Marijuana is used often in modern society because it is easily accessible and even people who do not need it for medical purposes use it. It is not legally available, but it is used to alleviate pain related to various severe diseases. Cannabis has been used in ancient times as well as it is used today and it has side-effects apart from helping people deal with pain. It will be available to people in the USA for medical purposes even more in the future.
People who suffer from multiple sclerosis need help in getting legal marijuana because they need it to treat their illness. “Close monitoring of the patient would be necessary“(Leung 452). Specialists should examine such patients to make evaluation about their need to use cannabis. If a war veteran is suffering from a chronic pain in his leg, he should also be allowed to use marijuana to ease the pain: “he would not be denied his pain management services at the veterans hospital on that basis” (Leung 453). However, veterans need to be in touch with their doctors all the time so that the use of cannabis can be monitored.
Marijuana has been used for medical purpose throughout centuries and for the treatment of different medical conditions. “Though the cannabis leaf and stem is rarely used nowadays in Chinese herbal medicine, cannabis seeds, which contain very few psychoactive ingredients, are still commonly prescribed for their laxative effects” (Leung 453). The effects are physical and psychological and the use has to be observed by doctors so that there would be no side-effects and negative consequences. “In the United States, cannabis is an illicit drug either to possess or trade” (Leung 453). However, this also varies from state to state and it depends whether cannabis was medically prescribed or not. “In Oregon and Washington, it is legal to possess up to 24 ounces of marijuana, but in Nevada, Montana, and Alaska, the legal limit is only 1 ounce” (Leung 453). Mostly veterans are allowed to use marijuana because it is in accordance with the law.
It is no recommendable to smoke marijuana for recreational purposes because it can lead to many negative effects. “Physical symptoms include increased heart rate and fluctuations in blood pressure15; psychomotor sequelae include euphoria, anxiety, psychomotor retardation, and impairment of cognition and memory”(Leung 454). That is why cannabis is not supposed to be used without consulting the doctor. It can cause addiction: “which occurs in 1 out of 10 people who have ever used cannabis” (Leung 454). This does not seem like a great percentage, but different bodies react in a different way and some people may suffer from severe consequences.
Even when people are prescribed marijuana they are still supposed to be monitored by specialists. “Before facilitating an eligible person to receive medical marijuana, family physicians should possess the knowledge and skills to screen for addiction potential” (Leung 458). People should not make their own decision about taking marijuana without consulting professionals. Another potential danger is related to purchasing cannabis in the streets: “tiny glass beads or sand have been found in street samples of cannabis”(Leung 458). It has also been determined that cannabis is “less dangerous than alcohol”(Leung 458).
Although marijuana is not very dangerous, it should not be used without the supervision of doctors because it may lead to addiction and cause other negative consequences. Medical marijuana is an important addition to the treatment of pain for people who need it and that is determined by specialists.
Works Cited
Leung, Lawrence. "Cannabis and Its Derivatives: Review of Medical Use." JABFM 24.4 (2011): 452-62. Print.
