Legalization vs. Illegalization of Medical Marijuana Since as early as 2900 BC, marijuana has been previously known as a medicine. It was not until the 1900s when the illegalization of the hemp plant began. Starting in 1911, when Massachusetts became the first state to illegalize marijuana, other states followed between 1915 and 1927. Eventually, a campaign against marijuana ran by Harry J. Anslinger lead to the federal government outlawing marijuana completely. However, the 1990s began a new outlook on medical marijuana when cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids were discovered. These discoveries lead to the first state in the United States, California, to legalize medical marijuana for patients with serious illness in 1996. Since then, eighteen other states in the U.S have legalized medical marijuana as well. Individuals all across the U.S. remain skeptical of this drug, and the question remains, do the factors give a reason to legalize it or not? Medical marijuana, a growing controversial topic in the United States, has both advantages and disadvantages concerning its medical use, medical effects, and legalities. Medical marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which reacts with cannabinoid receptors activating protection of over-activations or over-inhibitions of neurotransmitters. A study in 1999 by The Institute of Medicine found that THC produces dose-related analgesia that out-lasts codeine. In result, medical marijuana has shown to be effective for patients who use it. The uses of medical marijuana for patients can be arthritis, cancer and chemotherapy, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis (MS), and nausea. To take a deeper look at these uses, consider cancer patients. Medical marijuana has shown to relieve the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy and loss of appetite that can occur for those with HIV. It also has shown