

I am interested in this research question because I have multiple family members to refer to as needing medical marijuana as a treatment. Two of which were former Military veterans who suffered from PTSD and later died from Alzheimer's. PTSD is a big problem in today's society especially in former Military Veterans and the antidepressants and muscle relaxers given to them as treatment do little to no good in curing the symptoms. Alzheimer's is a genetic disease that unfortunately runs in my family and there is a big controversy whether or not marijuana slows the manipulation of the diseases cells.   


Yes, this research question does affect me because my grandpa and great grandpa died from Alzheimer's. Since the disease is known to be genetic it only means that I am in the line for being diagnosed. I am for medical marijuana and believe that more research should be done to prove whether or not marijuana has more medical purposes than just recreational use.


My personal experience regarding this topic has been stated in the first two questions regarding past family members that died from diseases that had no cure to them. Now that more research is being done to prove the positive benefits of marijuana concerning certain diseases or illnesses I believe it should be legal to those who are in need of a treatment that might work.

  


I am qualified to write about this because I have had experiences concerning my research question and have quality reasons as to why medical marijuana should be legal to every patient in need regardless the state.



The main claim of this article is that there are many Military Veterans suffering from PTSD that have yet to find a prescription given that works. Marijuana is proven to stimulate the brain and releases chemicals that help with PTSD patients claimed by many of the Veterans mentioned in the article. The longer we wait to legalize Medical Marijuana the longer these patients have to suffer. 


The major claim of this article was to prove that many of the anti depressents and muscle relaxers given to Military Veterans do little to no good in treating their PTSD. Many of the Veterans he mentioned in the article state that the only substance that has done some sort of treatment is marijuana.  


Steve fox is the author of this article. He is the director of government relations at the Marijuana Policy Project and coauthor of Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? He is for the legalization of medical marijuana in all 50 states.


The main claim in this article is that marijuana impairs the brain and slows the development of the brain in teens. It also states that marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug meaning it has no medical use and highly addictive.

The major value of this article is to be the opposing view for my argument of how it should be legal. This article gives many facts that seem to be bias but also states that not enough money has been put into the research of marijuana to see if there is any medical purpose of the product.

This article is written by Noel Merino which works in favor of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. He uses the facts that it lowers the IQ of undeveloped teens and leads to impairment while driving or operating any machinery. He also states that it is highly addictive and people have suffered from withdraw shortly after quitting.

Gallup: "For the first time, Americans favor legalizing marijuana."

WebMD: "Marijuana  --  recreational and medical  --  what the patient thinks  --  what the doctor says."

USA Today: "Which states have legalized medical marijuana?"

Medscape: "Colorado Family Physicians' Attitudes Toward Medical Marijuana."

 copyright  2014 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

This article explains all the benefits of Marijuana stating that families have been moving to states where Medical Marijuana is legal because certain strains of marijuana have been proven to help with seizures and epilepsy. 

This article will help with my argument to make it broader in the fact of all the different illnesses that Marijuana can treat. There is a lack of research being taken because marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 drug but since more and more states are allowing it to become legal, more money and research is being put into finding out the true benefits of legalizing medical marijuana. A patient should have the right to try marijuana as a treatment just like every other prescription drug given.

This article was written By R. Scott RappoldWebMD Health News. He uses many different sources from doctors that say many patients move just to be allowed to try marijuana as a medical treatment.

How is the research question arguable, and why?

This research question is arguable because some believe that marijuana should stay considered a Schedule 1 drug while others believe it should be legal in all 50 states for those whole truly need treatment. It will give both sides of the argument and come to a conclusion whether or not it would be misused if made legal or if it will stay strictly for medical patients.

 What are some agreements and disagreements among the sources you have found?

Many agree that marijuana is not near as addictive as many of the other drugs prescribed to patients. Marijuana also has an almost impossible over dose chance unlike many of the prescription drugs given to patients. While others disagree and say marijuana has no medical consistency and will only lead to more drugs being taken by the user.

 How do the different perspectives of the sources affect your own? 

None of the arguing sources affect my perspective because it has already been legalized in some states to be used recreationally so why would it not be allowed by patients who are actually in need of a medication that works. 

 How might you need to revise your research question?

I already revised my question to make it broader on the fact of all the different medical cases that could possibly be treated if not cured by Medical marijuana and also to the opposing side of how it may be abused if granted the right to use it. Just like every other drug that is prescribed there is a chance of over dosage and long term side effects but with marijuana over dosage is at a very low to almost impossible chance of happening.
