Medicinal Marijuana: Should It Be Legal in All States?

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There has been a lot of debate on whether or not marijuana should be legal for medicinal purposes in all fifty states. Many people believe that marijuana is an unsuitable substitute for many of the medications we have today. On the other hand, many researchers have conducted extensive studies that have shown how beneficial medicinal marijuana can be. Many states have already picked up on this, and have laws set in place to allow the use of medicinal marijuana. Medicinal marijuana has a wide variety of uses, and should be allowed for medicinal purposes in all fifty states.

In the report, “Marijuana and Medicine,“ released by the Institute of Medicine, it is stated “the most encouraging clinical data on the effects of cannabinoids on chronic pain are from three studies of cancer pain.” The Institute of Medicine conducted three studies to show the benefits of medicinal marijuana in cancer patients. They noted that cancer pain may be caused by a number of problems, and that it may be severe and persistent. Often, it is not effectively treated with narcotics. However, in a well designed, controlled study, it was found that THC produced significant analgesia in this hard to treat group of patients. The Institute of Medicine stated, “In conclusion, the available evidence from animal and human studies indicates that cannabinoids can have a substantial analgesic effect.”(69). Medicinal marijuana is prescribed to patients who have a variety of conditions including nausea,

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insomnia, lack of appetite, asthma, cancer, glaucoma, alcohol abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease...

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...ze marijuana for medicinal purposes, it would be very beneficial to the patients who need a drug of this type.

Works Cited

Clare O'Connor, “Billionaire Peter Lewis: My War on Drug Laws.” Forbes.com. Web. September 21, 2011

Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A. Benson, Jr., Editors. “Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base.” Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health Institute of Medicine. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C. Web. April 7, 2003

ProCon.org. "Pharmaceutical Drugs Based on Cannabis." MedicalMarijuana.ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 5 July 2011. Web. 6 Oct. 2011.

ProCon.org. "16 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC." MedicalMarijuana.ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 19 Sep. 2011. Web. 6 Oct. 2011.

ProCon.org. "73 Peer-Reviewed Studies on Marijuana." MedicalMarijuana.ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 31 Mar. 2011. Web. 6 Oct. 2011.

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