Medical Marijuana: A Historical and Medical Perspective

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Medical marijuana has been a hot topic of debate for many years now. Despite it being illegal in most states and considered a gateway drug, many medical professionals and politicians alike have started to consider this plant to ease the symptoms of specific medical conditions, making it medically legal to a degree in many states across the U.S.. There are many things to consider in this debate, and people question if it is morally acceptable to break the law if the benefits will outweigh the risk. In this paper, we will look at the pros and cons of using medical marijuana for patients who have various illnesses, while also looking at a brief history of the plant, and lastly how it is currently being used to help patients of all ages. Marijuana has been around for centuries, dating back to around 2900 BC, where it was used in China as medication for a number of ailments. Marijuana has dated back in American since the early 1900's, where it was found in most medicines and tonics sold in drug stores and pharmacies. During the Mexican Revolution, many hispanic immigrants brought over their beliefs and culture, which included the plant “marihuana.” According to “The demonization of the cannabis plant was an extension of the demonization of the Mexican immigrants. “ () This association provoked public outcry over …show more content…

According to ()”Research both in animals and in people provides evidence that marijuana is an addictive substance, especially when used for prolonged periods.” This proves troubling, as most medical marijuana users use the plant on a long-term basis. Along the lines of addiction there is also the question about going through withdrawal after stopping its use, as well as marijuana being a gateway drug, leading to experimentation with more serious drugs. One study even suggests that the use of marijuana

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