The Debate on Medicinal Marijuana

Drugs compose as chemical substances that effect primary portion of the nervous system or brain by causing changes in behavior and often results with an addiction. However, certain particular drugs have medical uses as treatment for a disease. The following is a review and summary over the debate on particular drug known as "Marijuana," which comes from the cannabis plant.

The Drug Policy Alliance pursues constant reform upon the legal issues concerning the cannabis plant for the availability of its remedial utilizations on behalf of the critically unwell. “The Alliance is working hard state by state to educate lawmakers about marijuana and to make cannabis available for medicinal purposes for seriously ill people.” Moreover, a division of this association, known as the “Drug Policy Alliance Network” promotes the passing of a bill in each state for the legalization of the medical marijuana. However, the DPAN success rate dwindles when political problems arise. “This year the New Mexico legislature came close to passing a compassionate use bill that will almost surely become law next session - a large majority of voters supported it, but it did not come to a vote because of politics. The Drug Policy Alliance Network, the lobbying arm of the Alliance, is doing similar work in states ranging from Connecticut to Alabama.” These political issues have managed to retain their potency in the United States since the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which had successfully restricted the therapeutic and leisure exploit of the cannabis plant even though that law had little control on actually stopping marijuana from becoming the most popular and used criminal chemical substance in the western hemisphere. “In 1937, with the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act, the United States effectively banned recreational and medicinal use of cannabis. Despite such restrictive control, cannabis has become the most widely used illicit drug in the western world.” Growing pressure has arisen about reforming the total prohibition of marijuana since the 1970’s due to all numerous documented reports about the drug’s nontoxic nature, which implies the removal over the illicit felonies in relation to the expenditure of the drug. “Since the 1970s pressure has been building to move away from the total prohibition of cannabis. Over the past century, numerous reports from independent, government-sponsored commissions have documented the drug's relative harmlessness and recommended the elimination of criminal sanctions for consumption-related offenses.”

Nevertheless, many critics such as Dr. Paul M. Worrell would argue that the drug marijuana must remain illegal, regardless of its use. According to Worrell, the attention of legal drugs that are more deadly and addictive does not leave a convincing case on legalizing marijuana. “To boast that marijuana is the "lesser of evils" in terms of public health consequences is not a convincing argument for legalizing its use.” Worrell provides an easy understanding that the cannabis plant requires more compelling evidence to support its legalization. Furthermore, Doctor Worrell brings notice of the complications of marijuana use as well as the dangers involved to argue more reason behind marijuana’s prohibition. “Because, like tobacco and alcohol, marijuana is not a benign drug. Marijuana use can lead to poor motivation syndrome and increased rates of schizophrenia and depression. Its use can lead to lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema and even lung cancer.” Nonetheless, Worrell address the moral impact of pot smoking and increasing sales and quantity of the drug available to the youth. “Legalizing another addictive substance will increase the supply available to adolescents. It also sends the message that pot smoking is condoned.” As of already, Worrell conveys that approximately about half of all high school students have been exposed to the cannabis plant. “Marijuana is already the most widely used illicit drug among youths in Alaska, with nearly 50 percent of high school students surveyed in 2003 reporting they used marijuana at least once.” To conclude, the harmful uncertainty about granting legalization upon the drug marijuana directs with the possible burden in similarity with existing licit substances. “Are we willing to go down the same road we traveled with alcohol and tobacco, accepting yet another burden on public health and safety?”

"Marijuana: The Facts", Drug Policy Alliance. 2005. <"http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/">.

Worrell, Paul. " Marijuana Should Remain Illegal", Canabis News. 30 October 2004. <"http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/illegal.htm">.