Mini-Theme 4 - Writing with Semantic Argument or Statistics - Essay Example

??can damage the cells in the bronchial passages which protect the body against inhaled microorganisms and decrease the ability of the immune cells in the lungs to fight off fungi, bacteria and tumor cells” (Bodies of Evidence, 1999). This affect on immunity extends to the rest of the body as well, reducing its ability to fight illness in a variety of ways such as killing the ‘killer cells’ and T-cells, each necessary in combating illnesses such as AIDS and cancer. In addition, the regular use of marijuana can have many of the same effects as smoking cigarettes, such as increased risk of bronchitis and lung cancer.

Regular use has also been found to exacerbate many of the problems experienced by those with mental health conditions. In the short term, marijuana use impairs judgment, perception, thinking, memory and learning. Although the statistical information supported here is rather old, dating back to 1999, it is deemed to have at least a degree of reliability in that it is written and presented by medical professionals who obviously have had some experience in treating the illnesses that are commonly associated with cigarette smoking and other drug use.

However, the information is also presented by a group of individuals who are working against having marijuana legalized for any purpose, which throws a tremendous bias upon the facts given and the severity presented. Bodies of Evidence. “Health Concerns: What are the medical dangers of marijuana use?” Medical Marijuana: Cure or Catastrophe? 1999. 23 August 2007 This interview is designed to help facilitate the researcher with a better idea of what it is like to live with lupus by discussing the experience with a current patient.

In particular, the question of the research is to determine whether there is sufficient funding and research for adequate treatment of the disease. By understanding the lived experience, it will be