Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized?

Christina Bui

Mr. Brewster – 7th period

10/6/17

Should Medical Marijuana be Legalized?

The cites that I chose to represent my essay are scientific research studies that believe Medical Marijuana should be used to treat disorders and diseases. Medical Marijuana is a cannabis plant which is illegal in many places. However, it is used to treat health problems such as cancer, glaucoma, and HIV/AIDS. Increased production and prescription of marijuana over the years has been used for variety of medical reasons, including pain. Many Americans, counting members of the medical community, and Congress has favorably viewed the drug as a medicinal treatment that can break cure many diseases. Although medical marijuana causes negative effects to the lungs, it can be used as treatment for many health issues.

Articles

NIDA. "Marijuana as Medicine." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 28 Apr. 2017,                  https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine. Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.        

In this article, NIDA proves their belief in the illegalization of medical marijuana by providing studies of the FDA, Food and Drug Administration. Although medical marijuana has proven to help some, “researchers have not conducted enough large-scale clinical trials that shows that the benefits of marijuana plant outweighs its risks in patients it’s meant to treat” (1). Therefore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine” (1). Medical marijuana contains more than 100 cannabinoids, a chemical in the plant to make people ‘high’. Because of the high number of cannabinoids and the dangers of overusing, it can lead to “serious health effects” (2) which defeats the purpose of curing a patient. Although cannabinoids are considered hazardous to the FDA, marijuana contains two that medical fields are interested in: THC and CBD. “THC can increase appetite and reduce nausea. It may also decrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems” (3). CBD is not known for making people high, it’s similar to THC. “CBD reduces pain and inflammation, controls epileptic seizures, and treats mental illness and most addictions” (3) Studies have shown that marijuana extract can kill cancer cells and reduce the size of some. Other studies show that pure extract can slow the growth of cancer cells in large tumors. NIDA also believes that medical marijuana is beneficial to the decrease of overdose deaths. “Some preliminary studies have suggested that medical marijuana legalization might be associated with decreased prescription opioid use and overdose deaths, but researchers don't have enough evidence yet to confirm this finding” (2). Data has also shows that medical marijuana treatment may lessen the opioid dose for pain patients.

This website will be used to explain why medical marijuana is beneficial for cancer patients thus proving that it should be legalized. By using these facts, the reader will get a better understanding of why medical marijuana should be used on patients with health problems. The reader will also overlook the negative effects of marijuana because a cure for cancer is most of pharmacists’ concerns. Therefore, by using this website, I can back up my argument with an emotional data. This cite would be more beneficial for my essay if it contained more information about how it shrinks cancer cells. Such as, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, could be used to reduce tumor growth in cancer patients.

Armand, MD Wynne. “Marijuana: Health Effects of Recreational and Medical Use.” Harvard Health Blog, 21 Aug. 2016, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-effects-of-marijuana-from-recreational-and-medical-use-2016081910180

Armand’s studies are used to provide information about the positive and negative effects of medical marijuana. Marijuana is mostly used in adolescents and young adults to feel more relaxed, but the drug can “impair thinking, judgment, coordination, and memory” (1). Physical effects include bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, and a fast heart rate. Short term effects last from 4 to 12 hours depending on which route it is administered in.  Smoking marijuana can irritate the lungs which produces heavy coughs and mucous, known as bronchitis or asthma. “It is not clear if smoking marijuana is linked to lung cancer. Marijuana use during pregnancy can also harm a baby’s brain development” (1). Marijuana has not been proven to develop long terms effects, however, heavy use can alter when the effects can happen. Young adults and adolescents start smoking marijuana when their brains are underdeveloped. “In youths who use heavily, studies have shown deterioration in their learning and cognitive thinking that persists into adulthood, even after they have stopped using marijuana” (2). Armand also believes in the medical benefits of marijuana. Medical Marijuana is manufactured in different forms such as ointment rub, capsules, and spray to help reduce sickness and muscle spasms. “Although marijuana can help relieve the symptoms of certain medical conditions, its use is still illegal on a federal level, and because we don’t have data from large, long-term, well-designed studies, the FDA continues to have concerns about potential risks versus benefits” (2).[pic 1]