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 the closest attention to the politics of the issue, but I definitely possess a valid 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 think these benefits outweigh the restriction against the use of medical marijuana. I trust that medical marijuana could become a major health benefit throughout the United States, and I think that with some advancements, such as purifying the drug for medical purposes, medical marijuana could help cure disease and completely alleviate some of the symptoms of other diseases. In terms of values, I do not think this research question affects them at all. It only makes my value of the legalization of medical marijuana firmer. I am around a lot of people who smoke medical marijuana, and the way they describe the effects pushes me to believe that medical marijuana could be extremely beneficial in the medical field. The pain relief, nausea relief, relaxation, and stress relief brought about by medical marijuana, described by some of my peers, makes me think about how this drug could help people struggling with PTSD or seizures. I think I am knowledgeable and experienced with how the effects of medical marijuana work, and I admit that my focused research and maturity 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. Marijuana is illegal in New York, so patients have to use it illegally to satisfy the symptoms of their personal disease. 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 and seizure disorders. New York is filled with residents who support the legalization of medical marijuana, so it is obvious why Mathias makes such a passionate claim towards the issue. His expertise in the field of medical marijuana has grown a lot through his interviews of New York residents, 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. 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. One case even shows that marijuana can reverse the carcinogenic effects of tobacco, while also improving lung health and lung capacity. Jennifer Welsh actually worked for an antiviral drug discovery company before becoming a writer and editor, so she clearly knows a lot about the issue at hand. Both authors currently write about health and science for Tech Insider, so they have extremely educated opinions about the legalization of medical marijuana.

"Medical Marijuana: What the Research Says", an article by Bara Vaida, talks about how certain chemicals in marijuana help with Alzheimer's, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, digestive disorders, and so on. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main chemical in marijuana, is especially discussed in this article. Vaida goes into depth about how these chemicals positively effect the certain parts of the human body. For instance, it has been proven that THC can relieve bowel inflammation and acid reflux, popular in digestive disorders. Vaida writes many articles on the politics and science of medical marijuana for WebMD and MedScape, proving that she knows what she is talking about regarding medical marijuana. These websites support the legalization of marijuana through their close research of the drug, explaining Vaida's knowledge and trust in the issue. 

The legalization for medical marijuana continues to be a controversial topic in the United States, and rightfully so. With more research, studies, and improvements, I think 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 think that the legalization of medical marijuana will lead to more recreational use and abuse. The same 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 brain cancer. With the compelling evidence presented, I believe the health benefits of medical marijuana will have a positive affect on the legalization of marijuana, as people start to realize that it can be used successfully in many aspects of the medical field. By seeing things through the perspective of authors who have a trustworthy 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 affirm that my question is convincing, specific, and arguable regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. Rephrasing the question 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.

