Medical Benefits To Marijuana And Its Use example essay topic

Abstract Throughout history, marijuana has played an important role in various cultures by being used to treat ailments and diseases of many different types. Civilizations such as the Chinese used marijuana as a regular treatment, even the Americans used marijuana in the 1840's to treat chronic illnesses. Today, marijuana is used fro a recreational drug. Marijuana users seek after the euphoric feeling that the marijuana provides. The other main use is to alleviate symptoms cause by some of the leading diseases that plague our society. A few of these diseases include AIDS cancer, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma.

In AIDS and cancer, the use of marijuana has been proven to alleviate nausea and increase appetite. In multiple sclerosis, marijuana has been shown to reduce tremors, whereas in glaucoma is has been shown to reduce the intraocular pressure of the eye. There are both advantages and disadvantages to legalizing marijuana. Advantages to legalization are that the medicinal users would be able to have their symptoms alleviated with the help of marijuana without the fear of legal ramifications. Legalization would also allot for further research to be completed in studying marijuana and the effects of it. Just as there are advantages to legalizing marijuana, there are also disadvantages.

A few of the disadvantages of legalizing marijuana include abuse, health problems, and hazard to others. Throughout all of the debate surrounding this issue, one thing remains, while people are sitting around debating whether ill people should use marijuana to help them feel better, there are sick people sitting around making themselves feel better illegally through the use of marijuana. Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana, pot, bud, weed, or cannabis Sativa, no matter how it is referred to it is still illegal to have, use, or prescribe in the United States. Although it is not legal, marijuana is a hallucinogenic and intoxicating plant that is used for many purposes. This is a source of great debate in the American society today. When looking back through history, it is seen that marijuana has been used by many different cultures for many different purposes.

For instance, marijuana is known to have been used by the Chinese as early as 2737 B.C. Despite this knowledge that this drug is illegal, researchers have continued finding new ways for marijuana to assist in alleviating the symptoms in many patients. Research has found that AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and multiple sclerosis patients all have the ability to benefit from the drug. Despite the legal ramifications, there are still people with these diseases that are willing to take the chance of being arrested, just to feel better. There are many advantages to legalizing marijuana; such as the aid it would provide the patients that do not respond well to other drugs. Legalization would also allow these patients to benefit without the fear of imprisonment, and it would allow further research to be conducted on the full benefits of this drug's use. There are also many disadvantages to the legalization of marijuana.

With the legalization of marijuana comes the increased risk of people abusing the drug. There are also health risks involved with the use of marijuana. When taking into consideration the fact that marijuana is a mind-altering drug, the risk also arises that the person using this drug may be a hazard to others. This is the basis for the wide spread debate over this issue.

There are two sides to every issue, and this issue is no exception. This brings to light the question "Are the benefits of legalizing this drug enough to outweigh the disadvantages". Throughout history, marijuana has played an important role in the health care of various cultures throughout the world. For instance, it is thought that the Chinese were the first to use marijuana around 2737 B.C. Shen Nung is thought to have used it for medicinal purposes. Although the euphoric state was known about, it was not heavily discussed. Marijuana was also used in the 1840's in the United States to assist in medical health.

It was used once again to alleviate symptoms and cure common ailments of the time period. Today, however, marijuana has two main uses. First, marijuana is one of the most common recreational drugs. Marijuana users seek out the euphoric state that is provided by the THC (the active ingredient in marijuana).

Users can smoke, bake in food, or brew for tea the marijuana. If they chose to smoke marijuana there are several ways that they can smoke it. Today's users also may be smoking marijuana for its ability to assist in the alleviation of symptoms associated with AIDS and cancer. Multiple sclerosis and glaucoma sufferers are also said to benefit from marijuana. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients have been found through research to benefit from the use of marijuana. AIDS has several symptoms associated with it, but perhaps the most common or well-known symptom would be the wasting away of an individual.

This "wasting" is when the person loses dramatic amounts of weight, to the point where there is no excess fat or muscle on the patient, all that is left is the bare minimum. Marijuana assists in the alleviation of these side effects by easing the nausea that many AIDS patients suffer from, and also by increasing their appetite; so that once the nausea subsides they also have a desire to eat. Cancer patients find marijuana a helpful drug for the same reasons. The reduction of nausea and vomiting along with the increase in appetite, allow the cancer patients to be able to keep some of the weight on their bodies.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients have also been tested to find out if the assistance of marijuana to their bodies can help them to relieve tremors. Tremors are when a body limb, such as an arm or leg, moves and shakes uncontrollably. Although, no studies on MS have been done, there have been studies on people with symptoms similar to that of MS patients. These studies have shown to help alleviate the tremors associated with MS. Glaucoma sufferers also are found to be benefited by the use of marijuana...

"Studies in the early 1970's showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowers intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. In an attempt to determine whether marijuana, or drugs derived from marijuana, might be successful as a glaucoma treatment, the National Eye Institute supported research studies from 1978 to 1984. These studies established that some derivatives of marijuana lowered intraocular pressure when administered orally, intravenously, or by smoking, but not when topically applied to the eye". (National Eye Institute, 1997) If marijuana was to be legalized, there would be several advantages seen. The patients that use marijuana would be able to do so without the fear of repercussions.

They would be able to use marijuana as they need to without the fear of legal ramifications. These people, some of which are dying from the diseases that the marijuana is assisting them in alleviating the symptoms of, would be allowed to spend their final days relieved from the symptoms while spending time with their family and friends. This would also allow for more people to be involved in research in regards to the beneficial uses of marijuana. Although research is currently being done on the benefits of marijuana in reducing symptoms associated with these diseases, legalizing the medicinal use would allot other companies to be able to conduct research as well. As with any drug, there are also disadvantages associated with the use of marijuana.

One of the major disadvantages of the legalization of marijuana would be the potential for abuse. As with any controlled substance, there is a risk of abuse when it is prescribed. Marijuana would have to be classified as a narcotic in order for it to be regulated strictly. Another risk associated with legalization, would be the risk of fraudulent prescriptions in order for abusers of marijuana to be able to access the drug. Aside from the risks of abuse, there are other risks involved with the use of marijuana. As with almost any drug, there are health risks involved.

The Australian Medical Association released to the media a statement on October 15, 2000 about the health risks involved with smoking marijuana. They state that regular users of marijuana have a greater risk of triggering psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. They also state that it can increase the length of an illness or it can cause a reoccurring illness to return. Marijuana users are also considered to be a hazard to others.

Marijuana decreases the ability to concentrate and this can affect tasks such as driving. Research has shown that marijuana has an intoxicating effect on the user lasting up to six hours. At first use, marijuana causes restlessness, boisterous and impulsive behavior, but as time passes the user becomes relaxed, dazed, and their ability to focus decreases. During either of these times, the user may engage in activities that are dangerous to themselves and others. In a survey conducted by our team, we asked a series of ten questions relating to marijuana, its legalization, and government regulations in general. We asked each person surveyed to rate their opinion as either strongly agree, agree, not sure, disagree, or strongly disagree.

We then totaled up the responses to each question and the opinion stated. Our first question was in regards to government regulations. It stated, "In the United States today, there are too many government restrictions on people's private behavior". Our findings were 12 strongly agreed, 20 agreed, 2 were not sure, 6 disagreed, and 0 strongly disagreed.

The next three questions were about the person's childhood. The second question stated", Marijuana was readily available and widely used by students in the high school you graduated from". In response to this question 16 strongly agreed, 10 agreed, 4 were not sure, 8 disagreed, and 4 strongly disagreed. The third question was about parental influence in relation to drug use.

It stated " Your parents have always strongly discouraged you from experimenting from all illegal drugs including marijuana". To this question 20 strongly agreed, 10 agreed, 5 were not sure, 0 disagreed, and 5 strongly disagreed. The fourth question stated", You participated in an informative high school drug abuse education program. 10 strongly disagreed, 16 agreed, 7 were not sure, 4 disagreed, and 3 strongly disagreed.

The next four questions relate to marijuana and medicine. Question 5 stated", There is good scientific evidence that regular, long term use of marijuana can cause significant health problems". 12 strongly agreed, 17 agreed, 8 were not sure, 2 disagreed, and 1 strongly disagreed. There is good scientific evidence that marijuana's active ingredients can ease pain, nausea, and vomiting caused by cancer and AIDS, and how they are treated". The results of this question were 18 strongly agreed, 10 agreed, 6 were not sure, 4 disagreed, and 2 strongly agreed. Question 7, "Marijuana usage increases your risk of experimenting with and becoming addicted to other illegal drugs with more serious health impacts".

In response to this question, 4 strongly agreed, 13 agreed, 3 were not sure, 8 disagreed, and 2 strongly disagreed. Question 8, "Making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce a patient's pain and suffering". The results to this question are 18 strongly agreed, 11 agreed, 6 were not sure, 3 disagreed, and 2 strongly disagreed. Questions nine and ten are about legalizing marijuana. Question nine asks if the reader feels that marijuana should be legal for persons 21 and over.

6 strongly agreed, 9 agreed, 7 were not sure, 12 disagreed, and 6 strongly disagreed. Question ten was about legalization for persons eighteen and over. 8 people strongly agreed, 3 agreed, 6 were not sure, 12 disagreed, and 11 strongly disagreed. Using the responses from this survey, we see that the majority of people realize that there are medical benefits to marijuana and its use. We also see that as far as legalizing marijuana for everyone over a certain age, the results seem to be about equal on those that think it should be legal and those that do not. The ages of the participants varied from 19 to 85.

Two of the participants have cancer, and one has AIDS. Several others are nurses, and others are from various other non-medical fields. Although the debate over this issue will ultimately be decided in the courts, no matter what the decision is there will be people that continue to use marijuana for medical purposes. These people want to feel better, and they are willing to break the law, if necessary, to do so.

By legalizing marijuana, the government will be allowing these people to relieve symptoms without fear of legal repercussions. Marijuana has been used as medicine for centuries, by several different cultures. The debate is now over whether marijuana is worth legalizing and what will happen if it is legal.

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