Legalization of Canibus Sativa essays

Legalization of Canibus Sativa essays The debate over the legalization of Cannabis Sativa, more commonly known as marijuana, has been one of the most heated controversies ever to occur in the United States. Its use as a medicine has existed for thousands of years in many countries world wide and documented as far back as 2700 BC where the plant had been grown for fiber. Common slang names for this drug include ganja, cannabis, dope, grass, bung, rasta, weed, pot, or tree. Unfortunately many critics opinions may vary on this topic. Yet, regardless of whether or not you think marijuana should be legalized for medical use its important to understand both sides of the argument. Dennis Petro says, There is no compelling evidence now that marijuana is a necessary treatment for the conditions for which some want it legalized-pain, muscle spasms and glaucoma. Many doctors say that in the past, without a doubt, smoking pot was a good way to treat certain problems, but today other drugs make pot smoking for medical purposes unnecessary. Lester Grinspoon, a marijuana guru and Harvard psychiatrist argues that marijuana certainly seems safer than many other drugs even aspirin, which causes bleeding and kills hundreds of people a year, there has not been a single known death by marijuana overdose. The drugs detractors maintain that there is no proven medical use for smoked marijuana (Peron). Many researchers claim that marijuana alleviates some symptoms associated with a variety of diseases. Specifically, cancer patients report the efficacy of marijuana in the reduction of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, as well as increase in appetite and weight gain, according to studies by researchers at Dana- Farber Cancer Institute, Cornell Medical College in New York and National Institutes of Health. In a study of 1,000 oncologists published in July in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 44% said they recommended marijuana to at least one patient...