Medical Use of Marijuana



Medical Use of Marijuana

Introduction

Drugs can be a lot of things to a lot of people. They can be exciting, they can be something to alleviate pain or help cure a disease, they can be marketplace commodities, they can destroy some people's lives, and they can even be a way to a position of power (Holowach & Schubring, 2008). The annual number of deaths caused by illegal drug use is approximately 20,000; the number of deaths caused by marijuana use each year is zero. Many Americans do not believe marijuana should be legalized because there is nothing positive that would come from it. In fact, the medical benefits of marijuana are astounding. Marijuana, also known as cannabis sativa, reduces nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy in cancer patients and helps AIDS patients maintain their weight by inducing hunger (Earleywine, 2006). Patients with epilepsy have found marijuana to be just as helpful with grand mal seizures as anti-convulsing prescription drugs, but with fewer side effects (Drug Policy Alliance Network, 2009).

In this study, we try to explore the concept of “Legalizing Marijuana” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on Legalizing Marijuana in California. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Marijuana” and tries to gauge its effect on “California State”. Finally, the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Legalizing Marijuana” and tries to describe the overall effect of Legalizing Marijuana in California.

Discussion

As helpful as marijuana has proved to be, many still worry about the side effects of marijuana use. Most side effects of marijuana use are temporary and dissipate within a few hours of use. The biggest worry is that marijuana use will lead to lung cancer, as cigarette smoking does. Currently, tests have been inconclusive showing that marijuana smoke causes cancer (Drug Policy Alliance Network, 2009). Although more research needs to be done, it is thought that marijuana can cancer because it contains a higher amount of tar than cigarettes, it is inhaled deeply and held in the lungs for a long period of time, and many of the same cancer-causing agents are found in cigarettes and marijuana (National Cancer Institute, 2009). The active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can be extracted from the cannabis sativa plant. This extract can be added to foods, such as baked goods, so it does not have to be ingested through smoking. This way lung cancer can be avoided if marijuana smoke is found to be a cause of lung cancer. If marijuana is legalized, more tests can be completed to further our knowledge on the benefits and complications of marijuana use. At this time, the United States would benefit economically, environmentally, and medically with the legalization of marijuana.

Use of Marijuana in California State

The citizens of California are considering an initiative, Proposition 19, that would legalize the recreational and commercial use of marijuana. California and thirteen other states plus the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of marijuana. In Gonzales ...