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Medical Marijuana Should Be Legalized

In recent years, the topic of legalizing marijuana for medical reasons has become

increasingly contentious in the public discourse. People hold different opinions about this

topic, and this has left the public divided, with some people contending that the entire use of

marijuana should remain illegal. On the other hand, others believe that while the consumption

of marijuana should remain illegal, its use for medical purposes ought to be decriminalized

(Caulkins et al. 3). This is because, for thousands of years, people have been using marijuana

as a source of relief from a series of serious medical issues and pain. Many professionals in

the health care sector assert that marijuana is highly effective in treating or offering partial

relief from different medical conditions, including AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. With

the debate still looming, some states such as Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona have legalized

marijuana for medical purposes (Hill p.78). Conversely, others such as Kansas, Nebraska,

and North Carolina still hold it illegal to use cannabis, even for medical purposes. This paper

aims to carry out a comprehensive analysis of why medical marijuana should be legalized.

Endorsement from Healthcare Professionals

One of the major reasons that different states have based on to legalize marijuana is

the endorsement of healthcare professionals. Ideally, it has been established that more than 50

percent of healthcare givers agree that if marijuana was legal as it is with several other drugs,

they would prescribe it to their patients (Hill p.84). As a matter of fact, most of these care

providers assert that they have already recommended marijuana to at least one patient. For

any policy or law to be passed, the primary stakeholders in the sectors that law affects must
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be extensively involved as a source of professional and technical advice. Many doctors have

put themselves at the risk of prosecution to either recommend medical marijuana to patients

or advocate for its decriminalization. They testify to the effectiveness of this drug in treating

different diseases. As Hill (p.105) notes, “Pharmaceutical companies are working to gain

FDA approvals for cannabis they are marketing for additional medical problems, including

pain and spasticity. It seems likely that there will be new cannabinoids available in the next

few years that have been FDA approved for treating medical problems beyond nausea,

vomiting, and poor appetite.” This implies that, undeniably, marijuana is a drug that cannot

be fully thrown out of the medical space. Furthermore, some drugs have adverse effects when

taken in huge quantities but remain legalized. Examples of such drugs include meperidine

and morphine, which are usually prescribed for pain relief (Hill p.101). When taken in

overdoses, these drugs can lead to death. However, there is no substantive evidence showing

that marijuana can as well lead to such deaths.

The Presence of Tetrahydrocannabinol in Marijuana

Marijuana contains a crystalline compound called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that

has been proven to be highly effective in treating terminally ill people. “THC is the main

psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and the one most responsible for its intoxicating

effects” (Caulkins et al. 7). Over the years, with problems resulting from issues surrounding

the legalization of cannabis, several scientists have come up with ways of manufacturing

THC that is not from marijuana. The manufacture of synthetic THC is somehow justifiable

since the criminalization of marijuana is based on issues such as abuse of the drug and the

health problems related to overdose. However, these forms of synthetic THC, such as

Marinol, are extremely expensive. This implies that their use makes access to healthcare

services for people how conditions may require THC costly and sometimes even

unaffordable. On the other hand, marijuana is readily available for healthcare use and is not
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as expensive as synthetic THC (Caulkins et al. 8). Decriminalizing the use of marijuana for

medical purposes is likely to see its cost dropping lower further as its market prices have long

been determined by the black markets in which it is sold.

Decriminalizing Medical Marijuana does not Translate to Increased Consumption

Many people against the legalization of marijuana for medical use argue that this

could see a proportional increase in consumption among minors. Nonetheless, evidence

shows that the decriminalization of medical cannabis can, on the other hand, lead to a

decrease in consumption due to education and regulation. In different states where medical

marijuana has been legalized, statistics show that the number of youths using the drug has

been on a constant decline since its legalization. As Nathan et al. (1746) note, “adolescent use

has remained level in states where marijuana is legal, motor vehicle accidents and deaths

continue to decrease, and state governments have demonstrated a fundamental ability to

control the previously untaxed and unregulated cannabis industry.” Similarly, in states such

as Alaska, where medical marijuana is legalized, there is still a step-by-step process through

which one can access it. Even when one qualifies to consume medical cannabis, they must

make several visits to state-qualified healthcare professionals to determine whether that

person indeed needs the drug. After a series of consultations with the healthcare giver, the

patient can then be given medical marijuana (Nathan et al 1746). Such systematic checks

ensure that only qualified people can get the drug. Therefore, this dispels the idea that

legalizing medical marijuana increases its use in the population.

Even though there are several reasons to support the legalization of the use of

marijuana for medical purposes, it cannot go without saying that there are substantive reasons

why it should not be decriminalized. Ideally, this is why there are still a few states that still

hold on to the idea of not legalizing medical marijuana. One of these reasons relates to the

limited and restrictive clinical trials that have been conducted to evaluate how effective
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cannabis is in the treatment of different medical conditions. This implies that it is still hard to

base on the available evidence to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes while

considering the adverse effects that its consumption comes with. Even experts on this issue

assert that there is still a need for more research to address the different hurdles involved in

the use of marijuana, such as the right dosages of marijuana and measures to control or

standardize quality. Miech contends that “separating out the sum total effect of marijuana

legalization from the many other influences on the attitudes and behaviors of adolescents is a

difficult task” (1268). As well, there is scanty evidence concerning the long-term effects of

the consumption of medical cannabis. Suppose there is no extensive and concrete research on

the dosage and adverse effects of the consumption of medical cannabis. In that case, the

legalization of this drug for medical use may offset a huge problem for the healthcare sector.

Conclusion

Even though it remains controversial, in recent years, the use of marijuana for medical

purposes is increasingly gaining traction as a legitimate recommendation for treating different

healthcare problems. Upon this presumption, several states have gone ahead to legalize the

use of marijuana for medical purposes. However, several voices still oppose this move citing

the dangers that the consumption of this drug comes with. Weighing on the opinions from

both sides, it can be firmly asserted that medical marijuana should be legalized.
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Works Cited

Caulkins, Jonathan P., Beau Kilmer, and Mark Kleiman. Marijuana Legalization: What

Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 2016.

Hill, Kevin P. Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth about the World's most Popular

Weed. Hazelden Publishing, Center City, Minnesota, 2015.

Miech, Richard. "Marijuana Legalization and Marijuana Prevalence among

Adolescents." American Journal of Public Health (1971), vol. 110, no. 9, 2020, pp.

1268-1269.

Nathan, David L., H. W. Clark, and Joycelyn Elders. "The Physicians' Case for Marijuana

Legalization." American Journal of Public Health (1971), vol. 107, no. 11, 2017, pp.

1746-1747.