Legalizing Marijuana for Medical Purposes - Essay Example

 According to Pursell, legalizing marijuana for medical purposes will see a reduction of suicide rates in United States by about 5% on the population in general. Additionally, the author argues that the same event is likely to happen in men, the reduction of suicide cases on men will be by 10%. The analysis conducted for 17 years by professors from different states and the University of Colorado between 1990 and 2007 show that there was a significant reduction in the number of suicide rates by 10.9% in men of age 20 to 29. Further, the reduction in the number of suicide rates on men of age 30 to 39 was 9.4%. The statistics are based on a research conducted on 10,000 people in states that have legalized marijuana. The research is still to estimate the precise number of females affected medically by legalization of marijuana on their states. Based on the above study by Purcell, marijuana should be used for medical purpose in the United States. The medicinal purpose of marijuana, also known as cannabis has been debated for ages in United States and across the world. The debate has not only touched therapeutic use, but also use of the substance for pleasure as it is widely known. Cannabis is a plant containing numerous chemicals that are widely believed to treat quite a number of symptoms or disorders. Close to 20 states in the United States legalised marijuana for medical use. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has approved the use of chemicals extracted from marijuana known as cannabinoids. The endorsement was made after scientific studies conducted on chemical components of the drug. Further, pharmaceutical drugs have been developed using marijuana chemicals for therapeutic purposes at the same time removing chemicals that have been causing side effects and highness (National Institute of Drug Abuse). Laws have also been enacted in a few states in US to guide the users of marijuana for medical purposes. According to Anderson et al. (333), medical marijuana laws MML have was passed in states like Maryland to remove penalties imposed on users of marijuana whenever they are got in possession of or using marijuana. According to medical marijuana laws, doctors are expected to provide approval to patients regarding the use of marijuana for medical benefits. The approval given to patients will render them immune to any prosecution by states when they are got in possession or using marijuana. However, marijuana use has been associated with increased motor vehicle accidents and increasing burden on healthcare. Longer use of the drug has contributed to brain damage, cognitive impairment and respiratory damage when smoked. Other heath related risks associated with the use of marijuana includes bronchitis, lung cancer, heart attack and wheezing. Use of marijuana for a long time is likely to cause severe implications stated above. Those against the use of marijuana for medical purpose explain that marijuana has two chemical components that are harmful to human. They are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol. Smokers of marijuana report cases of psychological and physical effects on smoking marijuana (Hall and Degenhardt 1384). According to Hall and Degenhardt (1384), tetrahydrocannabinol is the cause of those effects on smokers or user of marijuana. Additionally, research conducted on rodents shows that a dosage of THC is deadly. Researchers concluded that 15g to 70g of THC is also deadly to human. Further, THC has been known to increase cognitive impairment, poor information processing, motor performance and tracking behaviour. These effects explain the increased number of motor vehicle accidents because users of marijuana get intoxicated. Cannabinoids also weakens the immune system; this is common on chronic users of marijuana. Marijuana has also contributed to poor performance in school. This happens when users starts at the age of 15 using marijuana. Marijuana should be used for medical purposes. As stated above, use of marijuana for a long period is harmful to human because of health risk associated the drug. However, the arguments presented by those against the use of marijuana are outside accomplishment of medical use of drug. The statements above show that marijuana contains different chemical elements including cannabinoids (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which are stated to be harmful. However, based on a study by Deiana (48), the content of CBD and THC on marijuana determines the harmfulness of the drug. Marijuana extracted from different regions has different content of THC and CBD. Additionally, the process of plant determines percentage of THC. For example, marijuana from Netherlands contains 16% of THC and no contents of CBD. Further, leaves have content of 4% to 6% of THC. Based on these facts by the author, persons against use of marijuana for medical purpose should not use chemical contents such as THC and CBD to state their objection. There are medical benefits associated with the use of marijuana. Most of the patients in US with HIV have known to use marijuana to reduce the symptoms and side effects. Approximately 67% to 100% of the patients with HIV in US are using marijuana. They have cited the following reasons for use of marijuana; weight gain, vomiting, relaxation, reduction of side effects resulting from antiretroviral drugs, depression and nausea (Furler et al. 216). According to “National Cancer Institute” cancer patients can benefit from use of marijuana. Cannabinoids extracted from marijuana can be used to treat cancer side effects. Cannabinoids can stop the growth of blood vessels supplying tumors, act as a relieving agent for muscles spasms resulting from multiple sclerosis. Epileptic patients have also benefited from marijuana. Marijuana prevents seizures on epileptic persons. FDA recently approved trial on the use of marijuana on epileptic children. From the study above it is clear that marijuana provides more medical benefits than harm as it is claimed by those opposing the use of it medically. In addition, it is noted from the study that marijuana has many chemical contents and a few are beneficial in United States. However, marijuana is processed first to obtain the required chemical content before it is used for medical benefits as it is stated by Food and Drug Association in US. Works Cited “National Cancer Institute”. Cannabis and Cannabinoids. n.d.Web. 19 April 2014. “National Institute on Drug Abuse”. Drug Facts: Is Marijuana Medicine? 2014. Web. 19 April 2014. Anderson, D. Mark, Hansen Benjamin and Rees, I. Daniel. “Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption.” Journal of Law and Economics 56.2 (2013): 333-369. Deiana, Serena. "Medical Use Of Cannabis. Cannabidiol: A New Light For Schizophrenia?." Drug Testing And Analysis 5.1 (2013): 46-51. MEDLINE Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. Furler, D. Michelle, Einarson, R. Thomas, Millson Margaret, Walmsley Sharon and Bendayan Reina. Medicinal and Recreational Marijuana Use by Patients Infected with HIV. Aids Patient Care and STDs 18.4 (2004): 215-228. Hall Wayne and Degenhardt Louisa. “Adverse health eff ects of non-medical cannabis use”. Lancet 374 (2009): 1383–91. Pursell Robert. “Studies claim medical marijuana may reduce suicide rates, traffic fatalities.” PBS NewsHour Rundown. 6, Feb. 2014. Web. 19 April 2014. Read More