To Legalize Or To Not Legalize

Medical Marijuana

There have been debates and arguments over the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Some argue that marijuana can be safely used to treat multiple symptoms of different conditions and show studies of medical marijuana. While others argue that it is a dangerous drug that can cause harm to ones health, and may lead to other, more dangerous drug.

Fact:

According to procon.org, marijuana has been placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 because the United States Congress stated that Marijuana has no medical use, potential for abuse and lack of accepted safety(1). However in 1968, after the University of Mississippi has grown marijuana with virtually no THC, the US government has approved the research(2). When 8 of the 10 states that had legalized medical marijuana by 2006, there has been a decrease in teen use of marijuana from 1999 to 2006.(3)

Definition:

The nature of the problem comes from two opposing ideas, and the people that support different ideas. There are two different focuses depending on what stance you have on the issue. There are proponents and opponents, people who are pro medical marijuana and people who are against the use of marijuana for medical purposes. We will look at the two sides, of their argument.

Proponents argue that marijuana can be safe and effective with the treatment of symptoms such as AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma and many other conditions. They're are marijuana with no THC and are safe and effective for even kids to use without feeling "high."

Opponents argue that medical marijuana is too dangerous, can be addictive, will lead to stronger and harder drug use. Marijuana will also impairs driving ability, interferes with fertility, can cause lung, brain, and immune system issues. They also stated that it lacks FDA-approval.

Quality:

The debate whether marijuana should be used for medical purposes or not is good. It is good to have a debate where we can discuss the pros and cons, especially about something that may or may not change someone's life. Although debates may be stressful and can get nasty, it is always good to talk about life changing technology or medicine. This is a serious debate because it can cure many symptoms or it can go in the wrong direction of substance abuse. People who are effected by this outcome (legalized or not) could be people with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, people suffering from epilepsy. Due to the taxes that will be imposed upon medical marijuana by the federal government the US economy will also be effected by this outcome. Many changes in the medical world, the research world will also be effected. There will be more tests, peer-review, statistic changes, and much more if the problem has come to a decision.

Policy:

I believe that this is a a very important topic that should come to a decision, and I believe that it is slowly getting there. Some states have already legalize the use of medical marijuana and others still have not, or choose not to. There definitely should be more researches, peer-review, to weigh the pros and cons for this. If medical marijuana can be use to help treatment of many conditions, how can we use it in a safer environment, or how can we prevent people from abusing the substance. I believe that there are people who are very concern about the use of medical marijuana being legalize in fear of their own personal beliefs about the substance that they can't see the good it can bring to certain people. There are others who will abuse this substance when it is legalize. There should be very strict laws about who can obtain this substance.

Stasis

I think that this topic may very well come to a stasis as soon as both parties come up with a law, that they are both comfortable with, for example, some states already allow the use of medical marijuana but with strict laws of who can and can not use it, with serious consequences. Therefore, the stasis of this topic may be, "We will legalize the use of marijuana for strictly medical purposes and prior only with doctor consent. If marijuana is being abuse there will be serious consequences." 

Citations:

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000091

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/