The legalization of medical marijuana continues to pop up in the conversation of politics, especially over the past decade. Personally, I have not been paying attention to the politics of the issue, but I definitely possess a strong opinion for the legalization of medical marijuana. I believe the legalization of this drug will bring out many positive health aspects regarding disease and cancer, and I believe these benefits outweigh the restriction against the use of medical marijuana. I truly think that medical marijuana could end up becoming a major health benefit throughout the United States, and I believe that with some advancements, it could help cure disease and completely alleviate some of the symptoms of certain diseases. In terms of values, I don't believe this research question affects them at all. It only makes my value of the legalization of medical marijuana stronger. I have been around a lot of people who smoke medical marijuana, and the way they describe the effects pushes me even more to believe that medical marijuana could be extremely helpful in the medical field. The pain relief, nausea relief, and relaxation brought about by medical marijuana, described by some of my accomplices, makes me think more about how this drug could help people struggling with disease. I think I am very experienced with how the effects of medical marijuana work, and I believe my focused research and experience on this topic gives me the credibility to make a valid argument for the legalization of medical marijuana. 

In an article by Chris Mathias on the topic of medical marijuana legalization in New York, Mathias describes how multiple patients have illegally used medical marijuana to cure symptoms of other medicines. Mathias makes it very clear through actual interviews of New York Residents that medical marijuana successfully helps patients that have severe diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis. New York is filled with residents who support the legalization of medical marijuana, so it is obvious why Mathias makes such a strong claim towards the issue. His expertise in the field of medical marijuana has grown a lot through interviews, which gives him a lot of credibility in his articles.

In the article, "23 Health Benefits of Marijuana", Jennifer Welsh and Kevin Loria describe multiple situations in which medical marijuana is beneficial for medical reasons. Almost every situation gets backed up by studies showing how medical marijuana relieves and cures multiple health risks and problems. Some health benefits discussed include help with muscle spasms and anxiety, PTSD relief, and protection of the brain after a stroke. Jennifer Welsh actually worked for an antiviral drug discovery company before becoming a writer and editor, so she obviously knows a lot about the issue at hand. Both authors write about health and science for Tech Insider, so they have very strong, educated opinions about the legalization of medical marijuana.

"Medical Marijuana: What the Research Says", an article by Bara Vaida, discusses how certain chemicals in marijuana help with Alzheimer's, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, digestive disorders, and so on. Vaida goes into depth about how these chemicals positively effect the certain parts of the human body. Michael Smith, who edited the article, has a medical degree and is a medical director and chief editor at WebMD. He did not write the article, but he reviewed it to make sure the information in the piece was valid. He knows a lot about the chemicals in marijuana and how they affect the body, giving him strong credentials on the topic. Smith seems to be sufficiently educated about medical marijuana, giving him a strong opinion on the legalization of medical marijuana. 

The legalization for medical marijuana continues to be a very controversial topic in the United States, and rightfully so. With more research and studies, I believe that medical marijuana will be legalized within the next ten years for the entire country. Some people do not believe the health benefits of marijuana, and they believe that the legalization of medical marijuana will lead to more recreational use and abuse. A lot of people think that the health benefits of marijuana are too far-fetched, such as the fact that marijuana can be used to stop the spreading of cancer. With the strong evidence presented, I believe the health benefits of medical marijuana will have a great affect on the legalization of marijuana, as people start to realize that it can be used successfully in the medical field. By seeing things through the perspective of authors who have a strong opinion about the legalization of marijuana, my opinion on the issue has only become stronger and more educated. In terms of my research question, I firmly believe that my question is strong, specific, and arguable regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. Rephrasing it may make the point clearer to the audience, but overall the question is a good foundation on which to argue for the legalization of medical marijuana.

