FREE ESSAY ON MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL USE

MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL USE

Marijuana for Medical Use 
For many years the United States government has prohibited some drugs, such as 
marijuana, from being sold in the marketplace. Yet, even with prohibition, marijuana use
has only decreased minimally. Because of its illegality, only the bad aspects of
marijuana use have been made known. However, there are many positive aspects of marijuana
legalization, including its application concerning medical cures. 
As of today, in most of the states, marijuana is classified as an illegal drug. However,
due to its proven medicinal purposes, the drug should be made available for sick people
to use. Marijuana has been used for multiple purposes prior to the birth of Christ.
Marijuana originated in the Middle East. China played an important part in marijuana's
history. "Hoatho, the first Chinese physician, used cannabis for medical purposes as a
painkiller and as an anesthetic for surgery" stated Morgan (5). China was not the only
country that used marijuana as a medicine. For example, in Thailand it was used to
stimulate the appetite of people who were ill. "It would make them sleep, and counteract
diarrhea," states Thompson (10). Clearly, we can see that the use of marijuana began as a
medicine, and with more research we can find better uses of marijuana as for medicinal
purposes. Marijuana is very helpful in easing the suffering of the sick but it also
creates side effects. The scientific evidence published to date indicates that marijuana
has a broad range of psychological and biological effects, some of which are harmful to
human health. Marijuana has different effects on the nervous system and on behavior.
Marijuana impairs motor coordination and affects tracking ability and sensory and
perceptual functions important for safe driving. "It also impairs short-term memory and
slows learning," said Webster (3). Marijuana smoke is a complex mixture that has many
chemical components and biological effects similar to tobacco smoke. However, it also
contains some different ingredients. This suggests the strong possibility that marijuana,
like tobacco, could lead to lung cancer, or create respiratory distress. "Smoking
marijuana also causes changes in the heart and circulation that are characteristic of
stress" states Morgan (5). Current evidence has shown marijuana also causes some chemical
changes in the brain. After exposure to this drug, there have been reports of effects on
brain electrical activity in human beings and in animals. Marijuana also has been found
to produce an acute brain syndrome. "This is a more severe mental problem consisting of
confusion and loss of contact with reality" stated Berger (8). The main reason that the
United States Drug Enforcement Agency doesn't want marijuana use to be legalized is
because there is no evidence to date that proves that marijuana is an effective drug when
used for medicinal purposes. Scientists have researched this drug for twenty years and
have yet to produce reliable scientific proof that marijuana has medical value. New
findings show that marijuana is acutely harmful to AIDS and cancer patients because the
active ingredient in marijuana acutely reduces the white blood cells that fight off
infection. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency agrees with police departments that
if marijuana use is legalized, crime could increase due to a higher number of users.
Statistics have proven that eventually these marijuana users could become addicted and
crime could increase. These users would need to purchase the drug, and as the need
increases, more money would be needed to fund this habit. 
There are also many advantages of smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes. Persons
suffering from the advanced stage of AIDS find that marijuana stimulates their appetites.
They are able to digest foods to gain strength and prevent emaciation. Glaucoma patients
have discovered that using marijuana has prevented them from going blind by diminishing
their sight retardation. Surveys were given to glaucoma patients and they reported that
they all preferred smoking marijuana instead of paying for the expensive medication that
basically had the same result. Cancer patients use marijuana to alleviate the severe
nausea that is a side effect of chemotherapy. Cancer chemotherapy is one of the most
developed treatments utilized during the past few decades in an effort to combat this
fatal disease. Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells, but unfortunately, it also attacks
and destroys the healthy body cells. Many cancer patients agree that the side effects of
chemotherapy are actually worse than the cancer itself. In Marijuana, the forbidden
medicine, it states that the use of marijuana was effective in reducing nausea and
vomiting. "Based on surveys of randomly selected cancer patients, they would rather smoke
marijuana then be subjected to chemotherapy," stated Berger (7). Chemotherapy patients
also suffer when taking oral medication that accompanies the chemotherapy treatment. .
When marijuana is taken with these ordinarily painful medications, it has been known to
suppress and even eliminate the side effects. This allows the patients to sustain the
treatment. It also helps them physically to expedite the healing process. Cancer will
consume the weakened patient. However, a strong patient can achieve remission. 
AIDS is the second most deadly disease that affects the world population. One of the main
problems with combating AIDS is that the treatment is very expensive. There is no known
cure yet. It has only been in the last few years that patients have admitted having the
disease instead of suffering in silence. Victims like Ryan White gave this disease
dignity and people began donating money to find the cure. Previously, AIDS patients were
treated with expensive therapy. Now, however, marijuana is used currently on some AIDS
patients. "Studies of smoked marijuana on healthy volunteers showed that it increased
their appetite and they gained weight" stated Morgan (7). The positive thing is that
there aren't any serious side effects for AIDS patients who smoke marijuana. Its usage
isn't a life-threatening treatment, and it can be quickly reversed when the drug is
discontinued. There have been several arguments presented for the use of legalizing
marijuana for compassionate usage. 
The legalization of marijuana has become a major issue and the number of supporters and
opponents seems to be equally divided. As stated previously, many physicians feel that
marijuana is helpful in the treatment of AIDS, glaucoma, and cancer treatment. They also
feel it is helpful for the treatment of arthritis, migraine headaches, and multiple
sclerosis. Proponents want this law supported so that the drug can be legally regulated.
People who really need it would be able to get it and use it without being criminally
prosecuted. With the enactment of this law, physicians would also be protected if they
should recommend marijuana to their patients. Physicians are given more scrutiny as to
why they prescribe this drug to patients. The law would give physicians a right to
consider marijuana as an option without being criminally prosecuted. Another strong
supporting statement is that if doctors are allowed to prescribe morphine and codeine,
why can't they prescribe marijuana as well? Opponents of enacting legislation claim that
prescribing marijuana does not require a written prescription. It also does not have an
age limit for utilizing the drug. Another argument is that the Federal Drug Agency did
not approve of this drug and that will provide no protection for consumers. 
After researching all of the topics covered in this paper, I have come to the personal
conclusion that marijuana has been shown to be a safe and effective medicine. Marijuana
should be legalized in order to help people who suffer from terminal diseases such as
AIDS and cancer. It should also be readily supplied for glaucoma patients. The
prohibition of marijuana over the past few decades hasn't diminished the demand of the
drug in the United States. I am very surprised that in a country as advanced as the
United States, people who are deathly ill cannot legally obtain the medicine that will
provide them with some relief from their suffering. Marijuana is the only drug that can
actually be given to patients and not cause serious side effects. It is also a less
expensive means of treatment. In my point of view, if the United States government
regulated the use of marijuana, it would be a very successful step. If the doctors
prescribed marijuana for certain patients, and if the rules for usage of the drug were
very strict, there would not be any misuse of the drug. Marijuana is also very cheap to
produce, and more people could afford this drug instead of being subjected to high-tech
treatments that don't always work. It is easier to administer and the results are often
much faster. It would be a tremendous advantage if patients were allowed to smoke
marijuana. Marijuana should not be an illicit drug; it should be legalized for medical
purposes only.
Bibliography
Berger, Philip A. "Marijuana." Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Microsoft
Corporation. 1997. 
Morgan, John P. and Zimmer, Lynn. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts. Sarasota: Book World
Services, Inc. 1997. The Science of Medical Marijuana. 21 May 1999. . 
Thompson, Stephen P., ed. The War on Drugs: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven
Press, Inc., 1998. 
Webster, Maddy. "Legalizing Pot: What You Can Do." High Times. Jan 1999: 30. 
Weed Wars: Facts and Stats. CNNInteractive. 1997. 
You Dealing with Chemotherapy. National Cancer Institute, Institute of Health. 28 Jan.
1999. .