Running head: LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA Legalization of Medical Marijuana Sherlyn E. Gooden St. Petersburg College Legalization of Medical Marijuana The medical use of marijuana is a very controversial issue in the United States. Marijuana or cannabis is an herb that comes from a hemp plant called, cannabis sativa. It contains chemical called cannabinoids. One important cannabinoid is called, Tetrahydracannbinol (THC), which is responsible for stimulating appetite, reducing nausea, decreasing pain, spasticity, and mood-altering effects. Another important cannabinoid within marijuana is called, Cannabinol, which is useful for reducing pain …show more content…
HIV is also the cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, also known, as AIDS. Mayo Clinic defined HIV/AIDS as “a chronic, potentially life threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by damaging [one’s] immune system” (Diseases and Conditions HIV/AIDS, 2014). There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that can dramatically slow the disease’s progressions. Unfortunately, there are several side-effects from these medications and medical marijuana can be used to alleviate the nausea, vomiting and loss of …show more content…
(2012, October 2.) Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/basics/definition/con-20024042 Diseases and conditions HIV/AIDS: Definition. (2014, May 20.) Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/basics/definition/con-20013732 Diseases and conditions multiple sclerosis: Definition. (2014, July 10.) Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/basics/definition/con-20026689 Dolan, D. (2014). Medical marijuana: Reviewing the efficacy and safety of medical marijuana in neurologic conditions. Neurology Now, 10(3), 49-51. Johannigman, S., & Eschiti, V. (2013). Medical use of marijuana in palliative care. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17(4), 360-363. Murphy, K. (2014). The growing trend medical marijuana. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy, 12(5), 30-38. National cancer institute: What is cancer? (2014, March 7.) Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancerlibrary/what-is-cancer National institute on drug abuse: Is marijuana medicine? (2014, April.) Retrieved from
Thesis: Despite its legal status cannabis and CBD has been recognized as being beneficial in many ways. After all, cannabis and CBD has been medically beneficial when treating pain, seizures, and cancer.
There are at least two active chemicals in marijuana that have medicinal benefits. One chemical is cannabidiol (CBD), which appears to impact the brain without a high. The second chemical is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has pain relieving and other properties.
Marijuana has been proven to increase appetite which results in a weight gain for the person. For an AIDS patient, gaining weight not losing it is a main focus. In 1992, the FDA approved a pill form of THC called Marinol for AIDS patients who suffer from wasting. In a study of 139 people with AIDS, half of the people were given the Marinol and half were given a placebo. The Marinol significally improved the appetite in AIDS patients(Cowley and Hager 22). Gaining weight and keeping it on for AIDS patients is key in extending their lives. M...
Wingerchuk, Dean. "Cannabis for Medical Purposes: Cultivating Science, Weeding Out the Fiction." The Lancet 364.9431 (2004): 315-16. Print.
Marijuana is a relatively harmless drug that governments around the world have made illegal. If legalized, marijuana can be beneficial to society in a number of ways: whether it be for medical, economic, or public safety reasons. Marijuana has been proven to treat several life debilitating, and even life threatening diseases. Although it is not a cure, marijuana can ease the pain and suffering of a dying person. Another benefit of legalization is the financial gains that governments will accomplish through the taxation of marijuana. This is a realistic claim if marijuana sales are compared to that of cigarettes; governments make billions each year from cigarette taxes (Caputo and Ostrom 484). Every year law enforcement spends countless man-hours trying to apprehend marijuana dealers and growers. This time would be better utilized in dealing with more serious crimes. This essay will display some main reasons why marijuana is a substance with beneficial uses and applications. First, marijuana can be used as a treatment for the effects of diseases such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and other terminal diseases. A study carried out in California clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of marijuana as a treatment for cancer: “Over 74 percent of the cancer patients treated in the program have reported that marijuana is more effective in relieving their nausea and vomiting than any other drug they have tried.”(Zeese 1990). Chemotherapy for cancer patients often produces nausea and vomiting. Marijuana has been proven to relieve these symptoms and there have been no known side effects recorded (Ad Hoc Group of Experts part 4).
Kalant, Harold. “Medicinal Use of Cannabis: History and Current States.” Pain Research and Management 6.2 (2001): 80-94. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Marijuana is a shredded mix of dry flowers, stems and the seeds of a plant called cannabis and people usually smoke it in the form of cigarettes for relaxation. Ever since marijuana hit mainstream America over 30 years ago, government prohibition of it has been the subject of an ongoing debate. Should marijuana be legalized? Proponents of marijuana argue that there are numerous medical benefits and that the drug is not more harmful than tobacco or alcohol. Therefore, prohibiting it intrudes on personal freedom. On the other hand, opponents argue that marijuana is too dangerous; its legalization would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of kids and that marijuana use often progresses to the use of more dangerous drugs like heroin and cocaine. In the past decade, a number of movements to legalize the use of marijuana has been gaining momentum. According to the 2011 Gallup survey, a record high 50% of Americans say that marijuana should be legalized and this figure marks a 4% increase compared to the previous year. Support for legalizing marijuana was 30% in 2000, 40% in 2009 before reaching 50% last year. This shows that despite government efforts to eliminate its use, marijuana is becoming more popular. More and more people realize that legalizing marijuana brings a host of benefits. It not only offers medical benefits to the terminally ill but it could also be a source of tax revenues and could save the tax payers billions of dollars that is spent on enforcement costs.
The current strongest argument for the legalization of marijuana is for the medicinal benefits that it can provide to some patients and the alleviation of severe symptoms (Pros of Marijuana Legalization). Chemotherapy as a treatment for the eradication of cancer can have very ill side effects for the patient receiving these treatments. Chemo...
Marijuana is the term for dried leaves, flowers, or stems of the cannabis plant, known as cannabinoids. Of these cannabinoids the “most pharmacologically active is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also...
The debate on Medical marijuana has been a controversial subject mainly because people have an abundance of opinions and very little scientific research to back up either side of the debate. The most important question here is “will medical marijuana be used for medical purposes or will it be used inappropriately?”
Marijuana is a drug that is derived from the dried and cut leaves of the hemp plant known as "cannabis sativa". Marijuana has a variety of street names such as "grass", "Mary Jane", "pot", "smoke", "reefer", "herb", and "weed". The active ingredient in marijuana is delta tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (3). . Marijuana has been used throughout history and in many different cultures to change mood, perception, and consciousness (to get "high"). Its effects range from increasing creativity to provoking mystical experiences, to heightening the capacity to feel, sense and share. After alcohol, it is the most popular of what are called "recreational drugs." It has been used around the world for other purposes. In some primitive tribes of South America, Africa, and India, "cannabis" is used in religious ceremonies and for medical purposes. African mine workers have used it to ease the drudgery of their work and many Jamaicans use it at the end of the day to relieve fatigue. It has been used as an intoxicant in various parts of the world for centuries and in the United States, for the most part the 20th century. Marijuana was first described in print in a Chinese book of
Stanley, Janet E., Stanley J. Watson, and John A. Benson. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington D.C.: National Academy P, 1999.
Degenhardt, L, & Hall, W.D. (2008). The Adverse Effects of Cannabinoids: Implication for use of Medical Marijuana. Canadian Medical Association, 178,1-2.
Marijuana is a cannabis plant that provides cerebral hallucinogens and body relaxation when the smoke from the plant is inhaled. Currently, marijuana is legal in twenty-nine states across the the country for those who own a medical license for the drug. Although it is legal, the ideal culture of the U.S. will still find this substance froundupon, due to the fact of how the mainstream media perceives it as a gateway drug. On the contrary, marijuana has many health benefits that aid those who prefer a more natural medicinal drug. According to the article, The Highs and Lows of Marijuana, written by Jill Cavolet, concurs, marijuana has been used by patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced anorexia, nausea and vomiting, pain, and forms of spasticity,” (2016, 2). By reading this, one can see that marijuana is a helpful and useful drug that many take, not to be a criminal, but to medicate in a natural state. The people utilizing this drug are not bad people, but those who struggle with an ongoing medical problem seeking for a healthy feeling
Marijuana is a the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Most advocates consider the drug to be harmless, and even medically beneficial. Marijuana is the term for the dried leaves of the cannabis plant the fad has found marijuana to be a safe and effective way to treat nausea,vomiting; and wasting diseases such as anorexia. Cannabis is an effective way of treating the pain from chemotherapy, postoperative pain, and spinal injury; because of the way that cannabinoids affect the part of the brain related to pain. Other conditions that it can help treatment of are the common symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy, and disease similar to tuberculosis. the medical benefits of legalizing cannabis are very significant, but the economically