According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, marijuana is “the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant that are smoked as a drug” (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Its common use is to be smoked for achieving a “high” but some research has shown that the plant may have medicinal properties as well (Grant, Atkinson, Gouaux, & Wilsey, 2012). Medical marijuana is an arguable topic because it has its pros and cons. This topic is a public issue because there are a number of people that push for the legalization of marijuana because it is a plant that does have some benefits and a number of people that are against its legalization because it is a highly addictive drug. Whether marijuana should be a medical option is a topic still under discussion. In
