Medical Marijuana Usage: A Controversy That Has Split the U.S.
Marijuana originates from the cannabis plant and is the term used for the dried stems, leaves, or flowers of the plant. It is a drug that has a reputation for being solely recreational with only negative connotations. The truth is that marijuana has been found to relieve the painful symptoms of disease that plague so many today. Marijuana usage dates back to about 3,000 years ago when it was first used for medicinal purposes, yet to date, it is one of the most contentious debated subjects in the United States. Between 1854 and 1941, cannabis, the plant used to make marijuana, was included in the United States standard guide to medication, the Pharmacopoeia. In fact, prior to the twentieth century, marijuana was legal both medically and recreationally. At the beginning of the twentieth century, marijuana stopped
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During this time, more scientifically based medical products were prescribed rather than the herbal medicines in which cannabis was found. Today, marijuana is one of the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. However, medical marijuana is currently legal in twenty-one states. Medical marijuana can diminish or erase the pain where traditional drugs have failed. For these reasons, medical marijuana usage should be allowed throughout the United States.
Pain caused by various diseases can be lessened immensely if medical cannabis or medical marijuana is used. In a study by Dr. Daniel Abrams that was published in an issue of the Journal of Neurology, government supplied cannabis was able to reduce pain in patients by thirty-four percent, even though it was administered in very small dosages. Based on Abrams’ research, he was