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Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized

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Should Medical Marijuana be legalized?

Matthew Witkowski

BCOM/275

10NOV2014
Lynda Sohl

Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized?

The legalization of medical marijuana is a sensitive subject both politically and individually. There have been many field tests and trials validating marijuana as an aid to help various medical conditions from cancer to traumatic brain injuries. My argument has little to do with the political argument as I will be focusing mainly on the individual argument.

The Pros and Cons of Legalization In an Oxford University journal report from 2013 states that the endocannabinoid system plays an important roles in the reparative mechanisms that are shared with minocycline pathways reduces the lesion volume and decreases TBI-induced hyperactivity. (Oxford University Press, 2013) . In another study led by Prof. Yosef Sarne from Tel Aviv University suggests that a single, low dose of THC was able to protect the brain from long-term damage induced by a variety of experimental toxins. (Truthonpot.com, 2013). The most recent study was reported by Jeffrey Carpenter of ABC News. He cites the research done at the Hebrew University that shows that a cannabinoid, similar to the active ingredient found in marijuana and produced in the brains of many animals, protects mice from brain injury. This reports quotes Dr Shohami as saying she didn’t “see any problems with using a drug from this family to treat patients”. (Carpenter, 2014).
There is overwhelming evidence that cannabis relieves various medical conditions; unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, pain and spasm, as well as the side effects of some prescription medications. It is fact: marijuana is less toxic to the system that many pharmaceuticals. (Legalizaton of Marijuana, n.d.) Many opponents to legalization of medical marijuana believe that to legalize marijuana will erode the drugs-are-dangerous message that we try to instill in our children, leading to widespread use of not only cannabis but truly dangerous drugs such as heroin. Yet there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary: in states where medical marijuana is legal, the figures for teen use of cannabis have either remained stable or have followed a downward trend. Then there is human rights argument of why we shouldn’t legalize marijuana, surely we have the right to make choices for and about ourselves unless there is evidence that our preference will cause harm to others. There is no proof of third party harm being caused by users of marijuana, yet third party harm is caused by substances such as tobacco and alcohol, both of which are lawful. (Legalizaton of Marijuana, n.d.)

Conclusion History has shown us that the prohibition only helps individuals go to great lengths to get what they desire. The government will go to great lengths to regulate everything except what is not politically correct or popular. Legalizing medical marijuana will benefit a vast number of Americans with various medical issues. Marijuana is less toxic to the body and as studies have shown has far less side effects to those around us. Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying “Prohibition…goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” (Legalizaton of Marijuana, n.d.)

References

Carpenter, J. (2014, october 5). ABC News. Retrieved from Study: THC-Like Drug Helps Brain Injuries: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117202

Legalizaton of Marijuana. (n.d.). Retrieved from Marijuana Pros and Cons: http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-marijuana-2-html

Oxford University Press. (2013, august 19). Oxford Journals. doi:10.1093/cercor/bht202

Truthonpot.com. (2013, May 30). Retrieved from Study: Low Doses of THC May Fight Brain Damage: http://www.truthonpot.com/2013/05/30/study-low-doses-of-thc-fight-brain-damage/

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