Legalizing Marijuana

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, and not a harmful
drug (ICLU). Alternative media sources, such as Marijuana As Medicine, state that
marijuana can be used as
medicine for: nausea, appetite stimulation, relief from vomiting, reduction in
spasticity,
glaucoma, epilepsy, anxiety,
depression, asthma, multiple sclerosis, stimulation of the immune system, Aids patient
and
cancer patients. For
victims with AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis, smoking marijuana is believed to help
reduce emesis, suppress
vomiting, and stimulate the appetite. People with multiple sclerosis are convinced that
smoking marijuana also
reduces the intensity of their spasms. Marijuana As Medicine, a Cannabis Action
Network pamphlet, states that,
Two highly qualified and experienced ophthalmologists have accepted marijuana as
having a medical use in
treatment of glaucoma. When taken, parts of cannabis lower intraocular pressure in the
eye. There are rumors that
marijuana suppresses the immune system. Marijuana Myths dismisses this belief because
the myth was based on
studies where the experimental animals were given near-lethal-doses of cannabinoids, and
these results have never
been repeated on humans. In fact, two studies displayed that the immune system may
actually have been stimulated
by the use of hashish and marijuana. On the other hand, a separate alternative source
stated that marijuana
(Delta-nine-THC) does possess an immunosuppressive effect. Marijuana shuts off some
cells in the liver, instead of
stimulating them. The effect is only temporary and goes away rapidly. According to
Marijuana As Medicine,
Approximately 30% of all prescription drugs can be replaced by THC, so pro- marijuana
groups lead to believe
that one of the reasons why the drug is not legalized is because it would take the
profit
away from currently used
drugs. These groups suppose that since no one has ever died from marijuana use, it must
be safe. We can already
se...