Medical Marijuana Argumentative Essay

For years there have been debates on weather or not marijuana should be legalized. Now the controversial issue we face is the legalization of medical marijuana. Currently several states such as California and most recently Michigan has legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Many people believe that this drug should be legalized for medical use, and others disagree. Either way you look at this situation people are going to continuing smoking marijuana if it’s legal or not. Keeping marijuana illegal is expensive and should be legalized for the citizens of Ohio who require it for its medicinal use.

No matter what it’s called: reefer, hemp, cannabis, or weed, the medicinal properties of the leafy green herb have been recognized for centuries and the medicament was readily available in pharmacies as early as 1840 and continued to be for nearly another one hundred more. Then came “Reefer Madness”, a propaganda movie critical of the effects of marijuana and the plant, despite its known benefits, became prohibited. Fast forward to 1996 and the Compassionate Care Act of California gave the first hope to patients in need of new treatment alternatives. Though some states have legalized the use of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use, it remains illegal federally. Legalization of medical marijuana will offer a safer, more cost-effective approach to disease management for people suffering from debilitating conditions, as well as generate state and federal

In the United States, we have enacted numerous bans and restrictions against certain drugs and substances with the purpose of protecting the general public from their negative effects. On this list of illegal drugs are harmful and addictive substances such as cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. A substance called cannabis, also known as marijuana, is also on this list. As of now, it is illegal to buy, sell, possess, or use marijuana in any shape or form in the state of Louisiana. However, due to the advancement of technology and of human perspective and innovation, it has come to light that marijuana could actually be of benefit to our society through its medicinal uses in treating a range of conditions and diseases as well as its possible social benefits in helping individuals stray from heavier drugs by acting as a substitute. Now that the wheels of time are turning and that medical marijuana is becoming a budding industry, the question remains: should marijuana be legal all across the United States of America? With the benefits it could bring with its medical, social, and economic uses, marijuana could be a profitable asset to our society if it were to be legalized, and I believe that we should strive for that outcome.

“For me, the medical marijuana was a miracle drug, a life saver. I wish I had used it from the beginning because it was so helpful, and according to our current law, I should go to jail for it”, said Jeanette Bokland a nurse, dealing with cancer. Jeannette said she tried everything, then she got ahold of medical marijuana, and ate it because, “I do not want to smoke anything”. She is so happy she got ahold of medical marijuana, it took away my nausea, restlessness, anxiety said Jeanette Bokland. Our nation estimates 2,434,192 medical marijuana smokers; (Number of Legal) like Jeanette medical marijuana does help some patients dealing with cancer. It did not get her “high” it made her feel halfway normal. Jeanette was helped tremendously by

Studies have proven that marijuana is no more harmful to a person’s health than alcohol or tobacco. Every year, tobacco kills roughly 390,000 people, alcohol contributes to 80,000 deaths in America and marijuana contributed to 0; no deaths from marijuana have ever been recorded in US history (Abovetheinfluence.org). When smoking tobacco, the user inhales tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, and 200 other known poisons into the lungs (Abovetheinfluence.org). All forms of tobacco, including cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco, contain the addictive drug nicotine, and can also cause cancer. Alcohol alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing. Alcohol plays a role in at least 50 percent of traffic deaths, about half of murders, and about 25 percent of suicides (Abovetheinfluence.org). Marijuana side effects include delusions, impaired memory, hallucinations and disorientation, which are no different from the side effects of alcohol alone.

“The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions” (NIDA). Currently, one of the most discussed topics in the United States is rather or not to legalize marijuana for medical use. Many facts point to the significant value the drug would provide to the medical community. There is indeed opposition to the legalization of it, due to the idea that marijuana alone can become addicting and would cause more harm than good. However, the medical use of marijuana can have a major impact on reducing certain side effects a patient may face while enduring treatments such as chemotherapy, it can aid the U.S in curbing the American Opioid Epidemic, and it can help exterminate certain diseases. Medical marijuana has already been legalized in 29 states and Washington D.C. Other states that are behind on legalizing it can learn valuable lessons from the success of legalization in the 29 states and D.C.

In the United States, marijuana legalization is a highly debated topic. Marijuana has many benefits to the body and the community. It can be used medicinally or recreationally and serves a number of purposes. Marijuana has been proven to treat a number of diseases and conditions, causes a decline in deaths due to overdose from opioid pains, and serves a plethora of additional benefits. I strongly feel that sooner rather than later, marijuana should be federally legalized so that citizens can have access to the benefits of this plant.

Medical marijuana is very a big and controversial issue in today's society, currently the community is divided on the issue. Questions are always being thrown around such as "how does marijuana affect the body?" and "what good does’ marijuana do for a person?" Researchers have tried to answer these questions with multiple studies and they have shown some of the positives of medical marijuana. If something is able to help someone who is in dire need why not use it on those people to find a better solution for them. I myself am on the supportive side of the issue of medical marijuana. I don't think it should be legal to just anyone though I believe there should be a legal age law, a driving while under the influence, and a public intoxication law in effect for medical marijuana to be legal.

Numerous drugs that remain prescribed for the same diseases as medical marijuana are administered concurrently, this increases the risk of numerous adverse health effects. Approximately all drugs, counting legal drugs, act as a greater danger to an individual’s health than medical marijuana does. Marijuana is non-toxic and cannot be used to overdose. The death count of those overdosing from marijuana is zero (greenrushdaily.com). In comparison to those overdosing on prescription medications, in 2015 alone prescription opioids killed more than 33,000 people in the United States, this was more than any other year on record

Medical marijuana, also called cannabis, is used in some places as a medication to treat diseases and symptoms. Many people consider it helpful and harmless making it the most used illicit drug in North America. With legalizing medical marijuana people can alleviate some health problems and help ease physical pain, but it also can bring many concerns, questions, and responsibility.

In the NFL players are allowed to use marijuana as a substitute for prescription painkillers. Why can’t the rest of the United States? Prescription painkiller OD has resulted in 44 deaths a day in the U.S. according to http://medicalmarijuanahelp.com. That is a troublesome death toll that can easily be reduced if marijuana is made a legal substitute for these painkillers. Deaths caused by prescription drug overdose outnumber deaths caused by heroin and cocaine combined. Marijuana is a much safer substitute.

First of all, medical marijuana can treat multiple symptoms without all the costs of the medications and treatments that are being prescribed to patients. “The addition of cannabis medicines to therapeutic regimens can reduce the need for opiates by 50 percent or more in many patients” (“Is Medical Marijuana an Effective Treatment”). Medical bills could be cut down tremendously for patients that are paying extreme amounts of money for medications that are not effective. Marijuana is a natural component that can help many people deal with their symptoms. Many find themselves throwing all their money into a treatment that will take all their money and leave them suffering in the end.

(Marijuana, 30). Medical marijuana is said to have many uses. It can help with seizures or epilepsy. Medical Marijuana was legalized in 1996. People have used this plant for many different medical reasons, how and why do people use it? What are cannabinoids? Why should we legalize it?

By comparison, marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 37,000 annual U.S. deaths, including more than 1,400 in Colorado, are attributed to alcohol use alone (this isn't including accidental deaths). On the other hand, the CDC does not even have a category for deaths caused by the use of cannabis. -“The estimated fatal dose [of THC, the primary active compound in marijuana] in humans derived from animal studies is between 15 and 70 grams. This is a far greater amount of cannabis that even a very heavy cannabis user could use in a day,” - Prof. Wayne Hall. While alcohol on one hand makes people become belligerent marijuana calms people down and helps them relax.

When someone says marijuana, many people tend to have a negative reaction. Most associate it with dropping grades in school and lowered success in the workplace. Can cannabis be a good thing though? It has gone largely underappreciated for its medicinal value. It has been known to successfully treat many neurological disorders, when other medications failed. It has been most successful in areas such as: neurological disorders, pain relief, and as a treatment for the side effects of chemotherapy. Medical marijuana is a very helpful treatment for many neurological conditions, which in spite of some opposition can be very effective when used properly. While it is still in the developmental stages, some believe that it is possible to genetically engineer special strains of cannabis or use certain kinds of its extract to minimize the harmful effects it can have on patients.