Preview

Rise in Medical Marijuana

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2814 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rise in Medical Marijuana
Legalization of Medical Marijuana
Tiffany Strangio-Knopp
ENG103 Dana LaMantia
January 30, 2013
Colorado Technical University

Abstract
Over time the use of medical marijuana has grown significantly. Research shows that the opposed opinions of well noted people and agencies have fought to both keep marijuana illegal as well as make it legal. Both sides stake claim to the use medically. This battle has been escalating greatly over the last 20 years. Marijuana has many uses, as well as risk. Further investigation is always needed when science and law are involved.

Legalization of Medical Marijuana The legalization of medical marijuana has been a continued hot topic in the United States for the last two decades. Marijuana is not a new drug. The use of marijuana dates back as far as 2700BC in ancient Chinese culture. History shows us that marijuana has been used in many cultures for common ailments like nausea, vomiting, nerve pain, menstrual cramps and glaucoma, even for the use of multiple sclerosis pain in modern time. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has done extensive research and continues to do so in order to validate marijuana as a safe and viable medical option in our current western civilization. Many scientists have found both positive and negative effects of marijuana. Smoked marijuana can contribute to some risk factors like bronchitis or a weakened immune system as well as an altered state of mind. Marijuana used to treat cancer patients with severe effects from chemotherapy has proven extremely effective. Medical marijuana has also been proven safer than most pain medications that are FDA approved. The FDA and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have continued to fight the use of medical marijuana even though it has become more commonly used across the nation. Medical marijuana is federally illegal but more and more states continue to change state law opposite of federal law. Medical marijuana has seen an increase in use


References: ProCon.org. (2011, July 25). Should marijuana be a medical option? Retrieved from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001325 ProCon.org Hall W, Degenhardt L, Lynskey M. The health and psychological consequences of cannabis use. Canberra (AU): Australian Publishing Service, 2001
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Immigration Outline Research
    • 2804 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Immigration Outline Research

    Throughout this paper, there will be the highly debatable discussion between legalizing medical marijuana and regular marijuana. Both sides of the argument have their pros and cons and there is an in depth description of both sides of the argument. At the end of the day though, the paper thoroughly supports the legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana in general. Medical marijuana less harmful than most other legal tobacco products and has the ability to reduce the pain within ailing people. Cannabis also can be a curable and more natural drug to help people in pain. Marijuana also has the potential to raise the U.S. out of their tough economic struggle as well as lower crime rate and create more jobs for many more people. On the other hand researchers believe that medical marijuana is still bad for people’s health and the government does not know how to regulate the production and sell of marijuana. Both sides have valid arguments, but the pros outweigh the cons by a significant amount. This paper has opinions of lots of credible sources, doctors and researchers explaining their side of the story. But read on to create your own personal opinion.…

    • 2804 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Legalization of medical marijuana at the federal law
    • 1641 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Legalization of medical marijuana at the federal law

    Marijuana has positive effects on people’s health according to (AlterNet, 2007) explains that medical marijuana has positive features on many pain or illnesses. Some of these features of medical marijuana are the medical value and the mild side effects. The side effects are manageable and many people use it because they claim the drug is good for you, especially Americans suffering from a variety of serious conditions. Marijuana provides relief from pain, nausea, and other symptoms. Many Americans use marijuana because they choose to, one of their reasons is because it works and the side effects are manageable. Marijuana users have decided that the benefits of marijuana outweigh the risk, and for…

    • 1641 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Medical Marijuana Policy Paper
    • 1079 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Medical Marijuana Policy Paper

    One of the main societal issues revolved around medical marijuana is the effect it has on individuals emotionally. Using marijuana is like putting a wet blanket over human emotions, it separates a person’s conscious thoughts from their feelings, dissociating one’s thinking from the realistic world. This temporary sign effect can be quite dangerous to those unaware of their emotional makeup. For some the drug can relieve stress, relax the body and mask depression by providing feelings of euphoric happiness. While for others it can leave a feeling of anxiousness, fear and paranoia.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Medicinal Marijuana Should Be Legalized
    • 2050 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Medicinal Marijuana Should Be Legalized

    “Marijuana is an addictive gateway drug” (Drug Policy Alliance Network, 2009). There is no good reason to use it, and it does nothing but ruin lives. These statements are frequently made by people who oppose the use of marijuana for medicinal reasons. Unfortunately, these statements are false. Medical breakthroughs would never be a reality if different risks were not taken. For example, long ago radiation was something that everyone was afraid of, but because a risk was taken, cancer patients now have hope of recovery. Someone somewhere believed that just maybe radiation would work, and it did. Marijuana deserves the same opportunity. Many studies have proven that marijuana does have significant medical benefits. There is no proof that marijuana is physically addictive, and furthermore, it is not physically possible to overdose from marijuana consumption (WAMM Organization, 2008). Despite these facts, over the years society has developed a very negative view of marijuana when in reality this drug has far more benefits than negative attributes.…

    • 2050 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Marijuana Legalization
    • 2144 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Marijuana Legalization

    First, marijuana has not been shown or verified to have any detrimental effects on the human body. Also, marijuana has a substantial history of medical and clinical applications for people with certain conditions. Medical marijuana is often used as an anesthetic in a large number of countries all around the world (Koch, 2006). Glaucoma is another condition in which medical marijuana is distributed to patients, as it helps alleviate the symptoms and increase comfort in the person suffering, including lowering eye pressure (Southall, 2010). Fifteen states, as well as the District of Columbia, currently allow medical marijuana to be sold and prescribed to its citizens to this day (New York Times, 2011). Ostensibly, medical marijuana’s purpose is to relieve pain, nausea, and loss of appetite in those patients who have debilitating conditions, such as cancer or AIDS.…

    • 2144 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Medicinal Marijuana
    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Medicinal Marijuana

    Cannabis, better know as Marijuana, has been around since 2900 B.C. A Chinese Emperor Fu His, referenced the plant as being, “a popular medicine that possessed both yin and yang.”(ProCon.org) In America, the use of Marijuana and the concept of it has been kicked around and jumbled for hundreds of years. It has been generalized and put in a box. Beginning with George Washington, he grew Marijuana on his private plantation for thirty years. In the early 1900’s states began outlawing the herb, starting with Massachusetts in 1911. Ironically, the first arrest ever made for possession of Marijuana was in Colorado. Today, Colorado along with Washington has legalized the recreational use of Cannabis. In 1970, Marijuana was labeled as a schedule one drug that had “no accepted medical use.” In 2013, that myth has been thoroughly shot down as propaganda as we can see by the uprising in Medicinal Marijuana Dispensaries across the country. However, some people still believe the plant is a harmful and a dangerous drug. It is one of the oldest, and most effective natural medicines in human existence. Marijuana does not affect everybody the same way.…

    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Legalization of Marijuana
    • 3597 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Legalization of Marijuana

    Several topics in modern day society cause controversy, but one topic that out ranks them all is the legalization of marijuana. The main argument is whether not marijuana should be treated the same as already legalized drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Many Americans use marijuana illegally; the people using the drug range from the age of teens to even adults in their eighties. Marijuana is considered by most, especially in legal terms, as a dangerous drug. Although the drug is seen as such, many still continue to use it and argue it should be legalized for several reasons. Both citizens and government officials alike debate this topic. To successfully develop and argument for the legalization of marijuana the topic must be defined, the history of the topic must be unveiled, an argument must be made, and a good solution should be proposed. Yes, both sides of the argument both have well supported positions, but marijuana should be legalized by the United States government because the facts supporting legalization far outweigh the arguments keeping the drug as it is.…

    • 3597 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper
    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper

    Conditions that marijuana is typically prescribed to treat are cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. Medical cannabis is a highly controversial subject because cannabis is still considered illegal under federal law. In fact, Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which means that it has no safe medical use and a high potential for abuse. Both of these statements are completely false. Marijuana has been proven to be beneficial as a form of medical treatment. Also, marijuana is not physically addictive and therefore, has low potential for abuse. Some people can develop minor dependence issues from a psychological standpoint. When comparing marijuana's drug classification to the most popular drugs in the United States it is illogical. Alcohol and Tobacco are both far more addictive and harmful than cannabis is. Each year new research is released documenting the harmful effects that tobacco and alcohol have on the body. Including direct links to cancer and death. Unlike tobacco marijuana has never been linked to cancer. In addition, there has never been a single documented death from cannabis usage. Alcohol causes people to use poor decision making and it causes people to become violent and aggressive. When comparing marijuana to modern day pharmaceuticals one again is forced to conclude that marijuana's classification is unjustified.…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper
    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper

    Legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes has been an extremely controversial topic, one that has it supporters who have long fought the opposition. Although marijuana has been used for thousand of years to provide relief from many health problems, it still remains an illegal drug in the United States. There are many doctors who support the effectiveness of the use of marijuana as treatment for many medical conditions. People who oppose the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes would claim that legalizing the drug would lead to abuse of the drug for recreational use. This is important claim for the opposition. However, after looking at all the information that has been gathered…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Medical Marijuana
    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Medical Marijuana

    Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Although many slanderous claims have been made about cannabis in recent history, the truths are slowly starting to resurface. Unfortunately, these truths are under heavy criticism due to the stereotypical view of what people view as the typical “pot smoker.” This skewed perception of a lazy and unmotivated American is the result of over seventy years of propaganda and misinformation spread by private interests who relied on illegal cannabis illegal from their own personal gains. As a marijuana consumer and a current medical marijuana patient, I strongly believe that marijuana should be legalized for all users. Currently in the United States today, marijuana is prohibited by federal law and has been a topic of controversial debate since the start of the prohibition. There are several, important reasons for the legalization of marijuana, including research concerning these issues are beneficial in understanding both sides of the debate. The result of abolishing our country’s marijuana prohibition by supporting legalization will stimulate the economy, to show the medical properties, and lower the crime rate.…

    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Medical Marijuana Research Paper
    • 1806 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Medical Marijuana Research Paper

    Cannabis is the main ingredient in marijuana. The National institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported that its effect on the body is just like any other natural made chemical in the body. The benefits range from treating simple headache to slowing down cancer cells. Drugs sold over the counter are more dangerous than marijuana yet those drugs are approved and are sold. Donald Abrams, chief of hematology-oncology at San Francisco general hospital, has done more research on marijuana than anyone in the United States (Weil, 127). He concluded in his research that inhaling cannabis can help reduce pain associated with nerve damage and can also increase effect of opiate pain relievers as well help patients sleep. This is greatly important because of how tough nerve damage can be on a person. They are usually recommended to use over the counter pain relief pills but if marijuana is stronger in relieving pain as well as helping them sleep more calmly why would anyone decline. Another usage for marijuana is that the cannabinoids have an ability to relieve chronic pain which included nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy (Park). Cancer is something that troubles every human because currently the current treatments to battle it are very costly on the human body physically and mentally. Chemotherapy is so frightening that some people are even tempted not to try to that method. If they were told about marijuana,…

    • 1806 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Medical Marijuana Laws and their Effects
    • 1572 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Medical Marijuana Laws and their Effects

    public seeking facts to support claims. However, the same type of fear induced media messages…

    • 1572 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Legalizing Marijuana
    • 2519 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Legalizing Marijuana

    Legalizing Marijuana has been an ongoing controversy for many years. Marijuana is considered the gateway drug that leads to the use of much stronger drugs. The use of Marijuana is highly addictive and can cause long-term users many discomforts when trying to stop. Marijuana is also used to help lessen the pain for patients with Glaucoma, Cancer, Arthritis, and many other illnesses. Patients have reported feeling more comfort with less pain after the use of Marijuana. From an ethical standpoint and for these medical purposes Marijuana should be legal.…

    • 2519 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Medical Marijuana Controversy
    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Medical Marijuana Controversy

    Physicians are always finding ways to better treat their patients. A well-known controversy in today’s society is the use of medical marijuana. Already 28 states of 50 have allowed its citizens to use medical marijuana when prescribed by a physician. However, it is still a controlled substance and a level 1 illegal drug. “In June 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) denied a petition to reschedule marijuana and reiterated that there was no scientific or medical evidence to support such a move (Marcoux, 2013).”…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Legalizing Medical Marijuana
    • 1307 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Legalizing Medical Marijuana

    . One of the most controversial issues discussed today is to legalize medical marijuana or to keep it illegal because of the high risks it poses. US Congress placed marijuana in schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act in 1972 because it was considered to have no use for medical purposes. Since then, 16 of the 50 states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Many studies state that marijuana can treat symptoms of cancer, pain, and many more serious illnesses. Opponents of medical marijuana argue that it lacks FDA approval.…

    • 1307 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics