The legalization of marijuana has been a controversial topic for many years now. It remains to be illegal in much of the country, but California is one state in which it is legal for medical purposes, as long as patients have a note signed from their doctor and buy the marijuana from a dispensary that is regulated. But this is upsetting to some government officials, including the federal government who regularly raid the dispensaries, and some local government officials who say 800 dispensaries in one city is too many. One city council member said that a dispensary near a high school looked “like an ice cream shop from the 1950s” with the amount of teenaged kids crowded around it. drugs, but the use of marijuana by responsible adults should not be a criminal activity. Medical marijuana can be used as a viable treatment for cancer, Glaucoma, Depression, PMS, lack of appetite, Crohn’s Disease, migraines, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Tourette’s syndrome, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Alcoholism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Hypertension, morning sickness (though no one will endorse the smoking of marijuana, or any other substance, by pregnant women), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, staph infections, Sickle Cell Anemia, Parkinson’s, and Sleep Apnea (snoring). Many more without a medical condition that would warrant their doctor to write a note specifying a need for the drug, feel that marijuana relaxes them after a hard day at work and one dispensary even set up a movie theatre in the shop where the patients could unwind and meet new people. There is even a dispensary selling marijuana online on social marketing websites like Twitter and Facebook that will deliver the drug free to Los Angeles residents who may not want to venture outside.
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Comments
Typo: The legalization of marijuana has been a controversial topic for many years now. It remains to be legal in much of the country
I think you meant to write 'illegal'
I apologize about that. I changed it. Thank you so for catching that. It is illegal in much of the country, legal for medical use in some parts of the country.
To the author: You list many conditions for which MMJ can help. One important condition LEFT OUT is Epilepsy. I no longer take pills from the DR. They were causing 25-30 seizures per month. After using MMJ from feb 08- feb 09, my seizures went DOWN to LESS THAN 5 per month (it only took a week!). I feel like a normal person now, and all I do to control my Epilepsy is use Medical Marijuana.
To Eric: Thank you so much for bringing that to light. In my research I did not find that epilepsy was currently being treated with medicinal marijuana, but there are more studies of the effects of marijuana on medical conditions all the time. I am very happy that this drug has allowed you to live your life without discomfort and I thank you for sharing your story. My list was certainly not meant to be exhaustive, and I support the use of marijuana in treating any medical condition in which the patient finds the drug to be beneficial.
-Danielle
I’m sick of it!!!!!!!!! I like pot. You like beer. Who’s correct on this? It’s insane.
The millions should not need a buffer like medical marijuana to get smoke.
The intolerant squares (that enjoy a drink) say they just want medical marijuana to get high. And saying it’s medical is an excuse. Well so what. I will never touch crack, coke, or meth. And it’s never been gateway drug for me or any of my successful adult friends.
I get high once every 2 weeks. Why do I have to have excuses? This whole law is illogical.
Why not make donuts and soft drinks illegal? They make you fat and give you diabetes. And everyone knows one donut leads to another.
I like pot. So what. Am I a sinner? Have I hurt anyone? Have I stole anything?
You like a drink. I like a puff. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Just legalize it, tax it, regulate it. AND END THE CRIME AND VIOLENCE CREATED BY KEEPING IT ILLEGAL!
What a bunch of *%*^$& hypocrites! Think about that the next time you’re watching the b
Dear United States of Hypocrites- I too support the use of recreational marijuana. Thank you for your comment. Hopefully, congress will agree with us when voting on the Frank/Paul bill.
-Danielle
Danielle: There is no consensus in the medical community that marijuana helps most of the conditions you cite, and it is not condoned or prescribed by the vast majority of doctors. Research studies just don't verify these claims.
The way marijuana is sold as candy and so forth in these "dispensaries" is like undercover marketing to kids, and many of the so-called patients are healthy young people with no medical condition. They are not only smoking marijuana (smoking is not good for you, by the way), but also drinking alcohol as 98% of pot users also use alcohol and 70% smoke tobacco.
If marijuana is "harmless" then what is the problem for pregnant women or kids smoking it? Is it harmless or not? If it is totally benign and good for you, then it should be good for kids also. So what exactly is the harm for kids? Please point that out. Or explain why kids shouldn't use it when it is good for adults.
Dave- Thank you for your comment! You are correct, there is no consensus among doctors that marijuana is a treatment for any disease or disorder. My background is in psychology, I am not a doctor, and do not purport to know what anyone should do in a specific medical condition. Marijuana is on the NIDA list of carcinogens, and anything burned and inhaled into the lungs is not good for one's health. The fact that the dispensaries sell food items with marijuana does point to the fact that some of the patients are not of the literal kind. I am not saying in any way that pot is "good for you", but some find that it helps in some cases, where other treatments do not, such as with cancer or depression. I do support the legalization of marijuana across the board, for adults, because I believe in personal freedom when that freedom does not cause harm to another person. This will always remain a controversial topic, but educated adults should be able to make decisions for themselves.
Hello all Im in agreement with Eric. My cousin is an epileptic, and many of the virtually stone age treatments he was given, not only failed, but seemed to make him worse too. While using Marijuana, albeit illegally, and excessively, he experienced a major reduction in those episodes. Particularly the Gand-Mals. I dunno if thats spelled right. But the seizure that look like he just got strapped into an electric chair. Yet the flint nappin' savages that run Utah cant see the benefits. This drug war is futile and costly. Its cost more lives than any single drug by itself. I mean, you dont really think that cartels are just lying down and allowing their facilities to be raided do you? And who can blame them? I dont condone it,but hey a cop messes with my money, that cop is a corpse. He doesnt care about my future or my family, so why should I pity him? He just wants to be promoted! But why are we letting these people die!? We need them here performing real duties. Protecting our Families
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