Legalization Of Medical Marijuana Essay

Do No Harm: Legalization of Medical Marijuana In the United States marijuana use has long been subject to debate (Wilkinson & Deepak, 2377). Arguably the most contentious debate has been regarding the medical use of marijuana. Supporters argue that the benefits of medical marijuana are far more beneficial than any potential costs that could be incurred. Opponents, however, contend that the simple act of using an illicit substance in a medical setting is socially unacceptable. Despite strong arguments from opponents of medical marijuana, the potential benefits are for too positive to ignore. Medical marijuana offers both physical and psychological benefits for patients suffering from a wide variety of illnesses. Despite the benefits of legalized medical marijuana, there are considerations that must be taken into account to ensure legalization’s

Patients who have used marijuana report that they do perceive it as beneficial to their health and wellbeing (Bonn-Miller et al. 24). Beyond perceived benefits, use of cannabis has been shown to offer a variety of medical benefits. Among these are: the reduction of inter-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients, relieving some symptoms of a variety of neurological disorders, and symptom reduction in some cancers and AIDS (Bonn-Miller et al. 26). Despite the prevalence of other prescription drugs designed to treat these illnesses, marijuana offers arguably the most effective method of doing so. Simply examining the common treatments for AIDS one sees that the side effects range from anemia and headaches to a loss of bone density (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). The common side effects of marijuana use are far less severe, and include dry mouth and red eyes (Perez). While there are other factors to consider, the case can be made that marijuana provides benefits similar to other drugs with few ill side