Should the Use of Medical Marijuana be Legalized?

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The debate on whether or not to legalize medical marijuana has been going on for quite some time. Medical marijuana is used for many health problems, such as pain, but has a lot of controversy behind it. I, personally, am all for legalizing medical marijuana.
Marijuana has been used for medical purposes as early as 2737 B.C. when Emperor Shen Neng of China prescribed marijuana tea for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, malaria and poor memory. The medical use of marijuana would then spread throughout Asia, The Middle East, and the eastern part of Africa. In the late 18th century, early editions of American medical journals recommended hemp seeds and roots for the treatment of inflamed skin, incontinence and venereal disease. It wasn't until 1914 that drug use was defined as a crime, under the Harrison Act. By 1937, 23 states had outlawed marijuana and the Federal Government passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which made nonmedical use of marijuana illegal. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana.
Marijuana can be used for medical purposes if used correctly. There is a lot of evidence that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS. It can even help the symptoms caused by the harsh drugs used to treat these illnesses. Even with all this effective qualities there is still some drawbacks. Marijuana, when smoked, cannot be subjected to careful, well-controlled trials, because it does not come in a standard, reproducible formula or dose, and cannot meet the accepted standards for drug purity, potency and quality. The different strains of cannabis vary in their cannabinoid composition and in the c...

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