...legRunning Head: Should marijuana be legalized? Should marijuana be legalized? Should marijuana be legalized? There are various reason why people smoke or have smoked marijuana. The reasons may range from extracurricular drug use medicinal uses and anywhere in between. The positive effects medical research states marijuana can assist with cancer patients and terminally ill individuals, but only for pain reduction and appetite increases. In the case of glaucoma the pressure from the eyeballs are reduced by the blood flow changing with the effects of THC. While there may be some positive effects for use of marijuana, the negative effects outweigh positives effects. It is a known fact that marijuana has more tar in the leaf than tobacco accompanied with the mind altering affects of THC in the blood stream are enough to make anyone want to avoid the life altering risks. Marijuana is also know as a gateway drug. Legalizing marijuana would not be as beneficial as some may believe. For those individuals who may still be undecided on whether to support the legalization of marijuana or not, below are a few key points to aid in their decision making. While some suggest the benefits of marijuana outweigh the negative, not enough research has been conducted to determine this. The immediate and long term effect could be substantially dreadful. Some of the immediate effects of marijuana are hallucinations, paranoia, and psychotic episodes. Also, stimulant psychosis may also...
Words: 2064 - Pages: 9
...After the legalization of medical marijuana, doctors instead of curing the patient’s illness by prescribing medical marijuana by law are generating a large amount of harmful side effects and addictiveness to patients. Even though, medical marijuana is legal and it’s passed by legislation, doesn’t necessarily mean that it cannot have negative influence on the society. Legislation by passing and legalizing the medical marijuana didn’t really maintenance the negative influence on society and side effects that patients can have after using marijuana over long usage. According to the Caron Pennsylvania states that “Long-term users often experience lowered motivation, and some can experience anxiety, panic attacks, respiratory illnesses, and increased heart rate and risk of heart attack....
Words: 454 - Pages: 2
...Anthony Webb March 15, 2016 English Comp II “Do the benefits of medical marijuana justify its legality?” Cannabis, also known as marijuana and by numerous other names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is a hot commodity throughout the United States and even in other countries such as Canada, Mexico, etc. The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been used for centuries and can be documented as far back as to 2900 BC when Chinese emperor Fu Hsi referenced cannabis as a very popular medicine that possesses both yin and yang. There have been many documented occasions on those using marijuana for medicinal purposes. It is currently still being prescribed to patients for various reasons such as glaucoma, an antidepressant, help with anxiety, help control epileptic seizures, etc. Along with its medicinal purposes, many partake in the usage of smoking marijuana as a means of a recreational activity for such simple reasons as just a means to “get high” and seeing as it doesn’t do much harm. With its well-known reputation for being a trustworthy herb remedy and also being used for recreational purposes it leaves to question, do the benefits of medical marijuana justify its legality? I support this claim and I believe there are many logical and reasonable reasons why it should be legalized. Legalizing marijuana would have many positive outcomes especially on the United States. The legalization of weed could cause...
Words: 936 - Pages: 4
...The Medical Marijuana Controversy Medical Marijuana is a large controversial subject in today’s society. You may hear about it in the news, on the radio, in a magazine, it is a matter you hear about on a daily basis. As you may know Marijuana has been used for as long as we have known it for recreational and enjoyment purposes. Only in the last decade have you heard of the drug has being more commonly used for medical purposes such as cancer, HIV and other severe medical conditions. These controversies consist of the two opposing views on medical Marijuana; those who support it and its legalization and those who are against it and believe it should be banned. According to thorough medical research and studies, Marijuana does show signs of relief and treatment for numerous medical conditions. Diseases and illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, HIV/AIDS, depression and many more effect are large percentage of people in the United States today. With very few or no treatments and cures for these illnesses, medical Marijuana has become an alternative for people suffering. Marijuana contains an active ingredient known as THC or tetrahyricannabinol. This ingredient provides the “high effect” after smoking the drug. The American Cancer Society states how clinical tests established that, THC reduces pain and other symptoms of cancer. With this being, the FDA has approved the THC in Marijuana for medical and therapeutic uses. (Tashkin) Although Marijuana might have a...
Words: 766 - Pages: 4
...Stimson on September 13, 2010 titled Legalizing Marijuana: Why Citizens Should Just Say No. In this article Stimson gives a long and verbose explanation as to why marijuana should not be legalized or decriminalized. He asserts that the overwhelming negative effects far out weigh any benefits. Although Stimson makes numerous claims in an attempt to support his argument, this rebuttal will focus on two. Stimson claims marijuana has no healthful benefits. There are some negative side effects from using marijuana, but to assert that it has no healthful benefits is a completely false assertion. Drug Sociologist Lynn Zimmer and Narcotics researcher John P. Morgan found this also to be false. Their research uncovered significant benefits to marijuana use. They found for glaucoma sufferers, marijuana reduced the pressure in the patient’s eyes. This pressure caused loss of vision that was irreversible. The study of marijuana in AIDS patients has overwhelming conclusive evidence of its healthful benefits. Marijuana reduces nausea and increases appetite. This makes it easier for patients experiencing severe loss of appetite to have a desire to eat. A study revealed that 50 percent of oncologist recommended marijuana to their patients. Stimson’s argument to the contrary lacks validity. He provides no data to support his claim. He attempts to prove his claim by stating the negative health effects. His claim was not that there were no negative effectives, he stated there were not healthful...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...if marijuana is an herb or a drug/poison, but since early 2001 marijuana was legalized which provided a set regulations towards legal access to marijuana. The restrictions for the uses of marijuana are that only allowed to be used with a license prescribed by a doctor and can be only used for medical purposes. Marijuana is known for paralyzing the pain and treats many diseases. Marijuana can also only be prescribed for 90 days by a doctor. Its uses are mainly treating migraines, inflammatory diseases, cancer, fibromyalgia (a medical disorder that spread pains into muscles) and other related diseases. Canada is also one of the first country to legalize marijuana, but because of this decision, more cons outweighs the pros. For instance, legalizing marijuana can send a message to devolving young that is right to smoke because is not against the law. Crime rates and recreational usage of marijuana can also dramatically increase since there is less protective law against it. A lot of our tax money also goes in to healthcare and marijuana is part of that system. Marijuana is a negative impact towards the media, society and economy and the final decision should be reconsider for more possibilities of changes. The laws and restrictions for marijuana have been taken too lightly since the legalizing of marijuana. Many people are abusing and taking advantage of the abandment of illegal use of marijuana. One example of people taking advantage is now more recreational use of marijuana have...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
...Legalize It! John G. Krape JR COM/156 June 19, 2011 Lugene Rosen Legalize It! The legalization of marijuana would not hurt the country, but it would benefit it in many ways. Alcohol and tobacco are legal although they are more harmful than marijuana, which can be used to raise revenue, decrease the crime rate, and help heal the sick. Marijuana, or cannabis, has many positives much good can come from it being legal. Some of the main positives of legalizing marijuana include raising revenue for the country as a whole, decreasing the crime rate and number of prisoners, and it can be used as a cheap way for people to self-medicate. As with everything where there are positives there are negatives. Some negatives that could be argued would include how the government would control it, what to do with prisoners who were arrested prior to the legalization, and what kind of damage long term use could cause. The benefits of legalizing cannabis outweigh the negative side of it, like raising the revenue and economy of this country. One reason why marijuana should be legalized is that it can raise the revenue and economy of this country tenfold in a short period of time. People do not just start doing something because it becomes available in mass quantities with no prosecution. Marijuana can be grown by companies, like Phillip Morris a cigarette company, and taxed by the government. A high tax should be put on the product of course, making enjoying it a rare occasion. Alcohol and...
Words: 1542 - Pages: 7
...Marijuana Drug use is a common habit among teens and adults. With the drug use rising, especially with marijuana, the crime rates and dropout rates are rising as well. Jails across the country are filling up with addicts and marijuana users. Streets are rich with dropout stoners and “gangsters”. Marijuana, or its scientific name cannabis, is a leaf plant that is commonly referred to as hemp or weed. It is crushed and rolled within a thin paper to form a joint. It can then be smoked, to produce a dreamlike state of hallucination. This raises the question, should marijuana be legal? Marijuana, compared to other drugs, is mild and has minimal side effects. Marijuana also has health benefits. These factors present many questions, including:...
Words: 1687 - Pages: 7
...Final Project Marijuana Use Is Harmful Mariah Di Toto 4/20/2014 CRT 205 Source #1 Title and Citation: Marijuana Use is Harmful This article is convincing readers that marijuana use is harmful for your memory, coordination and respiratory functions. It is also found to raise the risks of heart attacks, cancer and addiction. The only areas that seem to be vague is where this article starts talking about the effects of marijuana, and not explaining how much it takes before it effects you in those ways. Also how long a person has to be a marijuana user in order for these long term effects to actually start to arise. They seem to not know exactly what the long-term effects on the brain are, but says it effects your memory. Their finding seems to be inconsistent, so their argument for saying it is actually bad for your memory can’t actually be proven 100%. I do find this source to be credible based off of the information that is given. This article is broken up into sections that talk about the main effects of marijuana usage. It lists statistics throughout the article and studies that have been conducted. However, I do believe they are only taking one side where marijuana can be useful in a lot of cases not mentioned here. It isn’t all negatives when it comes to marijuana usage. I do not believe that any rhetorical devices were used by this author. The author stuck to simple details and studies, and did not go on exaggerating or relating...
Words: 1033 - Pages: 5
...Medical Marijuana Marijuana legalization one of the most argued and discussed subjects worldwide. The topic is argued for it to be legal for medical uses, and recreationally. Opposing these arguments are the ideas that it’s a “high potential for abuse,” and it is harmful to those who ingest the drug. On the other hand, don’t a majority of prescriptions, drugs, and medicines that are legal, and are heavily used, all have a “high potential for abuse?” Medical marijuana being legalized for specific illnesses such as: epilepsy, crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, will be life changing for those who suffer from those illnesses and diseases. This drug is the most widely used controlled substance in the world. Since marijuana has been illegal...
Words: 1340 - Pages: 6
...emotional release, or just for pleasure, both teenagers and adults start using marijuana. While some people consider marijuana to be a destructive drug that can cause serious health problems or even death, others think it is an alternative way of curing diseases. Some people may just smoke it for satisfaction. While many people believe marijuana is considered a destructive drug, depending on the usage it can also have a positive impact on human bodies. Marijuana is a product derived from a hemp plant named Cannabis sativa. Referring specifically to the plant’s leaves and flowers, this ancient drug that first originated in China around 2727 B.C...
Words: 1895 - Pages: 8
...Legalizing Marijuana, New Social Stigma: The new wave of Acceptance C. LaMour Romine Pittsburg State University Definition of Problem to be studied: This research is a secondary research analysis of the theoretical perspective of the marijuana movement - pertaining to the politic standpoint of marijuana verses cigarettes and scientific medical analysis of marijuana verses cigarettes. This research is meant to explore the multifaceted aspect of marijuana, cigarette trends, and the correlation between their recent waves of popularity. We will explore the historical facts of past tobacco trends to the present marijuana movement including widely held attitudes and beliefs about both substances. The thesis of this research will be to explore the differences between marijuana and cigarettes and social stigmas. Including the shift in popularity between tobacco and marijuana the MJ activist group known as NORML supporting the legalization of cannabis, while anti tobacco organizations have increased to ban cigarette smoke in public places. This research will conceptualize the meanings behind the negative stigmas associated with drugs legal and illegal influence. The problem is a double standard between the political views of marijuana and cigarettes. The political perspectives seem to be focused on public stigmas about the substance(s) rather than deciding drug laws based on medical science. Marijuana and tobacco have a shared...
Words: 5541 - Pages: 23
...Legalizing Medical Marijuana Charles Fryer English/147 6/25/2015 Dr. Jill Bonds Legalizing Medical Marijuana What if someone told you that many of our everyday ailments, and some diseases could be treated with a medication that is all natural? Medical marijuana is on the cutting edge of prescription medication. However, there is one major issue. Is it legal or is it illegal? The fact is that no matter where you are in America it is always federally illegal, even if it is legal in any particular state. Medical marijuana must be legalized primarily because of its medicinal contribution, also to cut down on the amount of nonviolent offenders that are causing overcrowding in American jails and prisons, and for the monetary impact it will have on our economy. Medical marijuana has been proven to be effective in the treatment of physical, and mental health problems. “Some of the compounds commonly abused today are accepted pharmaceutical agents.”(Doweiko, 2012). Medical marijuana has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of cancer patients for pain management. According to "Drug Policy” (2015) Medical marijuana used by individuals with PTSD showed a 75% reduction in symptoms. So if we know that pharmaceutical medications such as opiates, and benzodiazepines are commonly abused, and highly addictive then why are they continuously being produced? I believe there is one answer for this, and that is money. Medical marijuana proves to be safer than...
Words: 624 - Pages: 3
...suggested that marijuana is the root cause of many mental disorders. In spite of government warnings about health risks, many people see it as a harmless substance that helps you to relax and ‘chill’ – a drug that, unlike alcohol and cigarettes, might even be good for your physical and mental health. On the other hand, recent research has suggested that it can be a major cause of psychotic illnesses in those who are genetically vulnerable. This paper looks at the research on mood disorders and the use of cannabis for its treatment. It will brief on the types of mood disorders, their symptoms, and treatment and finally discuss both positive and negative effects of using marijuana as a ‘cure’ for mood disorders. WHAT ARE MOOD DISORDERS? Mood disorders, or affective disorders, are mental health problems such as all types of depression, bipolar disorder, and mania (Klasco, 2011). The disorders in this category include those where the primary symptom is a disturbance in mood; in other words, inappropriate, exaggerated, or limited range of feelings. There are chemicals in the brain, called endorphins, which are responsible for positive moods. Other chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, regulate endorphins. Most likely, depression (and other mood disorders) is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain (The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center). Life events (such as unwanted changes in life) may also contribute to a depressed mood. WHAT IS MARIJUANA? Marijuana...
Words: 1858 - Pages: 8
...Medical Marijuana A look into the evolving world of medication. By: Daniel Countryman Medical marijuana is a common topic these days, and while it’s a controversial subject it is something to be looked at as an alternative medication. I want to cover what exactly marijuana is, how it’s produced, where it comes from, the natural compounds, how to use it, and what benefits versus the risks medical marijuana has on its patients. Marijuana is a plant – in fact it’s a weed. Marijuana is actually a slang term, and the proper name for the plant is cannabis. Cannabis is a genus of plants with flowers, and also has a few different species; cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis contains different cannabinoids to which over 85 of the known are active cannabinoids, and the two most common are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and Cannabidiol (CBD). While other known cannabinoids such as Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabinol (CBN), and Tretrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) are known their studies are not as prevalent as THC, and CBD. THC is a psychoactive ingredient which puts you in an altered state of conscious when consumed in moderate to high doses. While THC is psychoactive it does not make you hallucinate as other known drugs such as LSD, and ‘magic’ mushrooms are known for. However, THC is known for changing your appetite and your taste which makes it a good medication for people who have issues with consuming food such as cancer patients. THC is also used for...
Words: 1497 - Pages: 6
