Why Medical Marijuana Should be Legal

Why Medical Marijuana Should be Legal

Introduction

The issues of marijuana use and abuse have attracted a lot of public discourse in the USA. The American legislature developed the first marijuana law in 1937 when it prohibited the possession and use of the drug in the USA (Johannigman and Eschiti). Since then, federal law still maintains that possession of marijuana in the USA is unlawful. However, over the years, different researches on marijuana use have highlighted various beneficial aspects of the drug, especially in palliative care. Campaigners of marijuana legalization argue that it has more benefits to the medicine and therapy fields than its social reparations. These campaigns for marijuana have continued to change the way the legislature of the country perceives the drug. Today, many of the states’ legislators in the USA have invited the idea that medical marijuana can have various benefits compared to traditional medicines. According to O. Berk Company, all but three of the fifty states in the USA have adopted marijuana laws that legalize its use in totality or under specified circumstances.

Those who oppose the use of marijuana, however, argue that its legalization will result in the increase in crime rates and mental disorders, such as personality disorders, among other adverse social and personal issues. According to researchers, marijuana is the most common illicit substance abused in the USA (Cerdá et al.). However, the research also found out that states with marijuana legalization laws had a higher rate of its abuse. The debate on whether or not states in the USA should adopt marijuana laws has often taken the paradigm of whether marijuana has adverse effects on the user or society. Research has shown that the medical use of marijuana can help patients with chronic conditions overcome pains and nausea. In this paper, I will discuss the pros and cons of medical marijuana. I will argue the reasons why medical marijuana holds more benefits for the medical fraternity than the risks it poses. Finally, I will support the idea of legalizing medical marijuana in all states in the USA.

The Cons of Medical Marijuana

Opponents of marijuana laws have often based their arguments on the adverse social and health concerns posed by marijuana, even the medically prescribed. First, those opposing marijuana laws argue that its users are at a higher risk of harming themselves or others. Research has shown that marijuana has a chemical known as Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which can have certain psychological effects (Caulkins et al.). The THC chemical can cause hallucinatory effects on the user, which may affect judgment. Critics, therefore, argue that its usage could pose a threat to peace in society. Therefore, opponents of its legalization argue that patients experiencing withdrawals and hallucinations can be dangerous to themselves and those around them.

The second reason that opponents of marijuana laws give for opposing its legalization is that its abuse is common in criminal gangs and crime-infested communities. Various crime reports have shown that communities with higher rates of arrest for illegal marijuana possession also have higher rates of other crime rates. According to the Marijuana Policy Project report, there were almost seven hundred thousand arrests made for possession of marijuana in 2013, where only one percent had a medical prescription. Therefore, critics argue that making possession of medical marijuana legal will open a window for further propelling criminal activities.

The third reason against marijuana laws is that the legalization of marijuana use in any setup increases rates of school dropouts. Recent research estimates that two and a half million new users consume marijuana every year (Head). However, research in Australia and New Zealand has revealed marijuana abuse can result in school dropouts, impaired brain developments, and suicidal thoughts (“Marijuana should not be legal”). Therefore, those opposing the legalization of medical marijuana argue that its legalization will further increase the chances of more young people’s exposure, which may have destructive effects on the country’s education system.

Also, the challengers of marijuana laws argue that the drug is possible health and economic risk due to its addictive nature. Addicted users of marijuana will often use the majority of their resources in acquiring the drug. Economists and critics of marijuana legalization argue that the drug is already causing huge financial losses to the government. Besides, more resources are necessary to remedy the health effects caused by addiction to marijuana. For instance, the state of Massachusetts has reported that it uses more than a hundred and twenty million dollars in fighting marijuana-related criminal drug networks (Crocker). Therefore, critics argue that the legalization of marijuana will further exacerbate the adverse effects caused by the drug on the American economy and its human resources.

Campaigners against medical marijuana also argue that marijuana can be addictive, thereby causing dependency. The THC chemical in marijuana has some addictive tendencies. According to Caulkins et al., ten percent of lifetime marijuana users meet the criteria for dependency on the drug. Also, the authors indicate that the probability of adolescent users becoming dependent is higher, with one in every six cases. Additionally, long-term users of marijuana have a higher risk of falling into dependency after rehabilitation. Dependency on marijuana can have adverse effects on the user’s social life. Critics of marijuana laws argue that the addictive nature of the drug could be a potential cause of a large-scale social problem in the future. Legalizing the use of marijuana will further increase the risk of this future social problem.

Additionally, campaigners against medical marijuana legalization argue that the drug can be a gateway to other substance abuse. Critics of marijuana laws argue that marijuana adversely affects decision-making processes. They claim that users of marijuana are more likely to indulge in other substance abuse. Critics also argue that sellers of street marijuana often mix them with other drugs to increase the ‘high-ness’ effect of their product. Therefore, critics suggest that marijuana legalization could increase the rates of substance abuse for other types of drugs.

Finally, critics of marijuana usage also argue that it can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. According to Caulkins et al., marijuana can cause the same respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as tobacco does. The authors claim that the two drugs contain carcinogenic components, which can result in lung cancer. Also, the authors reference earlier research work that proved that heavy smoking of marijuana could cause testicular and prostate cancers.

The Pros of Medical Marijuana

Advocates of medical marijuana argue that the notions surrounding marijuana and its use have demonized it, with little empirical evidence to support it. First, advocates of the legalization of medical marijuana argue that there is very little risk of fatal overdose from the use of marijuana. Research by Calabria et al. found out that no studies prove the presence of higher mortality rates among cannabis users. Conversely, Graham revealed that research in JAMA internal medicine found that states with adopted marijuana laws record lower cases of deaths due to painkiller overdose. Mortalities due to marijuana overdose are relatively low in comparison to other hard drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. Therefore, this argument nullifies any claims that marijuana effects are similar to other hard drug abuse.

The second argument by medical marijuana supporters is that it is useful in effectively relieving pain for chronic condition patients. Marijuana contains oxycodone, which is a key component in painkillers derived from opium (Crocker). Also, it contains ketamine, which causes a numbing effect. These two properties have made marijuana an important prescription drug for patients going through severe pain. Recent research has shown that cannabis can improve sleep, thereby reducing pain (Ware). In my opinion, administering marijuana to patients undergoing palliative care will help them relax better. It is also safer to administer marijuana as a painkiller compared to other medical drugs, which have a higher risk of mortality due to overdose.

The proponents of medical marijuana also argue that its use can effectively improve appetite in patients suffering from appetite-depriving conditions. Marijuana alleviates the effects of nausea caused by chronic diseases, such as cancer and HIV/AIDs. One example of a case study that proved these beneficial properties of the drug was a 55-year-old cancer patient in California (Johannigman and Eschiti). The patient had experienced chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and anxiety. However, the administering of medical marijuana helped the patient alleviate these side effects of the therapy. Additionally, medical personnel in marijuana-legal states often administer marijuana to build their patients’ appetite levels. Therefore, marijuana has the potential to increase the recovery rate of chronic patients.

Advocates of medical marijuana legalization also claim that marijuana is not as addictive as other common legal products, such as coffee and alcohol. Research has shown that only about ten percent of lifetime marijuana users are likely to be addicts (Caulkins et al.). However, there are other legal substances in the USA market, which are more addictive and can cause more harm. For instance, tobacco is a legal product that contains nicotine, which is an addictive substance. However, marijuana does not contain any level of nicotine. Tobacco users are more likely to be addicts compared to marijuana smokers. Also, coffee, which is a household product, contains caffeine, which is also an addictive substance. In my opinion, the notion of marijuana being a high risk for addiction needs better empirical research to support it. Therefore, this should not be a reason to oppose the drug’s legalization.

Additionally, advocates of marijuana legalization argue that its legalization will help control illegal sell and consumption of untested and potentially harmful marijuana. The sale of illegal marijuana in American black markets is a persistent problem. The DEA worries that these drugs have no medical approval, thereby posing health risks to the consumers. Therefore, it becomes hard for government institutions to control the sale of illegal marijuana. However, more than forty percent of Americans have reported having used marijuana in their lives (Jacques). Therefore, I submit that legalizing marijuana will help the fight against illegal substance sale and consumption in the USA. In my opinion, the illegal sale of marijuana in the USA continues due to the high demand for the product amidst the firm grip of illegalizing law. However, I believe that law-abiding citizens would prefer acquiring legal and medically approved marijuana. Therefore, legalizing the product will help single out avenues that sell illegal marijuana in the country because the citizens will demand proof of approval from the sellers.

Also, medical marijuana can be useful in treating sleep deprivation and several mental disorders. Research has shown that THC effects are similar to those of lithium. Lithium effects cause sleepiness. Therefore, administering medical marijuana to patients with insomnia disorder can help resolve the lack of sleep. Also, cannabis has a relaxing effect, which may help relieve tension in muscles. According to Porter and Jacobson, medical marijuana has been useful in treating patients with severe, frequent seizures, and neurodevelopmental delays. Therefore, medical marijuana can be very helpful in relaxation therapy.

Supporters of medical marijuana have also denied the claim by its opponents that marijuana can lead to other substances abuse. The notion that marijuana use can lead to the abuse of other drugs has not received any empirical support. In my opinion, the lower risk of addiction to marijuana compared to other hard drugs indicates that marijuana users are in better control. Besides, many examples of marijuana users are extremely successful in their carriers as compared to other hard drug abusers (Jacques).

Finally, medical marijuana legalization will increase the revenue generated by the government as opposed to expenses incurred in efforts to fight it. According to Caulkins and Kilmer, the legalization of cannabis in the Vermont state resulted in cut costs for the state of about one dollar for each resident annually. Also, the decriminalization promised more tax revenues for the state government. Legalizing marijuana will result in the creation of new revenue streams because it will increase the efforts made by producers to seek medical approval for their products. It will also increase tax collection to the government for the sale of the product.

Conclusion

Legalizing medical marijuana will bring numerous benefits to the government, the patients, and the seller. First, it will ensure that consumers get access to products with medical approval, which will control the levels of THC in consumer products. It will help to monitor and control illegal drug sales and criminal activities in the USA through civilian activism. It will also save and create more revenue resources for the government. These benefits of the decriminalization of marijuana should challenge the contenders of its legalization to rethink their reasons for opposing the process. Therefore, I submit that legalizing medical marijuana will bring more benefits to the communities and medical fields than the issues of concern.

Works Cited

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