The Legallization of Marijuana for Medical Use

Essay by DrgnLdy69College, Undergraduate November 2006

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In my opinion marijuana needs to be legalized for medical uses. In the following paragraphs, I am going to show you the pros and cons to legalizing marijuana for medical use. There are many studies showing that marijuana is just as affective in treating certain aliments as regular prescription drugs are and might be a little safer on the body.

As early as the fifteenth century, marijuana has been recognized as having medical properties(Marijuana and Health, Fifth Annual Report p. 118-119). The modern use of marijuana for therapeutic reasons started about 140 years ago when O'Shaughnessy reported on its effectiveness as an analgesic and anticonvulsant. About the same time Moreau de Tours described its use in [phychiatric] illnesses. Those who saw favorable results observed that cannabis produced sleep, enhanced appetite, and did not cause physical addiction(Marijuana and Health, Fourth Annual Report pp.71- 102). The list of medical uses of cannabis from historical references includes: Anorexia, Asthma, Nausea, Pain, Peptic Ulcer, Alcoholism, Glaucoma, Epilepsy, Depression, Migraine, Anxiety, Inflammation, Hypertension, Insomnia, and Cancer(Mechoulam, S.,

Lander, N., Dikstein, S., Carlini, E.A., and Blumenthal, M. (1976).

There are currently only eleven states, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, that have passed laws exempting patients who use cannabis(marijuana) under a physician's supervision from state criminal penalties.(www.NORML.org, State Laws Authorizing Physician-Supervised Use Of Marijuana Unaffected By Ruling 06/06/05). There is limited research being done on marijuana because it is a schedule one narcotic, meaning that it is highly addictive. While on the other hand cocaine and morphine, which are also schedule one narcotics, are being prescribed everyday to patients. Every medication that a doctor prescribes has the potential to become addictive.

I recently spoke with a gentleman who is prescribed marijuana for medical reasons. He started using it in...