Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal

Considered to have no accepted medical use in 1970, the United States Congress placed marijuana under Schedule I of the “Controlled Substances Act”. A lot has changed since then because Washington DC, and 28 of the 50 US states have legalized the medical use of marijuana (Drug Policy Alliance, 2016). In recent years, medical marijuana has provided a source of contentious debate in the US. Questions have arisen on whether patients should be allowed to grow their plants or if the medical use of marijuana could inevitably lead to recreational use. The legalization of medical marijuana also presents a challenge to lawmakers. How will local, state, and federal governments regulate and control the sale, distribution, and or production of medical marijuana? Government reports, medical organizations, and scientific studies have shown medical marijuana as a safe option to pharmaceuticals for relieving symptoms associated with many illnesses. Patients suffering from debilitating or terminal conditions undergo much pain and suffering. However, properties found in marijuana have been proven to relieve them greatly. Medical marijuana should be legalized for the sole purpose of providing useful help to patients suffering from symptoms that can be relieved by cannabis. Evidence-based research, government reports, and peer-reviewed articles have shown that marijuana can be beneficial to patients suffering from illnesses such as glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, Cancer, and