Are the medical benefits of cannabis significant enough for the federal government to make cannabis based medicines legal across the U.S.?

The topic of medical marijuana legalization is one of the most highly debated topics throughout society in the United States. It serves as a crucial factor for many voters in elections of all significance, whether it’s the Presidency, Senate, or anything below. The majority of Americans stand with the legalization of medical marijuana in today’s society. The problem at hand is the lack of ability to research medical marijuana’s effects due to the overlying belief by government officials that the drug is harmful to users.

 I have chosen to research the potential legalization of medical marijuana throughout the United States because I see the medical issues that many people struggle with day in and day out. This should interest others, for it is a problem that affects numerous people in everyone’s lives. I would like to see the difficulty of legalizing medical marijuana resolved through a change in court decisions throughout the country and the expansion of research by scientists. Various authors, editors, doctors, and scientists explain their views and research throughout numerous detailed writings which are able to show the varying points of interests towards medical marijuana. Facts are given in each article/source that provide the mentality and belief that the legalization of medical marijuana is extremely important to the entire medicine industry.

Medical marijuana is legal is nearly half of the states in the U.S. The drug itself has been used medically since medicine was first being recorded. It is often prescribed for post-chemotherapy side effects and patients with HIV/AIDS. There are roughly approximately 60 cannabinoids contained in marijuana, and this makes research on cannabis extremely difficult to conduct. The use of cannabis has positive therapeutic effects in various areas. Medical marijuana can have positive side effects that assists in many situations including Nausea, “Due to the presence of the cannabinoid receptors that govern food intake, marijuana is known to stimulate appetite,” (Cavalet 44). Numerous other positive effects result from medical cannabis. Cannabis assists with combating the development of Alzheimer disease. Marijuana could potentially have very helpful effects for Alzheimer disease, “studies have shown that marijuana might inhibit the development of amyloid beta plaques in Alzheimer disease,” (Cavalet 44).  Medical marijuana has potential therapeutic assistance in other areas such as sclerosis, cancer, and many other diseases. Ongoing research suggests there is much more potential for medical marijuana use. The government is still standing in the way of making changes to laws restricting use in all 50 states, Clinicians and patients are currently hampered by the dearth of reliable information on its safety and efficacy,” (Cavalet 53). Overall, medical marijuana is on a path to be successful in many fields of medicine if government regulations can be removed. The use of cannabis for medical purposes has vast potential in the scientific research field.

The potential of research would change the way that the public and government few medical marijuana, and allow them to see the amazing positive effects that it can have on patients. The legalization of medical marijuana affects nearly every citizen, whether they know it or not. Most elderly men and women will suffer from pain or a disease curable by medical marijuana during their lifetime. Medical marijuana directly lessens the daily pain that elders experience in their joints and muscles. This drug can assist many elders in their everyday living. The minimal number of patients eligible for the treatment of medical cannabis is a result of the very few states that have legalized medical marijuana distribution and prescriptions. The amount of potential that cannabis has in the medical field could save lives. All research must be done through one place, as the government continues its strict regulations and laws. The value of cannabis to specific scientists could open new windows in their research. 

There are various counter arguments to the legalization of medical marijuana. One specific article published by Livestrong.com arises valid points of the negative health effects of medical marijuana. The most commonly brought up side effect of medical marijuana is the potential mental effects. Psychosis is known as a very serious mental illness. The article says that “strong significant relationship between marijuana use and increased risk of psychosis, including severe anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies,” (Bergeson). Marijuana is a depressant drug, as depression is the most apparent side effect of the drug. Some doctors state that the results of medical marijuana being a psychoactive drug can lead to side effects including memory loss and confusion. These side effects are caused by the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol and endocannabinoids in the marijuana itself. Psychosis is just one of many negative results of medical marijuana. Another concern of medical marijuana is its proposed treatment of Glaucoma. Former studies show that medical marijuana has many positive effects on glaucoma, but recent news reports that the drug is not the most favorable treatment for the disease. Lastly, doctors report the risk of developing different cancers from the consumption of marijuana smoke. Breathing in the carcinogens of the smoke has shown to lead to cancer related to the respiratory system. Active ingredient, Tetrahydrocannabinol, is also found to potentially create respiratory infection. The negative health effects of medical marijuana allow for vast speculation by readers, concerned citizens, and government officials. 

Most of the counter arguments for medical marijuana can also be viewed as merely speculation based off pointless facts and biased reports. The use of the term psychosis as a disease from medical marijuana is inaccurate. Psychosis does not have clear and concrete symptoms, for they all are based on the doctors’ opinion of the situation. The article frequently mentions the term ‘risk of’ giving no true results or statistics to back up the claims. Medical marijuana is typically referenced as a depressant, but most patients are not tested for depression or psychosis before the use of medical marijuana. Glaucoma is rarely treated by medical marijuana because it is an outdated treatment. Laser eye surgery has become the primary solution to the disease, as medical marijuana was used years ago and was unsuccessful as a treatment method. The ‘risk’ of developing certain cancers is not proven by any facts or statistics, and it is solely based on the belief that the smoke from marijuana can cause cancer in the respiratory system. Cigarettes and marijuana smoke are compared extremely closely, but show few similar side effects. One would have to consume a large amount of marijuana smoke in order to increase their small chance of having cancer in their lungs. Thus, the many points brought up against medical marijuana are a result of bias and skewed facts. Factual assumptions made are typically outdated due to the recent research in the medical marijuana field. 

One of the few most prolific epidemics in the United States is the opioid epidemic. Millions of people in the US suffer from the addiction to this awful drug. Medical marijuana has proven to lessen the effects of the addiction to opioids. Through many studies, medical marijuana has shown to be a much more effective and less risky painkiller. The epidemic has serious negative effects on people every day. The article says, “About 80 die daily from opioid overdoses,” (Livni). This is clearly an epidemic that effects millions of people. The Cannabidiol in medical marijuana proves to reduce cravings for opioids. It can help to decrease the deaths of many people. The cost of opioids is far greater, as states could save millions of dollars with the legalization of medical marijuana just in medical costs. “states with medical marijuana laws experienced a nearly 25% drop in deaths from opioid overdoses compared to states that did not have those laws,” (Sifferlin) according to Time magazine. Medical marijuana also proves to be significantly less addictive than opioid painkillers. The withdrawal effects of opioids are also extremely serious as well, but medical marijuana has shown the ability to reduce the withdrawal effects for addicts or patients. 

Because of the many government restrictions on medical marijuana research there are very few direct studies done on patients. Through social media and the news, I was able to find a direct exhibit of the medication being effective on a man with Parkinson's disease. The video shows the man struggling to simply take the medication, for his symptoms of Parkinson's are extremely visible. After taking the medical marijuana, the dyskinesia caused by Parkinson’s was nearly non-existent. His speech was significantly more steady and put together. This video is a perfect example of the positive effects it can have on patients, as it only took 3 minutes for the patient to be relieved of his serious Parkinson’s disease. Also, doctors further mention that the drug has a great potential, but it is limited by the restrictions to research. The video says, “There is this untapped potential comes from what marijuana is teaching us to generate new medicines and being stuck because of financial issues or political issues,” (Medical Marijuana and Parkinson's). This shows that the research possibilities of medical marijuana have not yet been discovered, for doctors and scientists are constantly restrained by government policies and minimal funding. Thus, this is a thorough video example of the positive effects medical marijuana can have on patients with certain diseases such as Parkinson’s.

In conclusion, the medical industry is in need of change to the restrictions on medical marijuana. The numerous people that must suffer from diseases curable by medical marijuana can be decreased through government legalization and research restriction changes. Most Americans know someone that can positively be treated by medical cannabis. Medical marijuana assists with the severe side effects of numerous diseases, addictions, surgeries. The government must realize the necessity of this drug to patients all around the country. The pros heavily outweigh the cons, which are merely speculation, thus there is clear proof that medical marijuana would be beneficial to legalize.
