I found this topic to be interesting because of the controversy surrounding it. Like many modern political topics, this issue has two distinct sides of the debate; and yet, there seems to be no clear answer as to what is right and what is wrong. This heated debate stems from two opposing views of this cannabis. One group sees this plant as nothing more than a harmful narcotic, detrimental to the safety of one's well being. While others argue that this natural resource can provide many benefits; and is in fact, less harmful than the legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. I have personally witnessed a family member who benefited greatly from the relieving properties of this plant. My grandfather battled cancer for several years and while undergoing chemotherapy, he found the use of medical marijuana to alleviate the severity of many of the side effects of this aggressive treatment. I believe that my personal experience as well as the medical research I have completed allows me to properly formulate an opinion on this topic that I can reinforce with medical proof. My experiences can provide a first hand account, and the medical research I have thoroughly studied can provide a technical aspect; this combination of knowledge establishes validity to my argument. 

The first article that I am using is called, "Medical Marijuana and the Law." This article describes the legal technicalities of medical marijuana in specific states in the United States. Currently fourteen states have legalized the medical use of marijuana for "'debilitating medical conditions'" (Hoffmann and Weber 1454), which is defined by each state. According to the article, there are currently many restrictions on the possession and acquisition of medical marijuana, but there is not a regulation in place by the government to ensure the potency and quality of the drug. Currently marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug, meaning it has high risk for abuse. Medical experts urge the reclassification of this drug to Schedule II to enable further research in the proper potency and delivery means of the drug. This article was published by The New England Journal of Medicine in 2010, and both the authors have obtained their J.D.s.  The article is relatively unbiased, although not completely free from bias. The majority of the article describes the legal technicalities that were currently in place, but the end of the article urges advancement in research for the potential for more accessibility to the drug.

The second article I found was a case study conducted in 2002 by the Clinical Inpatient Research Unit at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program (NIDA-IRP). The title of the article is, "Dose-related Neurocognitive Effects of Marijuana Use." This study examined the lasting effects on the brain after persistent, heavy marijuana use. Results found a negative correlation between the amount of joints smoked per week and performance on neurocognitive tests. All the participants of this study were thoroughly screened as not having any preexisting medical conditions and not partaking in any other recreational drug use. Although this article was written in 2002, the study measured functioning of the brain and has not been outdated due to modern legislation. The study was conducted in an inpatient research clinic and the variables were closely controlled by the researchers. The article was then published in the medical journal Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, that is highly cited and peer-reviewed for increased accuracy. 

My third article is entitled, "Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use." The article describes significant risks involved in prolonged marijuana use for individuals with no preexisting conditions. Long term use can lead to such instances as addiction, impaired neural connectivity in specific brain regions, and increased risk of anxiety and depression. The article also includes a chart that details specific conditions whose symptoms may be alleviated by the use of medical marijuana. The main point of the article is that marijuana has adverse effects on those who use it recreationally and who beforehand, had no serious medical illness. This article was written in 2014 by several authors who obtained their PhDs or MDs. The New England Journal of Medicine published this article and was obtained from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. The article focuses on both sides of the argument of whether or not marijuana has benefits, eliminating much bias.

This research question could be argued on both sides. One could say that in order to stop the illegal use of marijuana; any use of marijuana, including medical, should be prohibited. Conversely, one could say that patients suffering with debilitating symptoms have a right to seek relief from these symptoms through legal acquisition of marijuana. I am choosing to argue that marijuana should be accessible to those with diagnosed medical afflictions. Among my sources, I found that many are conflicted with the idea of legalizing some forms of marijuana, for fear that it may lead to increased illegal use of marijuana. While this is an important concern, especially after viewing many sources that specify the adverse effects of marijuana on those who are medically sound, I believe that the medical benefits of those who suffer outweigh these concerns. 

