The Use of Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has long been at the centre of much controversy. Some studies have shown results that the benefits of using marijuana for medicinal reasons far outweigh the negative health matters that may be associated with its use, and therefore should be an accepted method of treatment for some patients who are suffering with illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS, and eating disorders (Okie, 2005). Still, other studies have proven that there is not enough scientific evidence on the drug, there for it should not be legalized for the use of medication (Hutchings, 2002). Currently the issue is moving forward, although not without controversy, but it is unclear when a clear decision will be made.

In a recent article by Okie (2005), some doctors prescribe medical marijuana to deal with chronic or neuropathic pain. Okie provides information about one patient, Angel McCleary Riach who is dependent on the drug marijuana because she found that it helped her control her pain and increase her appetite. The patient and her doctor Ludico, believed that Riach’s health will fail extremely if she is denied the use of medical marijuana, because she will not be able to bear the pain. Although the doctors in the article prescribe marijuana primarily to control pain, some have found it affective for treating muscle spasms, mood disorders, AIDS, migraines, and to increase appetite in cancer patients(Okie,2005) One doctor stated that many of their patients that are using the drug marijuana, but buying it illegally, but for the patients with a family that is too much of a risk. This is a continuous struggle in their everyday life, and without the legalization of medical marijuana these patients will continue...

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...st part, it is understandable that there may much hesitancy in fully legalizing this drug into the health field. Prosecuting users of marijuana, who are suffering from a debilitating disease, is punishing them beyond necessity. If their lives are limited by the pain caused by their particular illness and by prohibiting their use of the one thing that can make their daily life less painful seems to be unfair and unethical.

Works Cited
Hutchings, R. (2002). Why i don`t prescribe pot. Medical Post, 38(7); 13

Okie, S. (2005). Medical marijuana and the supreme court. The New England Journal of Medicine, 353(7); 648-651

Voth, E.A., (2002). Should Physicians support the medical use of marijuana The British Medical Journal, 16(2);

Wingerchuk, W. (2004). Canabis for medical purposes; cultivating science, weeding out the fiction. The Lancet, 364(9431); 315-316