Sixteen American States Currently Allow Doctors to Research Paper

Total Length: 679 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 2

Sixteen American states currently allow doctors to prescribe an herbal remedy to their patients: cannabis. Herbal remedies are not typically viewed with suspicion, but cannabis has been illegal in the United States for several decades. Still technically an illegal drug, cannabis is not being sold legally in select medical dispensaries in the states that allow for its controlled use. The organization Pain Management of America outlines some of the most common conditions for which doctors prescribe cannabis. Those conditions range from seizures to muscle spasms to cancer and chronic pain (Pain Management of America). Although medical cannabis is a step in the right direction, ultimately the herb should be removed from its Schedule I classification in the Controlled Substances Act. Cannabis should be completely legal, giving American citizens the freedom to use, grow, and sell the plant.

"Dozens of peer-reviewed studies, prominent medical organizations, major government reports, and the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history" are among the reasons for legalization of cannabis (ProCon.org). There are a host of medical conditions -- ranging in severity from mild headaches to HIV / AIDS -- for which cannabis may be prescribed because it has been empirically proven to be successful.

Stuck Writing Your "Sixteen American States Currently Allow Doctors To" Research Paper?

For example, Joy, Watson and Benson found that marijuana can be effective in treating a wide range of both physical and psychological illnesses. Given the scientific backing of the efficacy of medical marijuana, it makes no sense to ban it from the legal pharmacopeia. Doctors who can prescribe potentially dangerous chemical formulas like Oxycontin should also be able to prescribe a relatively harmless plant.

Marijuana is a relatively harmless plant, too. Although chronic smoking of marijuana is unhealthy, moderate intake is not. "The adverse effects of marijuana use are within the range of effects tolerated for other medications," (Joy et al.). Inhalation of smoke can be harmful to the lungs, which is why many cannabis users prefer alternative medicine delivery systems such as vaporizers. Cannabis and its resins can also be ingested.

One of the main reasons….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Sixteen American States Currently Allow Doctors To" (2011, October 11) Retrieved June 2, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/sixteen-american-states-currently-allow-52379