Essay on the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical or Recreational Purposes

Introduction

There has been an increasing implementation of medical Marijuana into its practice by the medical community for pain relief by several states in the US (Tawfik, Gehad Mohamed, et al. pg 3). Marijuana contains about sixty cannabinoids. Two of these cannabinoids, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, have been perceived to help medicine (Azcarate, Patrick et al. pg 1982). Multiple studies have revealed that Marijuana has positive impacts on patients with particular conditions and disorders. For instance, the two cannabinoids help patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, nausea, HIV, and glaucoma. Therefore, legalizing medicinal Marijuana would allow patients suffering from these conditions.

Marijuana Should Be Legalized For Medicinal and Recreational Purposes

The general medical use of Marijuana in the US is pain management. Medical Marijuana is an gradually more accepted option to traditional palliative medications (Azcarate, Patrick et al. pg 1980). Multiple studies have shown that Marijuana is not strong enough for severe pain, but it is somewhat effective for constant pain resulting from nerve injure and swelling. Specifically, Marijuana seems to relieve the ache of numerous sclerosis and nerve pain. Patients report that taking Marijuana allows them to undertake their preceding activities devoid of feeling detached. Nowadays, chronic pain is the major reason of lasting disability in the US (Tawfik, Gehad Mohamed, et al. pg 2). Marijuana is also said to be an effective muscle relaxant. With Parkinson’s disease, admit that it can lessen tremors. Its use for PSTD is one up-and-coming area of research for Marijuana (Azcarate, Patrick et al. pg 1980). PTSD develops in individuals who have experienced shocking or dangerous events. These events can trigger natural defences in the body, creating a fight response. Treatment for PTSD combines both therapy and medication. Patients with PTSD have reported that the benefits of medical cannabis are noticeable, especially when it comes to anxiety and sleep disturbances. Researchers have shown that medical Marijuana relieves symptoms of PTSD and replaces traumatic memories with new ones through the extinction learning process. Trouble getting enough sleep is one of the most debilitating symptoms of PTSD (Azcarate, Patrick et al. pg 1979). Luckily, patients using medical marijuana in Florida, for instance, have reported remarkable success in improving their sleep quality and quantity.

Counterargument

Over the past recent years, the prevalence of marijuana use has significantly increased. The legalization of Marijuana for recreational purposes has changed the public perception of Marijuana, with the majority supporting the legalization (Wen et al. pg 218). Yet, there is little public awareness about the consequent increasing problems associated with the use of Marijuana. Although the addiction rate for Marijuana has been stable since its legalization, the number of Americans with marijuana use disorders has amplified significantly. About 60% of substance use disorders in the US are due to Marijuana (Wen et al. pg 222). These findings indicate that many Americans are obsessed to Marijuana than several other drugs. Moreover, some stores with commercialized Marijuana advertise new products providing users with record-high THC effectiveness. Attractive varieties of Marijuana like hash oil used in candy and soda attract all people of all ages. These recent trends encourage a more intense use of marijuana use. Regardless of the growing market of legal marijuana at the state level, the illegal market also remains vigorous (Wen et al. pg 216). This position leaves state regulators uncomfortable choosing whether to place a ban on the highest potency to moderate its levels. Besides, marijuana use is associated with short-term and long-term effects (Wen et al. pg 223). Short-term effects include depression, sleepiness, increased heart rate, and delayed reaction times. Long-term consequences include suppression of the immune system, causes growth disorder, lack of motivation and lung damage.

Marijuana is already a major causal factor of accidents, highway injuries, and deaths (Wen et al. pg 217). Thus, its legalization will increase the number of deaths and injuries. Most people who use Marijuana enjoy the relaxing sensation that it causes. This feeling makes the person feel tired, happy, relaxed and comfortable. The risk of having accidents is the downside of these effects. This is because Marijuana interferes with a person’s coordination and reaction times. Teens are one of the most vulnerable populations to the impacts of Marijuana. They are more likely to become addicted and suffer a higher risk of long-term mental damage (Wen et al. pg 223). Since their brain is still developing, using the substance can alter the development of the brain. Regular use of Marijuana among teens causes lasting cognitive defects and memory insufficiency.

Conclusion

In summary, the benefits and hams of medical Marijuana will continue to be debated in public. At the same time, voters will keep going to the polls to decide the pot’s legal status. For arguments provided in this paper, Marijuana should be legalized as it is associated with multiple benefits. These benefits include relieving chronic pain and temporarily reducing PTSD symptoms by improving the quality and quantity of sleep. Many proponents have pointed to the severe effects of Marijuana. For example, they argue that marijuana use causes and increase the chances of highway injuries and deaths and long-term effects on teens’ mental health. However, this paper shows that several studies are available to show the adverse effects of Marijuana. This paper argues that Marijuana should be legalized for medical and recreational purposes. However, the movie has its advantages and disadvantages are discussed in this paper.

Works Cited

Azcarate, Patrick M., et al. “Medical reasons for marijuana use, forms of use, and patient perception of physician attitudes among the US population.” Journal of general internal medicine 35.7 (2020): 1979-1986.

Tawfik, Gehad Mohamed, et al. “A commentary on the medicinal use of marijuana.” Tropical medicine and health 47.1 (2019): 1-4.

Wen, Hefei, Jason M. Hockenberry, and Benjamin G. Druss. “The effect of medical marijuana laws on marijuana-related attitude and perception among US adolescents and young adults.” Prevention Science 20.2 (2019): 215-223.