When considering the legalization of marijuana for medicinal uses, its purpose has to be kept in mind at all times. Medical marijuana would be used for relieving pain in patients who could find no other relief in any other pain medications commonly prescribed today. A mother speaks about her daughter’s pain due to reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, “If someone touches her arm, it swells up and she’s in agony. Just a few puffs help to lessen the pain and the swelling goes down in minutes” (Perrefort, par. 8). This is a perfect example of when marijuana could be used in a safe, controlled, and responsible medical manner. Indravudh explains typical uses of medicinal marijuana in California, “From subduing chronic pains to increasing a patient’s appetite, the chemicals found in marijuana have proven therapeutic and beneficial in certain illnesses, such as cancer and arthritis” (Indravudh, par. 5). Along side the decreasing of pain in some patients, marijuana can also affect other functions such as increasing appetite in recovering cancer patients. The relief found can often outweigh the negative side effects for patients who have run out of options.
Despite scientific evidence, there are still many people in America that oppose any use of marijuana. One thought that challenges those who believe in its use is, “Marijuana is too dangerous to be used as a medicine. Over 10,000 scientific studies have shown that marijuana is harmful and addictive” (Marijuana Policy Project). Accusations such as this are false considering it has been proven that marijuana is not addictive. Marijuana as a medication has also already been approved in some states. Although it has been deemed in theses states as medicinally legal, it is not to say that marijuana does not still have some harmful qualities. Long term use of marijuana can produce side effects such as increase risk of heart attack, cough, and depression (NIDA InfoFacts). Some of theses side effects can be looked passed for the patients because they may already be experiencing symptoms like depression due to his or her pain inflicting disorder or disease.
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