Marijuana: an Examination of Arguments in Favor of and Opposed to Its Legalization
Marijuana: An examination of arguments in favor of and opposed to its legalization
Introduction
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.
Advocates for the Legalization of Marijuana
Effects of Marijuana on the Body
Imagine you are a cancer patient and just received a dose of radiation. You are violently ill and cannot stop vomiting. You hate these necessary treatments because you know how sick you become in response to them and you know the medications to counteract these side effects simply do not work. How would you react if the nurse came in with an order from the physician to smoke one marijuana cigarette, a treatment you know is effective, but instead tells you to take these pills that probably will not be effective? This is the case for many who are denied the right to use marijuana due to legislation prohibiting the prescribing of marijuana. You would probably be upset in the midst of all the pain and agony due to knowing that you cannot have an
Introduction
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.
Advocates for the Legalization of Marijuana
Effects of Marijuana on the Body
Imagine you are a cancer patient and just received a dose of radiation. You are violently ill and cannot stop vomiting. You hate these necessary treatments because you know how sick you become in response to them and you know the medications to counteract these side effects simply do not work. How would you react if the nurse came in with an order from the physician to smoke one marijuana cigarette, a treatment you know is effective, but instead tells you to take these pills that probably will not be effective? This is the case for many who are denied the right to use marijuana due to legislation prohibiting the prescribing of marijuana. You would probably be upset in the midst of all the pain and agony due to knowing that you cannot have an
References: Klein, J. (2009). Why legalizing marijuana makes sense. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1889166,00.html Marmor, J.B Szalavitz, M. (2010, October 7). Will marijuana legalization increase use. Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/07/prop-19-analysis-will-marijuana-legalization-increase%c2%a0use/ The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Trossman, S. (2010). Exploring the science of medical marijuana. The American Nurse, 42(3), 1, 7. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umsl.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&hid=108&sid=d7ae271d-ac18-46a9-9ddd-ee1df600ce51%40sessionmgr112 U.S