Marijuana was initially classified as a psychoactive drug and was illegal in many states and countries all over the world. However, following further research and lobbying by pro-legalization proponents, Twenty three states have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. These states are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin. There has been an unending debate on the use of marijuana, its benefits and whether it should be legalized. In the recent past, many health professionals have attempted to review available research on the use of marijuana, its benefits, and potential side effects. Evidence available indicates that it is wrong to legalize marijuana since its use for medicinal purposes is being questioned. There have also been reports of serious side effects as well as abuse by users. Marijuana should not be legal because there is minimal scientific proof of its medical benefits; it has potentially risky side effect, and there is also a tendency for abuse by users.
Research by a group of pediatricians does not support the legalization of marijuana while another group of neurosurgeons support its use due to reports of its effectiveness in treating certain illnesses. The pediatric researchers claim that there is minimal evidence of the medical benefits of marijuana, proof which is not enough to support legalization and widespread use(Wright et al., 183, Krader, n.p).. According to a group of physicians who conducted research to evaluate the evidence presented that qualify marijuana for medicinal use, They conclude that there is low-quality evidence to support the effectiveness of marijuana in treating some illness (Wright et al., 183). According to them, the research conducted, which qualified marijuana for medicinal use did not reach the threshold required to pass it as a drug. This indicates that the support for marijuana’s medicinal use should be reviewed and such laws that facilitate this repealed. It is important for such an important issue to have full backing of medical evidence.
On the other hand, some conditions listed as being treatable are not supported by evidence (Wright et al., 183). Insomnia is among the conditions listed as being treatable through the use of marijuana. According to Wright et al. Marijuana side effects includes insomnia and hallucinations (184) this makes the two to be contraindicative. These discrepancies support the position against legalization of marijuana since it clearly does not have reliable data on its ability to treat certain the indicated conditions.
Another serious issue noted by the researchers, Write et. al. and Krader, is the side effects on patients who use marijuana. Patients in clinical trials have reported adverse side effects including hallucination, dizziness, paranoia among others (Wright et al., 184).Krader agrees with this, noting that these side effects may be dangerous when they adversely alter the patient’s normal function and mental disposition (Krader, n.p). These effects appear to have the ability to make the patient’s condition worse making legalization of marijuana questionable.
Moreover, due to its potential adverse effects, physicians are advised to prescribe marijuana only when conventional medicine fails to work (Wright et al., 184). This caveat emptor is indicative of the questionable effectiveness and safety of marijuana as medicine. Its use should be restricted (Krader, n.p); as is done with other potentially dangerous drugs available on the market for treatment purposes. This precaution beats legalization purposes hence the use of medicinal marijuana should be capped.
On the other hand, there is a potential risk of abuse for marijuana since it is listed as a psychotic drug and has long been used for recreation purposes. It has been noted that teenagers inhale potentially concentrated marijuana through a method called dabbing (Nierengarten, 34). Through dabbing, teenagers have been shown to have the potential to consume more than the dosage that would be appropriate. This now takes the angle of abuse, more than the intended medicinal use.
On the other hand, marijuana is said to have damaging effects on developing children and teenagers (Krader, n.p; Write et al., 180). There is medical evidence that use of Marijuana has adverse effects, neuropsychological, to developing brains of teenagers (Nierengarten, 34). The medical use of marijuana in an age group that is still developing, therefore, poses potential risks to their development. Legalization of marijuana for medicinal use with this evidence of possible retardations makes it meaningless.
Despite the negative indications for use of marijuana, medical associations have recognized the potential for marijuana to treat some conditions. There are some conditions indicated as treatable using marijuana majority of which have been conclusively researched while others are still under investigations. There is substantial medical evidence that it treats chronic pains (Wright et al., 175; Whiting et al., 2456). However, more research should be conducted, and there should not be a wholesome adoption of marijuana as medicine (Wright et al., 175). These indications and available evidence point towards potential benefits of marijuana to help in certain conditions. However, this research does not show that marijuana treats a condition for which no other drug has proven effective. Therefore, due to the many risks associated with marijuana use, it is not worth risking it all when there are available medications to treat these conditions. Marijuana should, therefore, only be legalized if it exclusively offers a remedy for certain conditions.
The other reason for supporting legalized medical use of marijuana is that there is also already an already existing widespread use of marijuana for certain conditions. Taking a different approach from the earlier research referenced, Whiting et al. conducted a review o existing reports and literature to assess the efficacy of marijuana in treatment. They note that there was moderate evidence that marijuana can treat spasticity and pain; and also conclude that there was low quality evidence on the efficiency in treating “nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, weight gain in HIV infection, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome.” (Whiting et al., 2456). It may, therefore, be said that to ensure the safety of users, reaching and legalizing the use of medical use of marijuana is a positive step.
Marijuana has been seen to cause side effect to users, which makes it dangerous to use it for treatment. It also has the potential to become addictive and risk abuse by users. Marijuana use for medicinal purposes has been seen to be a shady area that does not have sufficient medical research to back its use. Despite the compelling research presented by Krader, and Whiting et. al against the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, supporting data by Nierengarten support the use of marijuana in treating certain conditions. Marijuana should not be made legal due to evidence on its negative effects on users, the low-quality evidence or lack of scientific proof that it treats some conditions and its numerous side effects that are potentially harmful.
Works Cited
Krader, Cheryl Guttman. "Why AAP Opposes Marijuana Use And Legalization". Contemporary Pediatrics. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Nierengarten, Mary Beth. "Dabbling In ‘Dabbing’ A Potent New Delivery System For Cannabis Poses Heightened Risks For Adolescents Who Use Marijuana.". Contemporary Pediatrics 33.02 (2016): 35-35. Print.
Whiting, Penny F. et al. "Cannabinoids For Medical Use". JAMA 313.24 (2015): 2456. Web.
Wright, Steven et al. "Medical Marijuana: A Treatment Worth Trying?” The Journal of Family Practice 3.65 (2016): 178-185. Print.
