National

The comparison of marijuana to other drugs such as cocaine and heroin is absurd. Marijuana is

medically proven to be less harmful than alcohol, which is legal. In California some doctors are

suggesting the legalization of marijuana for the purpose of researching the medical benefits. We

already know that marijuana helps relieve the pain of multiple sclerosis and certain chronic pains

without the harsh side effects of some drugs such as morphine. Another benefit is its use is for

anorexic patients to induce hunger. With the legalization, marijuana can be FDA regulated,

therefore only the purest substance is available for consumption rather than the illegal ones

which can be laced with harmful ingredients such as MDMA, sildenafil, and even

methamphetamine. Laced marijuana has been shown to have a correlation with an increase of

bipolar disease in consumers. This type of bipolar disease induced by chronic contaminated

marijuana is unlike any other form of the disease, it is not treatable with lithium and can cause

more drastic maniac episodes. At the moment, the effects of pure, uncontaminated marijuana are

unknown and a mystery to the medical field; however, the mysteries can be easily solved by

legalizing marijuana. Although many people in the medical field vouch for the legalization in the

name of research, the federal government, are reluctant to allow the legalization. They state that

they are not exactly sure of the long terms effects of the drug. In a sense we are stuck in a vicious

cycle. The government will not allow the legalization without knowing the “facts” about

marijuana, yet we cannot study the drug due to legal regulations. (This, is a prime example of the

efficacy of the American legal structure) From my personal experience, I have noticed that many

physicians actually not as concerned with whether or not their patients smoke marijuana

compared to cigarettes, many actually expect their patients to have smoked, or be regular

smokers of marijuana. In fact, they seem to be completely fine with it; they have stated that

marijuana does not interfere with medications as much as alcohol or cigarettes do. Often,

marijuana is prescribed to chemo patients to ease the pain and stimulate their appetite. The battle

of legalizing marijuana is an ongoing and tedious process but, the doctors in California are

standing their ground, and hopefully the notion will be passed soon. Due to the lack of research,

doctors are put in a tight spot. Because of the lack of knowledge, doctors who believe in the use

of medical marijuana are having some difficulties with how much to prescribe per patient. It is

basically impossible to overdose and die because of marijuana, one would have to consume

something around 15,000 pounds within an hour. Still, the delicate balance between the needed

consumption and over-consumption is still a blurred line. It is true that there are basically no

physical adversities with consuming a large amount of marijuana, but chronic smoking may

affect the way and routine of life like cigarettes. Although it is extremely difficult to overdose on

marijuana, one cannot be too prudent with a patient’s health and well being.