Medical Marijuana: A Controversial Cure with Undeniable Benefits

I believe marijuana should be a medical option. They believe that marijuana should not be a medical option. Marijuana can be consumed in many ways. When consuming too much marijuana, it affects the person’s short-term memory and damages lung tissue as well. Marijuana can cause mental health problems. Marijuana can cure muscle pain, and it can also help with nausea while going through Chemotherapy. Marijuana can be consumed in many ways. Medicinal marijuana has made huge advancements throughout the years. For this reason, marijuana should be a medical option.

Medical Marijuana’s Role in Alleviating Arthritis and Chemo-induced Nausea

Marijuana helps cure muscle pain by easing the pain of arthritis. There are two types of arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis, which is when a person’s immune system attacks the joints. Osteoarthritis is another type that mostly affects the hip, thumb, or knee joints. Although it’s not 100% that it helps with arthritis pain, there have been studies made on rats. According to Medical News Today, “A 2011 study found that CBD helped to reduce inflammatory pain in rats by affecting the way that pain receptors respond to stimuli.”

Another reason medical marijuana should be a medical option is because it helps with nausea when going through Chemotherapy. Anne states, “Marijuana is a mind-altering substance, and as such, it can act as a mitigator for nausea. Much like with pain, the cannabinoids and THC soothe any sort of nauseous feeling almost immediately.” One of the most common cancer treatments is Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy helps kill cancer cells. Although Chemotherapy can be good, there are side effects when doing it, such as nausea and vomiting. I truly believe marijuana helps with nausea and vomiting because my aunt was a cancer patient, and one of the most helpful medicines when doing chemo was marijuana.

Alternative Consumption Methods: Beyond Smoking Medical Marijuana

Marijuana doesn’t necessarily have to be smoked. There are many different ways of it being consumed. Smoking can be a health risk, but doing other things that still have marijuana can lead to fewer risks. Tinctures are a type of oil that people put under their tongues. Some prefer to do this because it’s less risky than smoking, and it damages your lungs or causes other health problems. Another way you can consume marijuana in your stomach is through edibles. This way is also very powerful and sometimes gives you a longer “high.” The way you can consume an edible is by adding marijuana to any food and eating it. Some people prefer adding it to brownies or cookies.

When consuming too much marijuana, it targets many parts of the brain. Two of many ways it targets the brain are your speed of thinking as well as your memory worsen over time. People might find it harder to create memories when they are High. Christopher Ingraham states, “The study found that people who smoked marijuana on a daily basis for a long period of time — five years or more — had poorer verbal memory in middle age than people who didn’t smoke, or who smoked less.” When giving tests to people who don’t smoke and people who smoke every day, someone who smokes takes longer to problem-solve and uses their brain than someone who doesn’t.

Marijuana contains chemicals that are similar to tobacco smoke, which can cause lung disease. People who smoke appear to be more diagnosed with bronchitis than those who don’t. National Drug Abuse states, “Smoking marijuana might increase susceptibility to lung infections, such as pneumonia.” People who smoke marijuana have more visits to the doctor because of breathing problems than those who don’t. Marijuana has chemicals that are stronger than a cigarette.

Smoking marijuana or consuming marijuana can easily increase mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. According to Peter Gates, “A 2014 review of the existing research concluded that using cannabis placed an individual at moderate risk of developing depression.” Although some people use marijuana for depression or anxiety, consuming marijuana can lead to even more anxiety. People who use marijuana and are under the age of 18 can strain the development of the brain. When using marijuana, your brain doesn’t function the way it’s supposed to because you’re “high,” which can lead people to commit suicide.

These are the reasons why I believe marijuana should be a medical option. Many people have health issues and sicknesses, and although they find it challenging to smoke marijuana, there are other ways to consume it. It has its pros and cons, but overall, smoking marijuana can be very helpful to someone who’s ill.

References

1. Medical News Today. (2011). CBD and its effects on inflammatory pain in rats.
2. Anne. Effects of marijuana on chemotherapy-induced nausea. Source publication or platform name.
3. Christopher Ingraham. Impact of long-term marijuana consumption on verbal memory. Source publication or platform name.
4. National Drug Abuse. Effects of marijuana smoking on the lungs.