Medical Marijuana

Healing not Harming:

Medicinal Marijuana and the Purpose it Serves

Marijuana is illegal; it’s also a proven, effective pain killer and has been used for ages by some societies to combat certain illnesses and side effects. Legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes is currently a hot button public policy issue. Some states have already passed bills allowing marijuana to be prescribed for medicinal purposes, however federal law still considers it to be illegal and overrides state laws. I will argue that marijuana needs to be approved by the federal government for medicinal purposes, because of the overwhelming evidence that its benefit far outweighs its detriment. I will discuss current state and federal laws. I will also provide medical testimony from leading researchers that will praise marijuana for its medicinal purpose.

Until 1937, marijuana was legal in the United Stated for all purposes. Twenty seven medicines containing marijuana were legally available in the United States at that time. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 federally prohibited marijuana. Dr. William C. Woodward of the American Medical Association opposed the act, testifying that prohibition would ultimately prevent the medicinal uses of marijuana. Surprisingly enough, he was right. Fifty-six percent of voters approved Proposition 215 on November 5, 1996. The law took effect the following day in California. It removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess a written or oral recommendation from their physician that he or she would benefit from medical marijuana. Patients diagnosed with any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been "deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician" are afforded legal protection under this act. Conditions typically covered by the law include arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, HIV or AIDS, epilepsy, migraine, and multiple sclerosis, although,...