Medicinal Marijuana

Medicinal Cannabis

The issue of whether or not marijuana should be used for medicinal purposes has been prevalent for years. In the past, it has been used in different cultures to change mood, perception and consciousness. The Boggs Act and the 1956 Narcotics Control Act were both placed against the use of marijuana. Dating back to over five 5000 ago it has been made apparent that marijuana has great medicinal value. "Cannabis was used extensively in medicine until the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937" (Begg 135). Marijuana has the ability to obstruct many of the terrible symptoms and treatment's side effects of diseases including AIDS, cancer, and glaucoma. Due to the unique soothing effect that marijuana provides to people with afflicting diseases, marijuana should be legalized solely for medical use.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) refers to a specific group of diseases, which result from severe suppression of the immune system. Scientists have identified the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, to be the infectious agent causing AIDS. HIV destroys the immune system by attacking T-cells in the blood. "When I smoke marijuana, I'm living with AIDS. When I don't smoke, I'm dying with aids" (Randall) as quoted by an aids patient. The patient also went on to say that marijuana stimulates his appetite, eases muscle spasms, chronic aches, and allows him to stay functional and alert. His weight had dropped down to eighty-six pounds after his sickness and has since risen up to one hundred and thirty-six pounds after he began smoking marijuana. Marijuana not only helps people with AIDS combat nausea and improve their appetite, it also relieves their muscle spasms, chronic fatigue and, most importantly, pain. People with AIDS who use marijuana to survive are probably the fastest growing group of medical marijuana patients today. "Patients whom use marijuana for medicinal purposes make-up the majority of cannabis buyers clubs in major California cities -- 70% in Los Angeles and 90% in San Francisco" (Jong 2887). It is reasonable to conclude that with the rise of AIDS, marijuana and, the increased toxicity of AIDS treatments, the number of people using marijuana to medicate themselves will continue to increase.

Chemotherapy comes with some pretty uncommon, and unpleasant side effects. Patients undergoing chemotherapy develop a condition called cachexia. "Cachexia is a condition in wish patients whom are undergoing chemotherapy lose a significant portion of their body weight, both fat and muscle" (Grinspoon). Normally, patients are given drugs called antiemetics with the hope to reduce nausea and increase their appetite. Several people do not respond to antiemetics. This is when marijuana use comes into play. It has been known for several years that the main chemical in marijuana, THC, stimulates a person's appetite. It has also shown to reduce