Medicinal Marijuana

The pros and cons of using marijuana for medical uses are exaggerated by both government officials and pro-marijuana organizations. It is near impossible to find out the actual effects of marijuana without being exaggerated or only half true.

First of all is the negative side of this proposition. Anti-drug corporations such as Truth have put out commercials and other advertisements that have used half truths and exaggerated facts. One of the main concepts in the Truth commercials is that one time use of marijuana can and will lead to addiction. This is not necessarily true. Marijuana is not physically or mentally addictive (NIH 2). The only reason that a few times of marijuana use would be addicting is social problems (NIH 1). Another reason the government would not want marijuana to be used as a medicine after the alleged abuse, the damage it can cause. Truth has also stated that marijuana will cause permanent brain damage. From long-term use, this can be true. However, from the way marijuana is used in the United States, THC, the active chemical, will have the same effect as a hallucinogen, but from inhaling them, cannabinoids in THC will only be toxic %1 of the times marijuana is used (MedMJ 2). As for the lung issue of smoking marijuana for medicine, that is a problem, but can be easily solved. Smoking marijuana has been proven to damage your lungs, but the psychoactive chemicals in marijuana can be obtained in other ways than smoking. Cannabinoids can be obtained from being baked into brownies, swallowed in a pill, or simply chewed (NIH 2).

Now for the other exaggerated side of the controversy of medicinal marijuana. Although the government has exaggerated the negative aspects of marijuana as a medical use, pro-marijuana research organizations and groups have stretched the truth as well, only this time on the positive parts of marijuana. For example, NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) has stated such facts as the idea that no matter how long marijuana is used, it can not become addicting (NORML ?). The fact is that marijuana a very minimal addictive drug, but in long-term use cases, the body can become psychologically addicted to it. This means that physically, you will feel no withdrawal of the drug, but your mind will feel the need for more and more amounts to get the same effect, due to an increase in your tolerance (DA 1). Marijuana organizations have stretched many facts about the effects of marijuana, but many of their statements have been proven true by scientists in a court war against the Federal Institute of Health.

Besides all of the exaggerated truths to legalize or illegalize marijuana, what