Benefits of legalizing Marijuana

Essay by ngd84College, Undergraduate May 2003

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Marijuana: Not As Bad As We Think

Today, drugs are a major concern and issue for Americans for various reasons. We hear stories every day about drug-related crimes, but the "war on drugs" has been going on for years, and it is obviously failing. Drug laws have only caused more violence and crime. They have also failed to reduce the demand for drugs. Drug laws have been very harsh on people that are put in jail for possession of marijuana charges. The decriminalization of marijuana can benefit society through medical benefits and by reducing the amount of money spent on drug enforcement. Furthermore, a major reason marijuana is not legalized is the many myths about the ill effects of marijuana.

The use of marijuana in the medical field can help many people in many ways. Marijuana has helped many cancer patients deal with the side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects include nausea and vomiting.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC (the chemical in marijuana that makes people "high"), reduces this vomiting and nausea, putting the patient at ease. The most common effect of chemotherapy is appetite loss. One side effect of marijuana use is hunger, which would help chemotherapy patients by stimulating their appetite. Marijuana use has also been shown to reduce intraocular pressure, which is very beneficial for people suffering from glaucoma. Marijauana can even help multiple sclerosis patients by reducing epileptic seizures and nerve disorders. Currently, there are only nine U.S. states that have legalized the medical use of marijuana including: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. If these medical benefits can increase the quality time in a patient's life, then I feel we should do what we can to help them enjoy their life.

America's annual marijuana crop in 1989 was worth $50.7 billion and...