Medicinal Benefits
I have never tried marijuana nor do I ever plan trying it but I have heard numerous stories about it’s benefits. On 20/20 singer Melissa Etheridge said how she tried marijuana when she had breast cancer. She said it prevented her from taking so many prescriptions and it gave her the energy she needed to perform at the Grammies. She explained that she was given a prescription for one thing, pain. Side effect from that prescription lead to constipation, another prescription for that. Side effect from that prescription lead to diarrhea, another prescription. So by the end of all this she needed one prescription for one problem but ended up needing ten. Marijuana solved the first problem without the lingering side effects. Etheridge explained that it’s not a high that you get from the marijuana, it’s the feeling or normal. I have heard other stories similar to hers
Abuse
The idea of people illegally abusing drugs, even legal ones, is nothing new. We’ve heard numerous stories of people abusing narcotics such as Vicodin, Oxycotin, Xanax, Ritalin etc. Tune into a season of Intervention and you become amazed at how many of those people abuse legal drugs. So how is marijuana going to be any different? Place marijuana in the same category as other recreational use drugs. If your using it and you have a prescription, it’s legal, if not, illegal.
I’ve heard other arguments that unlike other drugs you can technically make marijuana at home. All you need are seeds, dirt and water. Well it’s not that simple. They way most law enforcement agencies become suspicious are the high water and electric bills. The grower is racking up bills tens times what his/her neighbors are. It’s cheaper to buy it from growers who do this in bulk. Then comes the process of harvesting, drying etc. Getting marijuana isn’t that simple.
Side Effects
Yes marijuana has harmful side effects, everything from heart disease to hallucination, but what drug doesn’t? Think of all the prescription drugs that you hear about on TV and at the end of the commercial you hear about all the side effect. Birth control pills causing blood clots, cholesterol lowering medication causing liver problems, anti-depressants causing dry mouth etc. Doctors prescribe and people take these drugs because the benefits outweigh the risks. No medication is 100% safe. Even over the counter drugs such as Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve have warning labels.
Economical Benefits
In my state of California the medicinal use of marijuana is legal. With California being in as much debt it currently is in, over $40 billion, advocates say that taxes brought in my marijuana could bring in an additional $3 billion a year. Although it doesn’t seem like much but it could speed the process up.
Conclusion
So what is this final verdict about marijuana. There is evidence showing the medicinal benefits. How patients only need to take one prescription instead of ten. People abuse drugs even legal ones already. No drug is 100% safe. You are prescribed a drug when the benefits out weight the risks. So at the end of the day let’s legalize the medicinal use of marijuana.
I like your blog I connected through another blog. I only had time to read this entry. I think I will check out the rest another time.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is not too tough I think most would agree with the medicinal legalization.
Check out my blog and see what you think.
Scientists have recently discovered an advantage in one of the most prevalent drug on the planet: the marijuana. According findrxonline article notes that a natural element contained in this banned substance provides protection to brain cells. The discovery has been published in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to the researchers, this substance, cannabidiol, has antioxidant properties that may act to protect brain cells during stroke. Cannabidiol, said the study's lead author, Aidan Hampson, the American National Institute of Mental Health, "is not active in the brain receptors that allow marijuana to have euphoric effects. However, the expert insisted, "is still too early to say that this substance can get to protect people simply by smoking marijuana." The results of this assertion comes from a study in rats which showed that the substance was very potent antioxidant effects in protecting the brain cells of these animals from the effects caused the stroke. Cannabidiol addition, experts are studying other compounds of marijuana for medical application. In fact, it is investigating the role of a substance called THC in the treatment of various diseases, including stroke. Currently, there is a drug called Marinol that contains THC to treat nausea experienced by many cancer patients.
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