Medical marijuana continues to make progress by becoming legal in many states as it passes through legislature. Considered as a prescription for many illnesses and even used to stimulate one’s appetite, relieve chronic pain, and help to treat migraines, many still speculate as to whether or not its benefits are safe to the human body long-term. Is marijuana really a mockery? Or is it medicine? Should we legalize marijuana in all fifty states? These are just some questions in mind as we further its discussion.
Marijuana is a drug that is derived from the dried and cut leaves of the hemp plant known as "cannabis sativa." Marijuana has a variety of street names such as grass, Mary Jane, pot, herb, and weed. The active ingredient in marijuana is
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They point to the drawbacks that marijuana imposes. There are concerns that legalization can make marijuana more available for abuse, especially by children. In addition, many feel there is still little proof marijuana has any medicinal value. Two adequate and well-controlled studies in cancer pain compared graded doses of oral 9-THC to placebo, and one of these included graded doses of codeine as a control. Although there was evidence of analgesic efficacy, the studies indicate there is a narrow therapeutic margin between the doses that produce useful analgesia and those producing unacceptable adverse CNS effects. Many believe there is little future for benefit from smoked marijuana as a medically approved medication.
As one can see, there have been many debates over the legalization of marijuana. These debates are likely to continue. In many different cultures, marijuana has been used through the years to treat various medical conditions. Even in 19th century America, marijuana was used by doctors to treat pain. Often times, with an open mind we can learn from the past. Not all of our new drugs are better than the old. Many have proven to be quite