Marijuana has been proved as a safe natural medicine that can be used effectively as a treatment for a variety of illnesses such as: Cancer, Glaucoma, Alcoholism, Epilepsy, AIDS, and Multiple Sclerosis. Medicinal use of marijuana dates back to the ancient Chinese Emperor Chen Nung, over 5000 years ago (Grinspoon 3). Until recently in history have civilizations considered marijuana use unacceptable and an act of intolerable proportions. The benefits of marijuana in the pharmaceutical aspect is tremendous, one affordable herb could easily replace numerous overpriced drugs that flood the market with minimal negative effects on the body. Other legal drugs are not as safe, but still are sold over the counter. The use of Marijuana should be allowed for medical purposes, and the Federal Government should change its laws towards this natural substance.
Cannabis sativa is a hemp plant that grows in warm weather, or inside under strictly controlled conditions. .
There are sixty- six different kinds of marijuana but they are commonly classified in ten groups (Bock 4). Marijuana's main chemical component is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. There are also a little over 400 other natural chemicals that make up cannabis sativa (Mechoulam 7). The use of marijuana can be tracked through history, beginning with prehistoric times and its use is prevalent all over the globe. There is archeological evidence of the use of cannabis by the Scythians, one of the first civilized cultures (Cohen 2). Marijuana has been cultivated for ten thousand years most commonly for medicinal and therapeutic uses. Five thousand years ago the Chinese Emperor Chen Nung recommended marijuana for curing malaria, constipation, rheumatic pains, absentmindedness, and female disorders. (Grinspoon 3). .
The first step to decide if something can be considered a drug is to evaluate what defines a medicine. A medicine is defined as, "The scientific study of the prevention of and cure of diseases and disorders of the body- (Ehrlich 552).
