Marijuana Should Be Legalized for Medicinal Purposes

The debate over the dangers of Marijuana has been a dominant topic of conversation for a long time. Unfortunately, many individuals have a problem accepting the plant’s demonstrated medicinal effects. Opinions on medical marijuana have changed in the last few decades, with many conservative states passing laws allowing patients with certain diseases such as epilepsy to use strains of marijuana. Overall, 23 states now have permissive medical marijuana laws. Although the federal government does not consider any legitimate medical use, the states apparently disagree (Aggarwal et al., 2008). Notably, the issue of legalizing medical marijuana must be addressed with careful consideration and respect for the current laws that prevent abuse. However, various research and personal interpretation make it evident that marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes.

Benefits of Legalizing Medical Marijuana

The legalization of medical marijuana would benefit many people throughout the country. If the use is properly controlled and regulated, the prior illegal substance could become one of American’s most useful medications. The pro-marijuana groups are in a constant battle against the laws that restrict the use of medical marijuana (Bostwick et al., 2013). The legalization issue must be considered as a highly controversial subject, and people must understand that marijuana is currently used as an illegal substance. Nevertheless, understanding both the negative and positive aspects of medical marijuana use is vital in knowing how it will affect the user. The use of marijuana for medical purposes has been proven to have minimal adverse effects, with lots of positive medicinal value in controlling certain diseases. Therefore, there needs to be a more in-depth understanding of marijuana and its positive use in the world of medicine.

Medical Applications for Serious Conditions

Marijuana has been proven to alleviate epilepsy, pain from AIDS, and nausea from chemotherapy. People with cancer or AIDS receive treatments that often leave them suffering unfortunate side effects. The side effects include persistent nausea, vomiting, and debilitating pain. Marijuana use commonly helps alleviate these symptoms if prescribed by a doctor (Cerdá et al., 2008). Further, AIDS patients have found that marijuana stimulates their appetite which is necessary in order for them to fight off serious emaciation. Those who suffer from Glaucoma believe that marijuana prevents them from going blind. Therefore, when the use of marijuana is controlled and the correct dose taken for medical issues, it can be a powerful medicinal plant that can improve lives of many suffering patients.

The Role of Cannabinoids in Medicine

The scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana such as cannabinoids has found that the plant has high medicinal value. Cannabinoids are the marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient. The plant contains other cannabinoids that are incredibly powerful if properly used for medical purposes. The body also produces its cannabinoid chemicals which help in regulating pleasure, thinking, memory, body movement, appetite, pain, and the five senses (Aggarwal et al., 2008). However, the use of this drug requires a lot of care regarding dosage because it can lead to serious health effects when abused by individuals. The eventual legalization of medical marijuana needs very strict laws to control its usage.

Importance of Regulation and Control

For a long time, marijuana has been abused and the health impacts have been so dangerous to the users; common side effects include hallucination, anxiety and lowered comprehension skills. For this specific reason, it is important to carefully control client dosage, but in moderation, the pros outweigh the cons.

Conclusion: A Call for Responsible Legalization

To conclude, marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes but with very strict laws that regulate its use. It would be better if the medicinal content is extracted from the plant and stored only in hospitals so that only health practitioners are allowed to prescribe it to patients. The laws should be very strict because the drug is incredibly potent and can lead to serious medical effects if abused through smoking and another unprescribed usage. Therefore, accurate measures should be taken before legalizing the drug to prevent its usage by individuals who may intend to abuse it through smoking.

Works Cited

Aggarwal, S. K., Carter, G. T., Sullivan, M. D., ZumBrunnen, C., Morrill, R., & Mayer, J. D. (2008). Medicinal use of cannabis in the United States: historical perspectives, current trends, and future directions. Journal of opioid management, 5(3), 153-168.

Bostwick, J. M., Reisfield, G. M., & DuPont, R. L. (2013). Medicinal use of marijuana. N Engl J Med, 368(9), 866-8.

Cerdá, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K. M., Galea, S., & Hasin, D. (2012). Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug and alcohol dependence, 120(1), 22-27.