| Ever since cannabis was made illegal in the United | | | | heightens all the senses, and can cause euphoria, or a |
| States in 1937, it has been a controversial drug. This | | | | least a feeling of well-being and comfort. |
| has prevented people from seeing marijuana's | | | | Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive |
| extraordinary medicinal value, but it seems as if that | | | | chemical compound found in marijuana, has been |
| is starting to change. In the last 15 years, medical | | | | found to reduce lung cancer tumor growth by 50 |
| marijuana has been legalized in Alaska, California, | | | | percent and significantly reduce the ability of the |
| Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, | | | | cancer to spread. This is according to researchers at |
| New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, | | | | Harvard University, who studied the effects of THC |
| Vermont and Washington. | | | | on lab rats. Another study, conducted in Madrid, also |
| In these states, there are certain diseases and | | | | found that THC destroyed cancerous brain cells while |
| conditions a person must have in order to obtain a | | | | leaving healthy cells alone. |
| medical marijuana card. Some of the most common | | | | Cannabis also stimulates hunger in chemotherapy and |
| ailments for which people seek medicinal marijuana | | | | AIDS patients, who oftentimes have trouble eating, |
| include cancer, HIV, AIDS, severe pain, severe | | | | and would normally lose an unhealthy amount of |
| nausea, seizures, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and multiple | | | | weight as a result. On top of that, tens of thousands |
| sclerosis. | | | | of people have applauded the ability of cannabis to |
| Medicinal patients praise the plant for having a mild | | | | alleviate the excruciating pain that comes with many |
| effect on their bodies, while alleviating some of their | | | | terminal illnesses. |
| worst symptoms. Whereas many FDA approved | | | | The medicinal benefits of cannabis are undeniable. On |
| medications cause negative side effects, including | | | | top of that, people who are in severe pain strongly |
| things like kidney problems, liver problems, stomach | | | | prefer to obtain their medicine legally from |
| bleeding, and even death, marijuana has very few. | | | | dispensaries than simply from people they know, |
| Some people may experience mild to severe anxiety, | | | | where the danger of being caught and jailed is very |
| light headedness, loss of coordination and coughing | | | | much present. This is what happens in states where |
| fits. Many of these symptoms, however, are only | | | | medical cannabis is not legal, and it is just another |
| felt with heavy usage of marijuana. | | | | reason why it would be beneficial for all people if |
| For most patients, smoking or ingesting cannabis | | | | more states legalized medical cannabis. |
| alleviates pain, relaxes the body, increases appetite, | | | | |