Legalizing Medicinal Use of Marijuana

Drug dependence has been, time and again, a pressing issue in all nations across the globe for its detrimental consequences, not just on the individual, per se, but on the society as a whole. Moreover, among many drug sources, marijuana, also known for its slang names such as "'pot,' 'grass,' 'reefer,' 'weed,' and 'Mary Jane'" (Iversen) is, by far, the world's most commonly used illicit drug" (ACDE). It is made from the dried leaves and flowering tops of Cannabis sativa, an Indian hemp plant, which contains an active ingredient called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Iversen). Ironically though, this drug was originally used for industrial and medicinal purposes and it was only in the period after that, that widespread abuse suddenly began.

"The plant produces not only a drug but a strong fiber that has long been used in the manufacture of fine linen, paper, canvas, and rope. [...] While most Americans today think of marijuana as something to be smoked, the practice of smoking marijuana did not begin until the 1500s and 1600s, after the introduction of tobacco to Europe." (Weisheit 11-13).

Meanwhile, in response to the worsening problem of marijuana abuse, some countries have created laws in order to regulate, if not to totally prohibit, manufacture and use of marijuana. In US, for instance, "both federal and state laws against the production of marijuana became more harsh [since the 1980's]" (Weisheit 30).

Nevertheless, despite potential abuse, there are researches that claim and support the health benefits of the drug. Hence, the debate now arises as to whether or not medicinal use of marijuana be legalized or remain legal, as in some American states. Are the effects of marijuana use harmful at all? If so, do the adverse consequences outweigh the benefits, or is the other way around? These are just some of the questions that have to be answered in support of legalizing the medical uses of marijuana.

The Downside of Marijuana Use