Preview

Medical Marijuana Policy Paper

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1079 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Medical Marijuana Policy Paper
Medical Marijuana

Marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in the U.S today. Many associate the substance with some of the most highly addictive and dangerous drugs used in our society. While others claim marijuana to be the safest substance to use to date. One of the biggest debatable topics amongst marijuana use is the legalization of the substance medically. Many people believe marijuana should be accessible to those with terminally ill diseases. While others believe the drug should be illegal at all cost. Medical marijuana presents many negative issues in our society emotionally, medically and socially. Due to the negative effects from the substance, the use of marijuana should remain illegal in the United States. One of the main societal issues revolved around medical marijuana is the effect it has on individuals emotionally. Using marijuana is like putting a wet blanket over human emotions, it separates a person’s conscious thoughts from their feelings, dissociating one’s thinking from the realistic world. This temporary sign effect can be quite dangerous to those unaware of their emotional makeup. For some the drug can relieve stress, relax the body and mask depression by providing feelings of euphoric happiness. While for others it can leave a feeling of anxiousness, fear and paranoia. Another main societal issue associated with medical marijuana is the effect the substance has on individuals medically. Marijuana contains a chemical called THC that is known to affect the brain and human growth development. However, these medical issues do not begin to acknowledge the major health-related issues associated with the substance. Some of the most common issues related to marijuana use are excessive respiratory damage, increased risk of cancer and a weakened immune system. Studies have shown that 1 joint is just as damaging as 5 cigarettes to the lungs, due to the carcinogens present in

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is a Schedule 1 substance, which means that it has no medicinal purpose and has a high risk for abuse. Although marijuana is not federally legalized or approved by the FDA, 20 states (including Hawaii and Washington D.C.) have already legalized medical marijuana, and two of those states (Colorado and Washington) have already legalized marijuana for adult recreational purposes. When marijuana is ingested or smoked, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) a chemical naturally found in marijuana, targets neural receptors in the brain giving users a “high.” Altered perceptions and mood, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory are some of the effects that marijuana users may feel. Long term effects of heavy marijuana use include: respiratory problems (daily cough and phlegm production, frequent acute chest illness, and increased risk of lung infections), increased heart rate by 10-100 percent, and mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. Studies have also shown marijuana to be psychologically addictive.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Background: How is Cannabis used in the medical field and should it be legalized for recreational purposes as well as medical use? Medical marijuana has been used for many years in the medical field. According to AAMC, adjunctive therapy with cannabis has helped patients deal with their symptoms of disease or disorders. A study was done by University of California medical researchers in which they placed “an ingredient in chili peppers beneath the skin of marijuana smokers to see if it could relieve acute pain” (Hecht). They also monitored patients with HIV and AIDS and they smoked marijuana or placebo joints.…

    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Marijuana is a common recreational drug. "The National Institute on Drug Abuse says marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug" (Cox). In a 2010 survey, 17.4 million Americans had used marijuana within the past month. It is used to change people 's moods by getting them to relax. Even so, marijuana does have some negative effects on people. It can cause lethargy and uncoordinated body movements. Marijuana can have harmful effects on people 's health. It can affect our brains, hearts, lungs, and reproductive systems. Like cigarettes, marijuana can cause cancer of the mouth, tongue, larynx, or pharynx.…

    • 1870 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Marijuana’s effects on the body and the mind are only recently being known, and still much research must be done to know for sure what facts are true, as well as what is blown out of proportion from cultural and political bias. From what we know now there are obvious short term affects as well as the possibility of substance abuse however long term affects are very rare and require further studies until we know for certain.…

    • 1310 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the main effects of marijuana on mood vary and may include euphoria, calmness, anxiety, or paranoia. Getting high or "stoned" is the reason most pot smokers use marijuana.…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Although marijuana usage has shown some benefits in very specific cases it is not the miracle cure that its proponents make it out to be. The medical community should continue to look for a better solution to these problems as marijuana has proven to have many harmful side effects. Scientific studies have shown an increased rate of depression and schizophrenia in habitual marijuana users (Marijuana|drugfacts|national Institute On Drug Abuse, 2010).Patients already dealing with pain issues should not be put at risk of depression symptoms as the drop in mood could easily outweigh the benefits of pain management. Marijuana use greatly increases the heart rate of the user for a one to three hour period immediately after usage and can be dangerous in patients with heart conditions (Marijuana|drugfacts|national Institute On Drug Abuse, 2010). Medical marijuana usage should be avoided in the elderly for its dangerous potential to anyone with a heart condition. Trading pain management for a potentially fatal heart attack isn 't an acceptable trade in the medical community. Habitual marijuana usage has been shown to cause a lack of motivation and a lower overall performance in the workplace. Younger patients cannot afford a loss in motivation when faced with the challenge of a chronic illness that may require long term pain management. A patient cannot be expected to maintain their quality of life and keep up with their medical bills if their treatment is lowering their drive to achieve or even participate in their work life.…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marijuana or the medical term "Cannabis" was first used for medicinal purposes in 2737 BC, by Emperor Shen Neng of China. He used it for rheumatism, gout, malaria, and forgetfulness (4). In 1996, California became the first state to approve medical marijuana use in the United States. It was first used to treat AIDS, cancers, muscular spasticity, migraines, and several other disorders (3). Since its first use Cannabis has a long history of improving the quality of life of people who suffer from certain ailments. Cannabis can ease tremors of Parkinson's diseases suffers and it can provide pain relief and increase the appetite of cancer patients (1,2).…

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people have a misconception that marijuana is bad for health. There are several reasons quoted for people to have this kind of notion about this wonderful marijuana herb, which is less known for its therapeutic benefits. As per Medical Marijuana Services this herb has several medicinal values as this article is primarily intended to educate the readers and the concerned individuals about the health benefits of this herb. To know more information readers can also browse the website www.lifehack.org and get benefitted.…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Effects Of Marijuana

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages

    First, let’s talk about what marijuana is and how people use it. Marijuana is referred to as dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Indian Hemp plant, according to the March 2016, drug facts-Marijuana site. Today, this is the world's most widely and oldest used drug, which dates back to the 8,000 BCE’s in China. This drug contains mind altering chemicals called THC, which has been increasing in marijuana over the past years. This means that for new users exposure to higher THC levels gives them a greater chance of harmful reactions. The chemical THC causes the high or intoxicated feeling, which make it an official drug; by the Is Marijuana Addictive website. Intoxication from the drug may be addictive and cause changes in the…

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    "Sleep Aids and Insomnia." Herbal & Natural Sleep Aids. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.…

    • 1147 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    An Illegal Drug is defined as “any chemical that affects the human body or mind when it is swallowed, breathed in, or consumed in another way.” by the Webster New World Dictionary. Marijuana can also be defined as so, but it is completely legal in two of the fifty states, and completely illegal in twenty-one of the fifty, and the rest either allow Marijuana for medical purposes, or is decriminalized. There are both harmful and beneficial properties of this drug. But Marijuana can do more harm than good. Many cultures have used it during meditation, religious…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anderson, B., Block, R. O’Leary, Daniel. Pearlson, Godfrey. Rizzo, Matthew. “Sex, drugs, and cognition: effects of marijuana”. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 42.2 (2010). 413-423. 1 Dec 2012.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    An impression among society is that Marijuana is beneficial to human health, however, there is no official report that supports this belief. Nevertheless, it may hasten or worsen any health condition anyone may try to treat. While Marijuana provides a temporary feeling of relaxation during and after consumption, negative effects may appear with time if used habitually. A few of these effects are physical and psychological, which may affect our lifestyle and social life. It could also affect the smokers’ ability to fight an infection as it weakens various natural immune mechanisms. Additionally, there is a risk of motor-vehicle accidents. Unequivocally, smoking marijuana offers no benefit and on the other hand, will only impact a life negatively.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Research Paper

    • 1777 Words
    • 8 Pages

    People who use marijuana want to believe that marijuana has no health effects, when, in reality, there are health affects. Those health effects happen to be worse than most marijuana users think. Marijuana affects some of the bodies most important parts like the heart, the brain and the lungs. According to Mehling, “Eating or smoking marijuana has been shown to increase heart rate by 20 to 50 percent...However, marijuana users who do not know about or expect these acute health effects may find them unpleasant or even scary, resulting in panic or anxiety reactions. And, those with heart problems or other physical disorders may have disturbing or even harmful effects as a result of cannabis use” ( Mehling). The effect of marijuana only last a couple of hours, but when someone does not know that they can get anxiety from marijuana, they may start to freak out. The situation can get ugly quickly because they will have this anxiety and panic and start doing things they normally would not do if they were not under the use of marijuana.…

    • 1777 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The legalization of medical cannabis is one of the most discussed and debated topics in current events and the world today. Medical cannabis is nothing new, the practice of using cannabis as a a drug and for medical use for over 2,000 years in places such as India and China. In 1937 the Untied States of America made the sale and possession of marijuana illegal in every state. Marijuana never completely went away, however, and it became much more popular in the 60’s because of the belief that it could supposedly have medical uses. Ever since, the debate about medical cannabis has been constantly discussed. Everyone has their own opinion and thinks they know the correct answer. To understand medical marijuana we have to understand what cannabis…

    • 1422 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics