Shelby Althuizen

Althuizen 1

Ms.Gardner
English HON 4
4 May 2015
Capabilities of a Deadly Narcotic
Prescription drugs continue to kill tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of
Americans each year; meanwhile, marijuana has never been the direct contributor to a single
death(Dave Smith). Marijuana is used as a narcotic or hallucinogen which has the ability to
relax muscles and tissues throughout the body and increase appetite. Many suffer from fatal
diseases-- cancer and epilepsy-- which are very life-threatening by their ghastly symptoms.
Many frown upon the handling of medical marijuana; however, it posses qualities that are
competent, more so than a prescription drug. With this being said, the legalization of the
hallucinogen can assure less suffering within communities. Medical marijuana is legalized in
more than half the United States, but can only be purchased through recommendation of a
licensed medical physician. Medical marijuana usage should be legalized because of its
capability to diminish muscle pain, increased appetite, and abate seizures for many convoluted
with life-threatening illnesses.
Admittedly, marijuana usage can impair and damage bodily functions making the drug
extremely dangerous. Marijuana affects blood pressure within the body; causing muscle
movement to be delayed compared to when an individual is not altered by the narcotic. It is
thought that in very popular states such as California, Anyone who wants to get a medical
marijuana card knows there are unscrupulous doctors who will give you a recommendation with
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few questions asked. Without doubt, medical marijuana hands a get-out-of-jail-free card to
people who just want to get high. Those who get a card and indulge in the infrequent use of
marijuana will probably experience few problems, (David Sack) of course the problems referred
to by Sack is hinting towards different stages of substance abuse that could be effective on the
way the body alters. Even though the card could be beneficial to many health obstacles, "The
high dose of marijuana necessary to produce a clinically relevant effect," the foundation's
website explains, makes it a poor choice for the treatment of glaucoma, especially given its
significant side effects and the availability of safer effective drugs (David Sack). Sack uses a
strong argument by justifying marijuana use; however backs up his antagonistic view of the topic
by stating that an unhealthy amount of the hallucinogen is proven to be sufficient towards
individuals. To back up these studies, the federal system classified marijuana as a controlled
substance, categorized as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical
use, together with drugs like heroin, LSD and ecstasy, (Frederic J. Frommer) which is linked to
400,000 emergency room visits per year (David Sack). The squandering of the drugs,
including marijuana, causes contrasting negative aspects that disturbs the understanding of
proper behavior.
Nevertheless, when one considers the medical assistance that marijuana tends to offer, it
comes to realization that the hallucinogen has the competence to numb the muscles of many
cancer patients. Patients undergoing chemotherapy-- the drug to help control and cure the
disease-- constructs sensitivity within the nerves of the body generating an infinite amount of
pain and tightness within the muscle fibers. A side effect of Chemotherapy includes
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inflammation, which could be controlled by Cannabinoids-- a substance in the marijuana.

Cannabinoids have been studied for anti inflammatory effects that play a role in pain relief,
(cancer.gov) which is abetted to control what the chemotherapy has caused. Although many may
argue that there are prescription drugs to cure the aches, a second study showed that THC could
be given in doses that gave pain relief comparable to codeine, (Jay Smoker). With the
knowledge that THC is the substance within marijuana that produces the high or hallucination, it
creates an accusation that medical marijuana has the same or greater effects for many cancer
patients that constantly deal with the discomfort. According to these recent studies, marijuana
usage benefits many patients; improving pain tolerance by consuming or smoking the hemp
plant, which shows positive results with these diseases.
Furthermore, research reveals that the handling of medical marijuana assists cancer
patients in overcoming eating complications and nausea. Nausea, not originating from the
disease itself, but coming from the treatment given to its patients, the extreme nausea caused by
cancer chemotherapy and AIDS treatment, and even common nausea induced by standard
medications for various ailments, (Jan) illustrates that medication too, could have negative
effects on the human body. Recent examinations lead to scientist getting a better leap into the
assistance marijuana gives the ill, leading to many debates about the controversy of legalizing
the narcotic. According to modernized studies, Inhaled Cannabis is for the treatment of
chemotherapy- related nausea and vomiting, (cancer.gov) which is important for the patient's
ability to live a healthy lifestyle. Many questions have arisen arguing that medication could aid
the symptoms of the chemotherapy; however, 1999 report by the Institutes of Medicine
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concluded... pills are generally ineffective, because of the difficulty in swallowing or keeping a
pill down and slow onset of the drug effect (Jan). Influenced by these findings, scientists were
able to make an accurate claim that the inhalation cannabinoid drug delivery system would be
advantageous for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea" (Jan). Knowledge on the effects of
THC-- patient or healthy individual-- can increase appetite. An heightened appetite is mandatory
for many cancer patients who are prone to vomiting and nausea. The importance of patients
getting and retaining the proper amount of nutrients in their daily diets is substantial to the health
of the individuals. It is essential for cancer patients to maintain a balanced diet eliminating many
sugars in order to stay in a healthy state, which could expand the life expectancy of the
individual. Obviously, research proves that marijuana could regulate a cancer patients diet by
increasing appetite as well as decreasing nausea and vomiting symptoms. As a result, marijuana
usage for many involved with the disease could be benefitted by the qualities of THC which let
the ones suffering have the ability to get proper nutrition without regurgitating.
Ultimately, marijuana should be legalized because it aids individuals suffering from
epilepsy. Marijuana is known to affect the nerves in the brain through CBD substances found in
hemp plant (another word for weed/marijuana), which is able to influence the chemical activity
that sets off seizures. CBD is short for cannabidiol, which are healing for people with seizures
disorders (cancer.gov), this CBD is taken in by receptors that are found throughout the brain
(Jennifer Welsh). In order for CBD to reach the receptors the hemp plant can be liquidated in
order to incorporate the drug into food so it could be consumed instead of smoked. With the
hallucinogen altering the chemical and electrical activity within the brain, individuals that are
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prone to have a recurrence of seizures or are affected by epilepsy are able to control their
suffering by nearly eliminating the commotion of the fits. Results show that handling and
ingesting the substances in marijuana help control epileptic seizures by reacting with the nerves
in the brain. Therefore, marijuana helps aid epileptic patients by regulating seizures and brain
nerve activity.
In conclusion, medical marijuana handling should be legalized by virtue of its positive
affects of patients bodies. Marijuana should not be stereotyped considering the ability to curtail
many horrible symptoms of many medications used to treat the diseases. Having a less or equal
amount of cases of abuse throughout the U.S., marijuana has been proven to be more effective
than prescription pills that are highly addictive, by ebbing muscle pain, heightening appetite by
causing a decline in nausea, and to reduce the amount of epileptic fits. The narcotic is proven
to aid deadly illnesses by abating physical suffering. The drug has become popular by numbing
the world of the illnesses, not only literally, but metaphorically too. The hallucinogen silences the
awareness of the deadly diseases by curing the catastrophic disturbance of physical health.
Marijuana is able to control the adversity of the majority of the sicknesses that have
contaminated the world.

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Works Cited
"Cannabis and Cannabinoids." National Cancer Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2015.

Frommer, Frederic J. "Court Rejects Bid to Have Marijuana Reclassified." Roanoke Times &
World-News. 22 Jan. 2013: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Apr.
2015.
Loria, Jennifer Welsh and Kevin. "23 Health Benefits Of Marijuana." Business Insider.
Business Insider, Inc, 20 Apr. 2014. Web. 12 May 2015.
"'Medical' Marijuana: 10 Health Benefits That Legitimize Legalization." International Business
Times. N.p., 08 Aug. 2012. Web. 12 May 2015.
Sack, David. "Is Marijuana Good Medicine?." Los Angeles Times. 26 Jul. 2012: A.23. SIRS
Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
Smoker, Jay. "Does Marijuana Help Epilepsy?" The Weed Blog. N.p., 21 May 2011. Web.
12 May 2015.