Dominique Cain J.

Krusen Current Event #3 Medical Marijuana Marijuana is one of the most discussed and controversial topics in the U.S today. Many say that it has medicinal benefits and should be made legal. While many say that it has a high potential for abuse and should remain illegal (medical). Among the arguments, proponents for medical marijuana have presented a stronger argument for legalization, through their use of research and evidence. Opponents of medical marijuana have given many reasons for why it should not be legalized. One of the main reasons they argue is that marijuana smoke contains known carcinogens and produces dependency in users (medical). In many studies it has shown that it does have some harm such as the harms associated with smoking, but the National Academy of Science affirmed that marijuanas short term medical benefits outweigh any smoking-related harms for some patients (medical). Though marijuana has been proven to be damaging to the lungs than tobacco, a study in 2006 found no evidence that marijuana smokers had higher rates of lung cancer (medical marijuana). The FDA has tested the effectiveness of marijuana and has found that the cannabinoids are helpful in treated pain associated with chemotherapy, postoperative recovery, spinal cord injury, as well as neuropathic pain, which is often experience by patients with metastatic cancer, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes (medical marijuana). Another huge discussion about medical marijuana is its addiction rate, though there is no evidence shown that patients who use marijuana become addicted. Although the opposing side argues this, they show no evidence in supporting this claim, which therefore, the claim is invalid. There are many pharmaceutical drugs used for treatments and they are addictive, yet those drugs

Dominique Cain J. Krusen are still sold over the counter. Also carcinogens can have a negative effect, but there are many things in society, such as tobacco, that contains harmful toxins, yet are still sold legally. To say that marijuana should remain illegal because it is addictive is irrelevant, because these items are still present in society today and are harmful to the human body, but still they remain legal. In other arguments, opponents such as the DEA have argued continuously that medical marijuana has no medicinal value. Although NORML has shown that it helps with pain, relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. This research has also proven that marijuana helps with HIV/AIDS patients. HIV is one of the leading causes of deaths, primarily in African Americans in this disease, patients suffer from loss of appetite and pain. Many patients have complained that pharmaceutical drugs that physicians provide them, does not help or benefit them. Studies have shown that medical marijuana has proven for some patients to have better results than prescription drugs, but opponents have held back millions of patients who are suffering. Some ill patients need medical marijuana, like mal-nourished plants need water to survive. The DEA is taking these rights away from the ill and they continue to live in a horrible state as well as breaking into peoples home and arresting them for the use of medical marijuana. NORML has shown that 73% of Americans support making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe. This shows that many of the American people want to give medical marijuana to the seriously ill patients. They understand that legalizing medical marijuana is only accessible for ill patients and not for recreational use. Also since 1996, voters in 19 states have adopted initiatives exempting patients who use marijuana under physicians supervision from state criminal penalties (NORML). Ill patients in America should be given their rights in every

Dominique Cain J. Krusen state so that each patient can receive equal care. As citizens of the United States seriously ill patients are born with rights and should not be deprived form them. Many of the different reasons, that the opposing side has given, are irrelevant and can be easily proven by the evidence given by the proponents. The DEA has let millions of patients suffer miserably for many years because they refuse to give them the proper care. Research has already proven that medical marijuana has medicinal value and it should not be withheld from these patients any longer.

Dominique Cain J. Krusen

Works Cited Medical Marijuana. (n.d.). Dispensaries, Cannabis Club Directory. Retrieved December 2, 2012, from http://medicalmarijuana.com/medical-marijuana-treatments-cannabis-uses.com Norml. (n.d). Retrieved December 2, 2012, from http://norml.org/