Medical Marijuana Should NOT Be Legal For Minors

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With the major and ongoing controversy of the legalization of marijuana, medical marijuana has been thrown into the limelight as an excuse as to why marijuana is “good.” But with medical marijuana’s supposed advancements, more and more doctors are prescribing it to anyone who claims to have a headache and now they are moving their clientele base to young children and teens who are not even old enough to know the long-term damage of the “medicine” their doctors are so willingly prescribing. While many doctors are beginning to jump on the medical weed train, others are continuing to speak against the effects; especially on minors. In order to prevent permanent damage to the young children, medical marijuana needs to be outlawed for anyone under the age of 18.

Medical Marijuana is used much more frequently than in the past, and underage adolescents are starting to get weed prescriptions for minor mental inhibitions that normal medicine would help, such as ADHD. According to Dr. Jean Talleyrand, who is the founder of MediCann, his offices have treated up to 50 under age children who have A.D.H.D. The lack of legitimate excuses as to why this drug is being to children is alarming. Very few minors, who are prescribed the drug, have life threatening illnesses where the drug could do any good (AIDS, or cancer to name a couple). According to Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, who is the chairman of psychology at the University Of Berkeley, has noted in many of his studies, that THC (which is the working ingredient in marijuana) actually causes the same effects that are prevalent in ADHD cases: lack of attention, memory, as well as concentration. Not only are the excuses getting less legitimate, but also using the drug consistently while underage is...

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...://www.ktla.com/news/extras/ktla-sweeps-sams-story,0,6959760.story>.

"Medical Marijuana for Minors with ADHD."

Thaimedicalnews.com 23 Nov. 2009: n. pag. Web. 1 Mar 2011. .

Ellison, Katherine. "Medical Marijuana: No Longer Just for

Adults." NYtimes.com. The New York Times, 21 11 2009. Web. 10 Mar 2011. .

University of Cincinnati. “Marijuana Use Takes Toll On Adolescent Brian Function,

Research Finds.” ScienceDaily 15 October 2008. 1 March 2011. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014111156.htm

The Bantam Medical Dictionary. 6th Edition. New York, New York: Bantam Dell (A division of Random House, Inc.), 2009. Print.

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