Legalizing Medical Marijuana

The United States has recently made efforts to legalize medicinal marijuana under federal law. Though medicinal marijuana is legal for prescription in twenty states, medicinal marijuana remains illegal under federal law (Berlatsky, 2012). Medicinal marijuana is an important issue due to the many patients that have not found a cure to their ailment by using other drugs. There is enormous controversy surrounding medicinal marijuana because of those that use the drug recreationally. With those who use marijuana recreationally and medically, it would be extremely difficult for America to set its boundaries for who actually receives the drug. Medicinal marijuana is also an important issue because of the high risk for abuse. Patients across the country use non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aleve and Aspirin in order to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can work, NSAD’s can become damaging to the heart and liver. It is important to focus on the medicinal marijuana issue because marijuana is an alternative to patients that want to alleviate pain by using marijuana rather than NSAD’s.

The American movement towards the legalization of medicinal marijuana under federal law is on the rise. Supporters of legalization claim that medicinal marijuana is harmless because of its pain relieving effects and one cannot overdose. Although both statements are true, marijuana has not been endorsed by any of the major medical programs. Medicinal marijuana isn’t as addictive as heroin or cocaine but daily marijuana use can lead to dependence. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately nine percent of marijuana users become addicted. The research done on the lab mo...

... middle of paper ...

... The evidence of memory impairment is clearly shown for medicinal marijuana. Memory is a serious matter and it should be taken into consideration before legalization.

Medicinal marijuana continues to be an issue in America because of those that seek an alternative from the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicinal marijuana can be beneficial towards glaucoma and increasing the appetites in those with HIV but medicinal marijuana does have its health risks. The three most important health risks of medicinal marijuana are the loss of memory, lung cancer, and addiction. With daily marijuana use, all of these health risks could quickly become reality. The FDA has constructed research to prove that the health risks of medicinal marijuana are real. The government should seriously consider the health risks of marijuana matters before legalizing it under federal law.