the federal level. The Drug Enforcement Agency, or DEA, classifies marijuana in the same group harmful drugs like heroin and ecstasy by labeling it as a Schedule I substance. According to the DEA, Schedule 1 substances are “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.” (DEA).
Finally, in order to achieve a cautious and compassionate use of medical marijuana, several recommendations should be taken in consideration to be implemented. So patients with debilitating symptoms who had been exhausting the regular conventional therapies could maintain a good quality of life. The following recommendations are synthesized based on the reviewed latest research evidences and updated practices literature:
Marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance and is a mood – altering drug that can produce a calm feeling. Marijuana contains THC, otherwise known as, tetrahydrocannabinol. The plant can be smoked, brewed, eaten, etc. Marijuana also has medical use for pain management, and other chronic conditions, such as cancer. “Cannabis can be traced back to 2900 BC to the Chinese Emperor Fu His” (Davis, 2015). There are positive and negative aspects about this “drug” and what it is capable of doing. However, through the eyes of the media, and the public forming their own opinions about it, it seems to have raised some moral and ethical issues.
Marijuana has become one of the most controversial drugs in America. Ever since its cultivation began around 1611, marijuana has puzzled people with its effects. Many question marijuana?s classification as a schedule one drug. A schedule one drug is one that has a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value. Some argue that the war on drugs, in particular marijuana, has cost taxpayers billions and is wasting funds that could be used on more important tasks such as improving transportation or education. As drug arrests rise, so do the populations in state prisons. This has become an immediate problem with no real solution. The legalization of possessing small amounts of marijuana can contribute positively to the medical and
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word marijuana? For most people the first thought is stoners; however, marijuana has been proven to have medicinal value and potential to treat or help 20 ailments ranging from psychological problems to life threatening ailments such as cancer. As it stands, marijuana is a drug labeled by the (DEA) as a drug with no medical value and a high potential for abuse. Even with this, many states have allowed Marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes and for Medical research. This is the reason for a critical evaluation of marijuana by the (DEA) to determine whether or not it should be classified as a drug with medicinal potential. The purpose
Drugs are a hot topic throughout the country, and many people have debates about how drugs should be or should not be regulated based on subjective views. I am not here to debate that based on personal feelings, but rather do research into how drugs are categorized, and if there should be a change to address the possibility of medical benefits from illegal drugs. Marijuana is usually the drug that pops into many people’s mind because it is usually the drug that most people use for relaxing, and many others feel that it is a great alternative to reduce stress. Marijuana is also one of the most controversial drug because some people believe marijuana has medical purposes and others differ. Marijuana is classified as a schedule I drug which basically
The use of cannabis toward medicine should not be shocking to anyone, since it has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, it has been under medicinal aid for an estimated 5,000 years. Western medicine truly grasped marijuana’s medicinal abilities in the 1850’s. Infact, doctors documented over one hundred papers about how marijuana helped numerous disorders, such as nausea, glaucoma, movement disorders, pain relief, depression, and anxiety. It also helps cancer patients and those with HIV or Aids. Currently, many American patients have access to marijuana use so that they can have effective treatments for their illnesses. Medical marijuana use is achievable because
in “Marijuana Facts” 1). From an outsider’s perspective, one has to ask why is there so much tension and hesitation in legalizing marijuana? If alcohol is the direct cause of many deaths, while marijuana has not been responsible for any, it only makes sense that our health would not be our greatest concern in legalizing the drug. Also, it is important to understand marijuana consumption is less susceptible to overuse than alcohol or other drugs (Marijuana 10:477). Despite this, critics often argue that marijuana is a gateway to other more potent and harmful drugs. According to Dr. Halbach of the World Health Organization there is no pharmacological link between cannabis and opiates (Marijuana 10:477). This demonstrates the physiological unlikelihood of marijuana being a stepping-stone to other more potent drugs containing opiates. Marijuana does have drawbacks and side effects, as any other drug whether medicinal or recreational. However, putting the drug in perspective helps one to understand the contradiction in legalizing other drugs while continuing to ignore marijuana even though it can beneficial in different capacities.