One of the most controversial issues in the United States is over medical marijuana. Many experiments test the validity of the drug as a medicine, and results of these experiments receive much praise but also some critique. The DEA and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) are battling over the issue. The main point that cannot be ignored is that marijuana proves to be a useful medication for many patients, especially those with terminal diseases such as AIDS and cancer. A bill should be created legalizing the use of medical marijuana in all 50 states. .
Marijuana first was made an illegal drug in 1937. Now under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, marijuana was classified as a Schedule 1 drug. This puts it in the same category as heroin and cocaine. It is defined by the DEA as being an addictive substance with no medical value. People who support medical marijuana want to change just that. They feel that marijuana has medical potential and should be reclassified as a Schedule 2 drug, allowing people with terminal diseases to acquire it with a doctors prescription. Moreover, marijuana isn't as bad of a drug as others in its category and doesn't belong as a schedule 1. Critics of U.S. marijuana policy argue that the dangers of marijuana have been exaggerated. They contend that many, if not most, users of marijuana suffer no lasting harm, do not move on to other drugs, and do not become addicts. Some surveys on marijuana use in America have shown that nine out of ten people who have tried marijuana have since quit. Supporters of anti-medical marijuana argue that the drug is easily abused and can lead to numerous physical and psychological harms including memory loss, distorted perception, problems with learning and coordination, an increased heart rate, and anxiety attacks. Long-term effects include increased risk of lung cancer for chronic marijuana smokers and possible damage to the immune and reproductive systems.
