Legalizing Medical Marijuana

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Legalizing Medical Marijuana

Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) gets its name from the Spanish word marihuana. The first

time for marijuana to be used was in 1894, it came from hemp, an Asian herb. The leaves of the

plant can be smoked to cause intoxication to the patient. Many people have fought against the

legalization of marijuana for medical use since the use of the drug began to spread among the

people. A lot of research shows that marijuana has a positive effect on the society in America. The

great number of people who say that marijuana should not be legalized do so because they assume

that it cannot have any good effects on the society. The fact is that they do this without having

considered both sides of the debate. Although it is true that legalizing marijuana can be the cause

of many crimes and injuries, the benefits that could come from it if it is authorized for use as

medicine would outweigh those disadvantages. Marijuana can be used in curing deadly diseases

and boost the country’s economy. This essay aims at persuading law makers in the United Sates

to make the use of marijuana for both medical purposes legal.

Marijuana has been with us for many years. In the past, the plant’s leaves and flowering

parts were used to treat physiological as well as psychological disorders- the seeds were used as

food. Many people support the proposition that marijuana should be made legal for medicinal

purposes. There are many reasons why these people do this. One such a reason is that marijuana

has shown a high efficacy in the management of medical conditions. In the United States, 20 states

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have legalized the medical use of marijuana (Ferner 2012). The first retail stores for Marijuana in

Colorado were opened for the sale of Marijuana to people who have attained the age of 21 years

or higher. There are still other countries where the use of medical marijuana has been legalized.

Canada is one such a country. Since its legalization, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has

reported a number of testimonies showing the success of use of marijuana as medication. One

testimony is that of Pariseau, a 30-yaer-old AIDS patient. Before starting using medical marijuana,

Pariseau could keep neither food nor medication in his system. After he began using marijuana for

medication, a report from his doctor stated “He is doing remarkably well because he can now

digest his medication. The HIV has been suppressed because of his improved immune function,

he has put on weight and he has learned to walk again -with a cane” (Gray, 1998).

Use of marijuana as medicine can help alleviate pain alongside other health benefits. In

addition, there are no proven disadvantages that are associated with the use of marijuana as

medicine (Barnes, 2017). Unlike some other drugs, marijuana used for medical purposes is not

addictive. No research has ever shown that marijuana is an addictive drug- people simply use it to

please themselves. Marijuana is a herbal drug that can be obtained naturally. It is considered to be

very safe in managing the symptoms of various diseases and health conditions like HIV/AIDS,

glaucoma, Arthritis, hepatitis C, Alzheimer’s disease and migraines as well as some psychological

conditions. For a fact, doctors from both within and outside the United States have recommended

the use of marijuana as medicine (Friese & Grube, 2013). Marijuana has not shown any long term

effects on the cognitive processes of the individual. The only effects occur only for a short time

after intoxication, but the brain is not damaged by this in any way.

The people who protest the use of marijuana for medication think of economic relief. They

have brought the topic of economic relief from the legalization of marijuana many times. If we

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take a look at the current problems that the economy of the United Sates is facing, we realize that

legalizing medical marijuana has the potential to help boost our economy. Since many Americans

will now be free to use the herb, it is likely to funnel money into our economy. The history of the

United States has seen similar incidences before. In the prohibition, the bootleggers issue

resembles the one on marijuana. At that time, when the government lifted the ban on alcohol, more

money came back into the economy. Although the use of marijuana should be legalized, it goes

without saying that the use of marijuana needs to be regulated. Just like on cigarettes and alcohol,

laws should be made to regulate the use of marijuana once it is made legal for medical use.

(smokers should not operate machines). Also, smoking at the place of work should call for firing

just like drinking would. Though the feelings of people on this subject are mixed, quite a large

number of people believe that marijuana is harmless. The legislators should look at the fact that

marijuana makes one to be relaxed and less motivated. This would somehow link to the effect that

it would have on the workforce and businesses in general. Lawmakers have to make laws that will

govern how businesses that plan to sell only marijuana should operate- they have to determine its

use and how much the business owner is going to be taxed for selling marijuana.

The natural herb could generate a lot of money for the economy if the right infrastructure

were laid down showing how the drug should be used. Therefore, lawmakers should regulate the

use and the sales of the drug. Legalizing marijuana at the federal level would give a large new

stream of revenue. Although it may not be possible to know the size of the market for marijuana

now and what may happen to the demand and the price for the drug under different legalization

levels, we know that the legalization can cause a positive effect on the revenue income and the tax

from sales (Ferner, 2012).

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The economic benefits of marijuana legalization are not only from taxes- both the local

and state governments would save a lot of money that is being spend currently on the regulation

of the use of marijuana. Colorado and Washington states (which have made it legal to use

marijuana for medical purposes) will serve as the testers for the other states when it comes to the

possible positive effect on the economy of the whole country if all the states make it legal to use

marijuana in treatment of diseases. It is estimated that Washington will generate up to $1.9 billion

in a period of five years because it made marijuana legal. Marijuana legalization, nonetheless,

should be made for use as medication and also be allowed for sale in retail shops so that if one

person needs to use this medication but cannot get it from the hospital because it is so expensive

there that they cannot afford it, they can obtain cheaper options from the dealers and stores to

manage their conditions.

Although there are states that have legalized the use of marijuana as medication and have

allowed people who possess the permit to sell it to the public, the laws that allow for this in such

states have been ruled out by the federal government as being unconstitutional and therefore

illegal. Majority of the people in America favor the use of marijuana for medical purposes and

have expresses their support by voting. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration still can

arrest and impose charges on any people who are aught trading in this substance in accordance

with the act that deals with controlled substances (CSA). The laws that are in place in the United

States are not in support of the demands of the people. This shows that more people are involved

in the use of marijuana than the records show. The problem therefore comes in that while the

substance is being sold and used all over the country, nothing comes from it in terms of income

tax to help in boosting the economy of the country.

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Just like all controversial topics, there are opponents. The first point presented by the

opponents is that when smoked, marijuana causes a number of side effects- stunted growth and

cancer. However, smoking is not the only way in which marijuana can be taken, one can take it

orally or intravenously. These methods of administration will get rid of the problems associated

with smoking the drug. Another claim they make is that despite being natural, hemp has harmful

chemicals that can damage the user. They claim that THC that is contained in marijuana is harmful

to the body. They favor the use of Marinol which also contains THC. In addition, technology can

be used to separate the compounds present in the plant, it can also be used to remove he chemicals

that are toxic and breed plants that do not have the chemical.

The opponents also claim that the use of marijuana also results in abstinent effects.

Although Renard, Krebs, Le Pen & Jayin their 2014 study that there are some short-term effects

on adolescents that are associated with marijuana, other later studies contradict this. These studies

claim that no clearly defined relationship has been found between the use of marijuana and rates

of addiction. According to drugabuse.gov, the use of marijuana does not cause the individual to

use other drugs and there are very few withdrawal symptoms associated with marijuana. It is

therefore evident that the claims of the opponents are not based on facts and therefore they are not

valid.

It does not seem reasonable that an herb that has been used by people since time

immemorial because of its medicinal value has been made legal in the past few years just because

of the people who have used it as a narcotic to harm their bodies. It is true to say that marijuana is

not abused as much as other opium-derived drugs that are legal like ketamine and oxycodone. It is

therefore unfair that marijuana, which is more valuable as medicine, is illegal while these other

drugs are legal and are sold all over the country freely.

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In conclusion, Marijuana is a very efficacious drug for medical use and therefore it needs

to be legalized. We should stop grouping marijuana, a useful drug, with narcotics such as heroin

and cocaine, it should instead be grouped together with other drugs that are used for the

management of serious health conditions such as Adderall. Legalizing marijuana will boost the

economy of our country by creating jobs to thousands of people in the United Sates who would

otherwise be economically unproductive. My research shows that the positive effects of legalizing

marijuana by far outweigh the negative impacts that could arise. Besides boosting the economy

and keeping it strong, it can be used to manage health conditions that have previously been difficult

to manage. Whether it is made legal or it remains illegal, people will still use it. Research has

shown that the illegal drug whose use is commonest is marijuana. All the fifty states in the United

States of America should legalize marijuana to help out people who are struggling with medical

conditions that can seriously damage their health if not treated and which can be managed

effectively by the use of marijuana. Marijuana can replace many things that are harmful to the

environment and thus help to save the environment. There would be a tremendous decrease in

violence and crime. Although a lot of people think that marijuana is harmful, I believe it can really

help our society in this time of need.

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Works Cited

Friese, B., & Grube, J. W. (2013). Legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use among

youths. Drugs: education, prevention and policy, 20(1), 33-39.

Gray, C. (1998). ncbi. Retrieved 26 February 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1228843/pdf/cmaj_158_3_373.pdf

Barnes, K. (2017). 10 Reasons Medical Marijuana Should Be Legalized -

KathleenBarnes.com. KathleenBarnes.com. Retrieved 26 February 2018, from

https://kathleenbarnes.com/legalize-medical-marijuana/

Ferner, M. (2012). Colorado Legalizes Marijuana For Recreational Use. HuffPost UK. Retrieved

26 February 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/amendment-64-

passes-in-co_n_2079899.html

Renard, J., Krebs, M., Le Pen, G., & Jay, M. (2014). Long-term consequences of adolescent

cannabinoid exposure in adult psychopathology. Frontiers In Neuroscience, 8.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2014.00361

Is marijuana a gateway drug?. (2018). Drugabuse.gov. Retrieved 26 February 2018, from

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-gateway-

drug

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