Preview

The Controversy: The Legalization Of Marijuana

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
511 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Controversy: The Legalization Of Marijuana
The use of marijuana as a medical option has a controversy not only to the medical community but to the public as well. The government has enacted its war on drugs for years now and still places marijuana as a schedule 1 drug even when there are numerous studies that prove it to be beneficial. Marijuana in natural form is known as Cannabis sativa. Cannabis has been around for many years, dating back to 28th Century as well as to the Egyptians. The use of marijuana before the 20th century is well documented and effective, however will the legalization of marijuana for medical use be beneficial? In order for society to be properly informed and to take the correct action against or for the use of marijuana in medical; in 1997 the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy asked the Institute of Medicine to assess the benefits and risks of the drug.
The brain has many neurotransmitters related to different emotions such as serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine and GABA. Each neurotransmitter has a receptor site in the brain. Cannabis has psychoactive chemical properties, more than 100 of these properties are categorized as cannabinoids. The human body
…show more content…
Compared to these drugs, marijuana studies have also shown that withdrawal symptoms aren’t as severe. However due to the stigma that follows marijuana, it is classified as a schedule 1 drug. Marijuana contains cannabinoids known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). THC is known for the euphoric feeling and CBD is not a psychoactive drug so it will not create that “high” feeling. Instead the CBD has known to provide the medical effects desired such as, antiemetic, anticonvulsant, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory effects without the undesired effects brought on by THC. (5 Differences Between CBD and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Immigration Outline Research

    • 2804 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Throughout this paper, there will be the highly debatable discussion between legalizing medical marijuana and regular marijuana. Both sides of the argument have their pros and cons and there is an in depth description of both sides of the argument. At the end of the day though, the paper thoroughly supports the legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana in general. Medical marijuana less harmful than most other legal tobacco products and has the ability to reduce the pain within ailing people. Cannabis also can be a curable and more natural drug to help people in pain. Marijuana also has the potential to raise the U.S. out of their tough economic struggle as well as lower crime rate and create more jobs for many more people. On the other hand researchers believe that medical marijuana is still bad for people’s health and the government does not know how to regulate the production and sell of marijuana. Both sides have valid arguments, but the pros outweigh the cons by a significant amount. This paper has opinions of lots of credible sources, doctors and researchers explaining their side of the story. But read on to create your own personal opinion.…

    • 2804 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physicians are always finding ways to better treat their patients. A well-known controversy in today’s society is the use of medical marijuana. Already 28 states of 50 have allowed its citizens to use medical marijuana when prescribed by a physician. However, it is still a controlled substance and a level 1 illegal drug. “In June 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) denied a petition to reschedule marijuana and reiterated that there was no scientific or medical evidence to support such a move (Marcoux, 2013).”…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marijuana Controversy

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The controversy marijuana has had within the federal state, of whether or not it should be legalized throughout The United States has been an uphill battle for several years. Major concerns surrounding the legalization process are beginning to rise. These concerns include, effects on adolescents, financial disputes, and long term health problems. Due to the fact that half of the country has some form of legalization, it is inevitable that marijuana will be legal throughout the country.…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The sociological theory I compare with the most is the conflict theory. I grew up in Jamaica believing that marijuana is a safe substance to use, it does more good than harm to the body. Marijuana is legalized in some states while others chose not to legalize it. The conflict comes into play where Marijuana is known to help patience with pain, seizures, and many other health problems, some doctors also believe that marijuana is a great natural source to help patients especially those that are fighting cancer to help ease their pain. Marijuana should be legalized because it is much safer than radiation and other harmful treatment that is being used to treat cancer patients. The conflict perspective of marijuana highlight the negative effect…

    • 336 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In today’s health care many patients are using medical marijuana to help them with their illnesses especially if they are terminal. In the United States eight states have legalized medical marijuana and there is an estimate of about 35,000 patients using it for their medical conditions. Not all physicians approve prescribing cannabis to their patients because they believe that marijuana is not a…

    • 978 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cannabis or Marijuana, is the most popular illegal drug used recreationally today. It is derived from the flowering plant called cannabis and is also known by many other names such as pot, weed, hemp, and grass. Botanically, there are well over three hundred chemicals that derive from the cannabis plant. The main active ingredients of the drug are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBD (Cannabidiol). Of the cannabinoids, THC is the main psychoactive derivative that induces euphoria when smoked or consumed by its users; the other derivatives produce therapeutic properties, according to Dr. Mitch Earleywine (Earleywine 122).…

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in the U.S today. Many associate the substance with some of the most highly addictive and dangerous drugs used in our society. While others claim marijuana to be the safest substance to use to date. One of the biggest debatable topics amongst marijuana use is the legalization of the substance medically. Many people believe marijuana should be accessible to those with terminally ill diseases. While others believe the drug should be illegal at all cost. Medical marijuana presents many negative issues in our society emotionally, medically and socially. Due to the negative effects from the substance, the use of marijuana should remain illegal in the United States.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    We the people in the US try to use reason and logic to determine our laws. as a consequence of this intellectual process, we develop graded scales for punishment and degrees of illegality. The more dangerous an activity the more illegal and higher punishment, lesser activities are either not illegal or endorsed. Marijuana illegality defies this rational thinking in that it is less detrimental than alcohol and cigarettes and yet is treated far worse. Most pharmaceutical drugs can kill if used improperly, like alcohol and tobacco. In the following essay, I will explain how medically prescribed marijuana has a beneficial effect on patients who suffer from certain diseases, both by treating disease symptoms and…

    • 1003 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Medical Marijuana

    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Although many slanderous claims have been made about cannabis in recent history, the truths are slowly starting to resurface. Unfortunately, these truths are under heavy criticism due to the stereotypical view of what people view as the typical “pot smoker.” This skewed perception of a lazy and unmotivated American is the result of over seventy years of propaganda and misinformation spread by private interests who relied on illegal cannabis illegal from their own personal gains. As a marijuana consumer and a current medical marijuana patient, I strongly believe that marijuana should be legalized for all users. Currently in the United States today, marijuana is prohibited by federal law and has been a topic of controversial debate since the start of the prohibition. There are several, important reasons for the legalization of marijuana, including research concerning these issues are beneficial in understanding both sides of the debate. The result of abolishing our country’s marijuana prohibition by supporting legalization will stimulate the economy, to show the medical properties, and lower the crime rate.…

    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Grinspoon, Lester. "Medical Uses of Marijuana ... [Archive] - Student Doctor Network Forums." Medical Uses of Marijuana ... [Archive] - Student Doctor Network Forums. N.p., 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.…

    • 1863 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a plant that can be ingested or smoked. This plant, or rather botanical, is illegal in most of the country with the exception of some states giving physicians authority to recommend the use to their patients. The purpose of this essay is to examine both the benefits and the risks of legalizing marijuana. Marijuana has many medicinal properties that have been proven to be therapeutically effective for various conditions. However, this drug also has carcinogenic properties and dangerous short- and long-term effects on the body. Although advocates may argue that the legalization of marijuana has many potential benefits, such as it would lessen our national debt and benefit our overall economic system, opponents may beg to differ. In this essay, the debate over the legalization of marijuana continues, with arguments over the therapeutic benefits versus the dangerous adverse effects of marijuana, the influence marijuana has on individuals, and whether or not the legalization of this drug could benefit our economy.…

    • 5889 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The discussion of marijuana legalization in America is a very debatable topic that should be dealt with before the next presidential campaign. Recently, the movement of terminating marijuana prohibition has been at an up rise. As of 2015, there are four states (plus the district of Columbia) that have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and twenty states that have legalized it for medical use only. However, the success of marijuana legalization within these states can easily be taken away. Marijuana legalization is only legal because the federal government has decided to stay out of it, at any time the president can step in and force federal prohibition. This will be an important topic to bring up in the presidential campaign for the…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marijuana has been used recreationally as well as medicinally for thousands of years. The earliest evidence of inhalation of marijuana, a small pile of charred cannabis/seeds, was found in Romania and believed to be dated prior to the 3rd millennia BCE. Marijuana use is considered to be beneficial to some, however has been controversially classified as a schedule 1 controlled substance, making it as illegal as heroin, politicians claim it to be more dangerous than cocaine, with little to no factual basis. Based upon my personal use of medical marijuana, I have seen more positive than negative effects, and believe it should be decriminalized so as to ease the pain, suffering, anxiety,…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    tetrahydrocannabinol, is banned and listed as a Schedule I drug which places it under the same category as heroin and cocaine. According to the federal government, the list of drugs known as Schedule I are said to be of high risk for abuse and hold no medicinal value. Claims that accuse marijuana of holding no medicinal value stem from the lack of approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which is a government funded agency.…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The argument of legalizing marijuana in the United States has been an ongoing situation for many years. Since the use of marijuana is becoming legal in certain states, the argument has continued to rise. The debate is both for medicinal and recreational use. Medicinal use is supported much more then recreational use. Like any other argument, there are many pros and cons. A total of five uses of marijuana have been discovered. These uses include, hempen fibers, oil from the seeds, the seeds for food, a medicine, and for its narcotic properties (Marijuana Today). The two most popular uses, whether legal or not, are medicine and for its narcotic properties.…

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays