Medicinal Marijuana Should Not Be Legalized, Research Paper Example

Currently there is a controversy concerning use of marijuana as a medicine. The public as well as well-intentioned leaders have been misled, into smoking marijuana by the well financed and organized pro-drug legalization lobby who argue that smoking marijuana is a safe and effective medicine. This has however been proved to be erroneous by a review of the scientific research, government agency findings and expert medical testimony Federal Food and Drug Administration, pharmaceutical companies, health and medical associations of medical experts do not encourage the movement too legalize medicinal marijuana but instead  it gets support from  groups like   the Drug Policy Foundation (DPF) and the  National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML which  have little medical expertise  but  favor various forms of legalizing illicit drugs (EMCDDA Cannabis reader 157). Studies cited by advocates of marijuana have been found to be either poorly researched unscientific or involving pharmaceutical THC instead of marijuana.  Evidence from majority of marijuana advocates comes from analyzed or non-scrutinized or anecdotal statements from people having variety of illnesses. It is not known whether such individuals are using marijuana and other medicines in combination or they used marijuana before their illnesses. It is unclear whether these people had a recent thorough medical examination justifying their use of marijuana or they experiencing the intoxicating effects of Marijuana or they are experiencing a placebo effect and so they stand not to be believed. One doctor claimed there was intensive medical research on the effectiveness of marijuana, but when asked to cite the number of studies under oath, he replied “I would doubt very few.” The fact remains that there is no single reliable scientific study that shows marijuana to be and effective and a safe drug. Since the pro marijuana lobby has failed in convincing the federal government, they have identified the state and local governments as their target to legalize smoking medicinal marijuana. A careful examination of their legislative and/or ballot proposals shows that they are written to neutralize enforcing majority of marijuana laws. Under their proposals, crude and intoxicating marijuana would be cheaper to obtain and use than the lowest level, harmless prescription drug ( FDA: Inter-Agency Advisory Regarding Claims That Smoked Marijuana Is a Medicine ).

Over the last twenty years, the federal government has determined that marijuana smoking does not have any redeeming medicinal value but it’s harmful to health (World Drug Report, 264). Such   governmental agencies include the US Public Health Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Their latest finding in 1994 was affirmed in a decision made by a United States Court of Appeal Washington D.C.  Many nationally recognized scientists, researchers and expert medical doctors as well as medical and health organizations have made conclusions that smoking marijuana is not an effective and safe medicine. These organizations include: the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, the American Glaucoma Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Association, National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the  American Academy of Ophthalmology National Institute of Dental Research. According to an American Cancer Society article, marijuana enhances growth of tumors, impairs the immune system, and causes bronchitis and lung cancer. So if used to reduce the stresses associated with cancer for example to relieve pain it means you will be killing the patient with some other form of cancer in the name of relieving pain (World Drug Report, 264). Dr. Nora Volkow the  director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse puts it that there are several deleterious  health consequences  associated with  short-long-and long-term use of marijuana including  the possibility of addiction. Frequent use can affect the short-term memory seriously, impair with the cognitive ability and cause anxiety or long lasting depression. In addition harmful psychological and physical effects resulting from the smoking of marijuana have been documented by over 1,000 studies .Such harmful effects include addiction, impairment of coordination and perception, mental disorders like increased aggressiveness, hostility, depression and loss of memory. There are also injuries of the airways, reproductive disorders among other general problems caused by intoxication.

It’s just not right to legalize this poison. There is already tobacco and alcohol to worry about and the society does not need another poison on the market shelves which encourage consumers to mindlessly waste their lives. Making this drug available will cause a surge in its use just like it happened in some states when alcohol selling was allowed to be carried out in other venues outside liquor stores. This is because the following factors leads to increased substance use .They include increased availability of the substance at cheap prices, reduced risk of selling or using and a tolerant public attitude towards drugs which will be the case if smoking marijuana is legalized .Despite the projected revenue expected when marijuana is legalized (through taxes), opponents argue that legalizing pot would only add to social woes. According to Hay W. a professor of pharmaceutical economics at USC in his book the Societal cost on drug abuse marijuana is a drug that has clouded many peoples judgment and thus there is harm if the bill as the drug affects not only people’s ability to react and concentrate but also has effects on third parties .Smoking marijuana will not have effects on the users but also on the passive smokers. We should just look at t already legalized drugs, alcohol and tobacco and see the carnage they have caused to the users and the society and then we shall be able to foresee woes we shall cause to the society by legalizing this dangerous drug .First it will impact on the Children who face the risk of being neglected as individuals who turn to drug abuse often neglect their families because of the preoccupation with drugs. Children brought up in families where drugs are abused are often abused physically or emotionally and in most cases lack proper medical care, immunizations, and other basic necessities like clothing, food and shelter. They may also emulate their elders and also become drug abusers (Hay J., 195).

According to Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon there may exist some health benefits to some patients as it has been shown by several recent studies for example a new one from the Scripps Research Institute which show that THC, the chemical in marijuana which makes the user high, can help in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies have also shown THC be very effective against nausea and for cancer patients who are under chemotherapy but most of the population are not eager to  vote yes to the bill because they have Alzheimer’s or chemo-induced nausea or  glaucoma but they just want to have the substance available for abuse.

 Conclusion

The movement of  medicinal marijuana  and its media campaign have contributed to the changing of  attitude among the  youths that marijuana is not harmful, contributing to the increase  in use of marijuana .Their core objective  is to allow impunity to “stone” a minority  of our society . This minority group  is willing and capable of   putting  American citizens at risk which result from the  disastrous effects caused by intoxication of this drug but the society  does not  need more intoxicated people on the  highways,  in schools, college ,in work places and  or in the homes. I mean can not just picture a kid, living in  the same  house where the mother is  stoned in order to reduce the pain of the fathers  rage when he’s roaring drunk and has misused all the money. I cannot wait to see these children dropping from school for lack of school fees and parental concern among other forms of child neglection and therefore I stand to say that marijuana should not be legalized. Despite all the talks we have heard about the medical benefits it brings smoking of marijuana smoking of the substance will have deleterious impacts on the society at a whole because  if someone gets high before climbing behind  a cars wheel he or she be  putting him/herself in danger but also  those around .

Works cited

FDA: Inter-Agency Advisory Regarding Claims That Smoked Marijuana Is a Medicine

EMCDDA Cannabis reader: Global issues and local experiences, Perspectives on Cannabis controversies, treatment and regulation in Europe, 2008, p. 157.

Hay J. Societal cost on drug abuse. Washington DC: Brookings Press, 1999, p.195.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Cannabis: Why We Should Care World drug report. United Nations Publications.  2008. p. 264 <http://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2008/WDR_2008_eng_web.pdf>