Definition Essay Example on Medical Marijuana

Brenda Villatoro Ms. Van Den Heede English 10 8 March 2019 Marijuana Legalization. Marijuana is a controversial topic. The federal government classifies marijuana as a drug, a Schedule 1 substance, while the state's opinion is that marijuana could be used for medical purposes such as treatments, relief of pain, and even cures. In fact, many people have had positive effects using medical marijuana that they prefer more than the average medicine you usually get from the doctors. But when there is some positive, there is some negative as well with medical marijuana. So here are some of the positive, negative, and therapeutic benefits medical marijuana may offer. One of the risks associated with marijuana use is dental/oral. Smoking marijuana is associated with an increased risk of dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral infections (Cavalet). The next risk is respiratory. There are several known pulmonary implications of smoking marijuana, and therefore, this route of administration is not recommended for medical use. The respiratory effects of marijuana smoke are similar to those seen with tobacco: “cough, dyspnea, sputum production, wheezing, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and hoarseness”. Research on long-term marijuana smoking has revealed “hyperinflation and airway resistance” (Cavalet). Another risk is neurologic. The use of marijuana results in short-term memory loss and other cognitive impairments. There is conflicting evidence as to whether long-term effects remain after cessation. Because acute intoxication impairs motor skills, it is associated with increased rates of motor vehicle accidents, which is a significant issue (Cavalet). One of the last risks is cardiovascular. Even though there is not much research about the effects of marijuana on the cardiovascular system, there is some evidence that marijuana use “carries an increased risk for angina in patients with previously established heart disease” (Cavalet). Another reason medical marijuana is in denial is because the nonmedical use of prescription drugs is now the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States. These legal drugs provide evidence that drug use itself—not its illegality—is a national public health threat. Legal drugs currently wreak havoc on public health, producing substantial financial and health burdens. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) affirmed that 'The health care and criminal justice costs associated with alcohol and tobacco far surpass the tax revenue they generate, and little of the taxes collected on these substances is contributed to the offset of their substantial social and health costs.' The annual social cost in the US of alcohol is estimated at between $185 and $235 billion and for tobacco at $200 billion. Those costs vastly exceed the value of US tax revenue from the sale of these two substances ($14 billion for alcohol and $25 billion for tobacco). The same would likely be true for legal marijuana. The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) acknowledges, 'At present levels of use, the health costs [illegal drugs] impose on users and on society are dwarfed ... by those attributable to tobacco (nicotine) and alcohol. The health costs of illicit drugs might well approach or exceed those of tobacco and alcohol if their legal status were changed and their use increased sharply.'(“Medicine” 15+). In spite of the negative effects cannabis can cause, there are some benefits to using marijuana for medical purposes. One of the conditions that may be treated with marijuana is migraine. Migraine can be extremely effective. Some of the patients have said that if they take cannabis with the onset of their migraine prodrome it prevents the migraine from developing while other sufferers say that cannabis does not prevent the migraine from occurring, it makes them less severe and does help to control the symptoms (Bearman 18+). Cannabis can also provide great relief from nausea, is an appetite stimulant, and helps with depression. All of which are great benefits to AIDS and cancer patients. Cannabis seems to be particularly good at dealing with pain issues associated with arthritic or autoimmune conditions. This is likely because of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Of course, it is well known that cannabis is useful for helping people with sleeping difficulties (Bearman 18+). And a study concluded that smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in reducing spasticity and pain in with multiple sclerosis and provided some benefit beyond currently prescribed treatments (“Studies 16+). As we know, medical marijuana has helped relieve pain for adults but, it can also relieve pain for children. Minors with autism, cancer, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well and other conditions had constructive effects. Children with Dravet’s syndrome, a rare form of childhood epilepsy used a nonpsychoactive form if marijuana was found to reduce seizures (Rollins 59+). In conclusion, although there are negative effects of medical marijuana, there are some positive effects that have changed the quality of life for so many people with difficult-to-treat conditions, serious illnesses, and disabilities, There is much more we don’t know about, and more studies to conduct, only time can tell when medical marijuana can be legal in all states in the US and for the more illnesses I can treat.

Work Cited

1. American Society of Addiction Medicine. 'There Would Be Many Negative Effects from Marijuana Legalization.' The Legalization of Marijuana, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010991225/GPS?u=pwpls_remote&sid=GPS&xid=044acb23. Accessed 9 Mar. 2019. Originally published as 'White Paper on State-Level Proposals to Legalize Marijuana,', 25 July 2012
2. Bearman, David. 'Marijuana Has Been Proven to Effectively Treat Many Medical Conditions.' Medical Marijuana, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2011. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010753206/GPS?u=pwpls_remote&sid=GPS&xid=153b38c7. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019. Originally published as 'Medical Marijuana: Scientific Mechanisms and Clinical Indications,' www.davidbearmanmd.com, pp. 1-18.
3. Cavalet, Jill Vargo. 'The highs and lows of medical marijuana.' Clinician Reviews, Oct. 2016, p. 40+. Expanded Academic ASAP, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A470867199/GPS?u=pwpls_remote&sid=GPS&xid=3cabb11f. Accessed 25 Feb. 2019.
4. Rollins, Judy A. 'Pot for tots: children and medical marijuana.' Pediatric Nursing, Mar.-Apr. 2014, p. 59+. Expanded Academic ASAP, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A368678910/GPS?u=pwpls_remote&sid=GPS&xid=436cf72c. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019. University of California.
5. 'Studies Show Marijuana Can Be an Effective Medicine for Pain.' Medical Marijuana, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2011. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010753207/GPS?u=pwpls_remote&sid=GPS&xid=e0f75394. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019. Originally published as 'Report to the Legislature and Governor of the State of California Presenting Findings Pursuant to SB847 Which Created the CMCR and Provided State Funding,' 2010, pp. 8-16.