Leagalization of Medical Marijuana - Essay Example

Legalization of Medical Marijuana in the U.S.A Order No. 279883 No. of pages 20988 Marijuana is one of the drugs that are being abused today. Though it doesn't seem to cause very serious health problems, it is never- the- less targeted as one of the major problems facing society. But with a closer look at the different drugs and its harmful effects, Marijuana usage has not proved itself to be as harmful as the others and therefore, the legalization of Medical Marijuana in the U.S.A and other countries should not pose a problem at all.

Though some people seem to think it is very harmful to the user, in addition to being addictive, what is true about Marijuana is that it does not lead to the intake of harder drugs. Another thing is, if Marijuana is ingested through foods, vaporizer or tincture it does not cause bronchitis or other respiratory health hazards.Unlike alcohol abuse and other drug abuse that kill the grey cells causing brain damage or long term memory loss, the use of Marijuana causes only short term memory loss and that too, only while the individual is under its influence.

Marijuana does not cause long term memory loss neither does it effect the immune system in the body.According to the UCLA School of Medicine study in 1997, (Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine) on 243 Marijuana smokers for chronic lung disease, over the period eight years, it was found that "Neither the continuing nor the intermittent marijuana smokers exhibited any significantly different rates of decline in lung function as compared with those individuals who never smoked marijuana.

" In relation to smoking of Marijuana, the study found "No differences were noted between even quite heavy marijuana smoking and non-smoking of marijuana."The study concluded that unlike tobacco that is a major cause of deaths in the country, death from an overdose of Marijuana has never been recorded so far.Moreover, Legal prohibition of drugs is not going to prevent its consumers from taking them. Legalization of marijuana in the U.S could allow for better regulation and in fact if drugs were legalized, the companies could be easily sued for the harm caused.

Though Policy makers think that Marijuana is harmful, yet, in 2000, 8 states in the U.S have passed laws permitting patients who were seriously ill to use Marijuana for pain control. Therefore, when it is helpful to alleviate suffering of ill people, it should be legalized in all the 5o states of the United States.ReferencesUCLA School of Medicine study. (1997) American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine. Volume 155.Legalization of Marijuanawww.legalizationofmarijuana.com/Legalization of Marijuanawww.

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