| February 24, 2011 | | Team ASkylar BennettThermon V. Ratliff, Jr.Jan RobertsRichard “Rusty” Wheeler |

The Pros and Cons of Marijuana for Medical Use

A Brief Discussion of the Topic

Team A has chosen the topic The Pros and Cons of Marijuana for Medical Use. Is marijuana even a viable medical option? We have discussed going several different directions with the topic. We will try to include sub-topics such as: * Smoked vs. non-smoked marijuana for medical value * Medical marijuana in public policy * The risks of marijuana for medical purposes including: * Actual medical risks * Is it a gateway or a stepping stone for hard core drugs? * Possible addiction beyond the medical use * Governmental views on marijuana as a medical option * How a patient would gain access to medical marijuana * Who might be allowed to distribute marijuana: * How would it be prescribed by physicians * Control of the growing, production, distribution of the product for prescription disbursement
There are so many different avenues of this topic that we have only begun to discuss how we might present this topic to the class. We are sure that we will keep an open mind and not convey the team members’ opinions. We want the audience to develop their own opinions and viewpoints on this topic.

Discuss causes for the situation. What factors have led to the problem as it exists? What are the historical roots of the issue? Who are the major stakeholders for this issue? What viewpoints are represented?

Team A finds the causes of this situation to be a combination of many situations such as ignorance on the part of the general population, ignorance of the governmental entities and policy makers, closed mindedness and a strict conservative attitude among the general population and the lawmakers, and the lack of education and research on