ignore this please
For years, people around the world have been using marijuana for treatment for medical conditions. While some doctors praise the idea of legalizing marijuana for medical use, others strongly disagree. But why not legalize something that has been used for thousands of years, especially if it can benefit those who really need it?
Marijuana has been used around the world for thousands of years, the earliest recordings are from 4,000 years ago in China. It was used as an all purpose medication. In 2000 BC marijuana was considered a holy plant that was used in religious ceremonies by the Indians. Muslims also used it in place of alcohol. During the Arab invasions in the 9th-12th centuries introduced it to Africa. “The Tales of the Thousand and One Nights” (also known as “Tales of the Arabian Nights”) was written when cannabis (marijuana) popular. In the 14th century Emir Soudouni Schekhouni ordered all of the plants to be uprooted and destroyed. The consequence of any user would have all of his/her teeth pulled out without anesthesia. Napoleon also tried to get rid of it in Egypt. During 1720, cannabis was introduced to the United States. In 1840, Jacques Joseph Moreau used marijuana to describe the mental effects from it. He found there were no long term affects from it. At this time marijuana was used for many different things. The fibers in the stem were used for rope, twine, carpet, sail cloth, sacks, bags, etc. The seeds were used for soap, paints, and similar products. In 1910, marijuana was imported to the Untired States from Mexico. It was usually smoked in cigarette form. It was mostly used by poor black and Mexican workers in the south. As jazz became popular in New Orleans musicians would smoke cannabis to help them play faster. Then in 1937 congress passed the “Marijuana Tax act of 1937" which prohibited the planting, possession, and distribution of marijuana. Since 1937, marijuana has been illegal in the United States ( Nahas, 11-21).
Marijuana can be used for many medical uses. It helps to relieve pain, such as head aches. The THC in marijuana goes to the point in the brain that is triggering the pain and relieves it. When patients are given between 15 and 20 milligrams they report a significant relief from pain (Joy, 77-82). Marijuana is also used to help AIDS patients. The chemicals in the herb help to control the patients’ nashua. It also made the patients in a better mood. They weren’t upset all the time because they were sick (Joy 86-91). Marijuana also has the same affects on patients with cancer (Joy 95-105). This herb can also help glaucoma patients. It can reduce the pressure in the eye that causes glaucoma (Joy 127). Marijuana can also reduce blood pressure and strengthen the users’ immune system (Joy 43-47). Marijuana can help a lot of patients with serious health issues.
There are some side affects from using marijuana, though researches have failed to learn which has a worse health risk cigarette or marijuana. A rolled joint with marijuana can be as much as four times worse than a cigarette, putting more tar in the users lungs. But cigarettes are usually smoked with a filter, unlike a joint, making it hard to make the conclusion of which is more harmful to the human body (Joy 38-38). Inhaling it could have serious side effects on the lung tissue. It can become precancerous (Russel 54). Marijuana is known to affect the users memory, mostly short term. It can also cause anxiety. The less a person uses marijuana the less the amount of risks (Joy 58-59).
In conclusion, marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes. It can help many patients overcome serious health problems. It can help conditions from the common head ache to a person with AIDS. Also, there aren’t many serious health risks from the use of marijuana. If it was regulated to just patients that need the drug it would be available to those who really need it and those who don’t wont be able to purchase it legally.
Works cited
Joy, Janet and Mack, Alison. Marijuana As Medicine. Washington, D.C.:National Academy Press. 2001
Nahas, Gabriel G. Keep of the Grass. USA:Paul S. Eriksson. 1990
Russel, George Marihuana Today. New York:The Myrin Institute, Inc. 1983
Marijuana has been used around the world for thousands of years, the earliest recordings are from 4,000 years ago in China. It was used as an all purpose medication. In 2000 BC marijuana was considered a holy plant that was used in religious ceremonies by the Indians. Muslims also used it in place of alcohol. During the Arab invasions in the 9th-12th centuries introduced it to Africa. “The Tales of the Thousand and One Nights” (also known as “Tales of the Arabian Nights”) was written when cannabis (marijuana) popular. In the 14th century Emir Soudouni Schekhouni ordered all of the plants to be uprooted and destroyed. The consequence of any user would have all of his/her teeth pulled out without anesthesia. Napoleon also tried to get rid of it in Egypt. During 1720, cannabis was introduced to the United States. In 1840, Jacques Joseph Moreau used marijuana to describe the mental effects from it. He found there were no long term affects from it. At this time marijuana was used for many different things. The fibers in the stem were used for rope, twine, carpet, sail cloth, sacks, bags, etc. The seeds were used for soap, paints, and similar products. In 1910, marijuana was imported to the Untired States from Mexico. It was usually smoked in cigarette form. It was mostly used by poor black and Mexican workers in the south. As jazz became popular in New Orleans musicians would smoke cannabis to help them play faster. Then in 1937 congress passed the “Marijuana Tax act of 1937" which prohibited the planting, possession, and distribution of marijuana. Since 1937, marijuana has been illegal in the United States ( Nahas, 11-21).
Marijuana can be used for many medical uses. It helps to relieve pain, such as head aches. The THC in marijuana goes to the point in the brain that is triggering the pain and relieves it. When patients are given between 15 and 20 milligrams they report a significant relief from pain (Joy, 77-82). Marijuana is also used to help AIDS patients. The chemicals in the herb help to control the patients’ nashua. It also made the patients in a better mood. They weren’t upset all the time because they were sick (Joy 86-91). Marijuana also has the same affects on patients with cancer (Joy 95-105). This herb can also help glaucoma patients. It can reduce the pressure in the eye that causes glaucoma (Joy 127). Marijuana can also reduce blood pressure and strengthen the users’ immune system (Joy 43-47). Marijuana can help a lot of patients with serious health issues.
There are some side affects from using marijuana, though researches have failed to learn which has a worse health risk cigarette or marijuana. A rolled joint with marijuana can be as much as four times worse than a cigarette, putting more tar in the users lungs. But cigarettes are usually smoked with a filter, unlike a joint, making it hard to make the conclusion of which is more harmful to the human body (Joy 38-38). Inhaling it could have serious side effects on the lung tissue. It can become precancerous (Russel 54). Marijuana is known to affect the users memory, mostly short term. It can also cause anxiety. The less a person uses marijuana the less the amount of risks (Joy 58-59).
In conclusion, marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes. It can help many patients overcome serious health problems. It can help conditions from the common head ache to a person with AIDS. Also, there aren’t many serious health risks from the use of marijuana. If it was regulated to just patients that need the drug it would be available to those who really need it and those who don’t wont be able to purchase it legally.
Works cited
Joy, Janet and Mack, Alison. Marijuana As Medicine. Washington, D.C.:National Academy Press. 2001
Nahas, Gabriel G. Keep of the Grass. USA:Paul S. Eriksson. 1990
Russel, George Marihuana Today. New York:The Myrin Institute, Inc. 1983