Legalization of Medical Marijuana
Whether or not medical marijuana should be legalized is a bigger controversy than it should be these days. There are advantages and disadvantages to medical marijuana being legalized, as there are pros and cons to any and everything in this world, but first I just want to add that in 1972, the US Congress placed marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act because they considered it to have "no accepted medical use." Since then, 20 of 50 US states and DC have legalized the medical use of marijuana (ProCon.org).
Some of the advantages often include relief of a number illnesses and pain and can be a safe and effective treatment for symptoms of AIDS, MS, epilepsy, cancers, and plenty of other health issues. According to Joycelyn Elders, MD, former US Surgeon General "The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS -- or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day" (ProCon.org). After reading her statement on marijuana, I cannot help but think if it can help in those ways then why not let people who are suffering every day from pain and illness try medical marijuana and see if it helps them with their symptoms. Also, I believe that if alcohol and tobacco are legal drugs then what the difference in legalizing medical marijuana is, at least this drug has some health benefits unlike alcohol and tobacco, which can cause cancer and other health risks.
All the while, there are disadvantages to legalizing medical marijuana such as it can become an addictive habit, have short-term side effects like memory loss and trouble thinking. It may also have some harmful long-term effects, like lung cancer, a weakened immune system, and increased heart-attack risk in the hour after smoking it (Hubbard).
Some of the advantages often include relief of a number illnesses and pain and can be a safe and effective treatment for symptoms of AIDS, MS, epilepsy, cancers, and plenty of other health issues. According to Joycelyn Elders, MD, former US Surgeon General "The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS -- or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day" (ProCon.org). After reading her statement on marijuana, I cannot help but think if it can help in those ways then why not let people who are suffering every day from pain and illness try medical marijuana and see if it helps them with their symptoms. Also, I believe that if alcohol and tobacco are legal drugs then what the difference in legalizing medical marijuana is, at least this drug has some health benefits unlike alcohol and tobacco, which can cause cancer and other health risks.
All the while, there are disadvantages to legalizing medical marijuana such as it can become an addictive habit, have short-term side effects like memory loss and trouble thinking. It may also have some harmful long-term effects, like lung cancer, a weakened immune system, and increased heart-attack risk in the hour after smoking it (Hubbard).