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Samuel Moody
Gustavo Ibarra
Research Essay
11/9/2015
Medical Marijuana
Medical Marijuana can be incredibly helpful within the medical world. There are many
different diseases and various medical condition that with the usage of Marijuana can
significantly increase your chances of living, some of the various things that Marijuana can
prevent includes, but is not limited to cancer, seizures, glaucoma, lack of appetite, and tons of
other medical conditions. There have been various studies that have presented factual evidence
that Marijuana can not only kill cancer cells but also can eliminate pain that a cancer patient may
have as well as treat various symptoms and underlying health issues a patient may have.
The three types of strain categories include Sativa, Indica, and a Hybrid. These three
categories classify hundreds of different strains from across the world. Indica plants tend to be
bushier and grow better while indoors, usually tend to be sedating or used for pain relief, On the
other hand, we have the Sativa strains which tend to be used for creativity and even used with
people who have ADD, depression, and mood disorders. Finally, we have the hybrid strain which
is a crossover strain of both Indica and Sativa, which can provide a patient with exactly what
they are looking for.
There are various types of strains of Marijuana, each strain has its own chemical
properties. With the different types of strains also comes the factor that each strain has a different
effect on the body. For example, one strain might give you a body high which would be helpful
to a person who is in a great deal of pain. Other strains might give you a head heavy high which

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could be helpful in many different ways and might even be helpful to those who suffer from
glaucoma.
There have been various case studies throughout the last several years that relate to
marijuana and other the effects that it has on patients when it is used solely for medical purposes.
For example, the NIDA funds the therapeutic research of marijuana. They look to see what CBDs
effect within the brain, controlling pain receptors and other various aspects of the body's
complex series of systems. When they look into what chemicals block pain in the body the
cannabinoids are one of the major drugs that relieves pain and have the ability to kill cancer
cells. While the NIDAs labs are researching the effects of marijuana, other corporations are
producing studies that may be inaccurate or misleading.
The FDA does not recognize Marijuana as a medicinal advantage to the community. They
also control whether or not it can be used in trial runs with patients and or test subjects. One of
the reasons that it cannot be considered a medicinal option is because the FDA is a federally
funded source. The federal government has yet to recognize the benefits of marijuana. This is
one of the biggest obstacles that stands in the way of the legalization of medical Marijuana.
Based upon the evidence that has been provided by the news and other media sources, I think
that it is safe to say that the federal government is the major cause of the stalling of legalization.
There may be many different questions that people may have about how marijuana
works, how it affects the body, and even if it may be of use to them. For the people who are
interested in the effects of marijuana and the long term and short term effects, they may want to
look into several websites such as, Leafly.com which is one of the largest cannabis resources and
information providers within the US and other countries. The other various resources that are

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provided to the public are incredibly limited, because of the situation with the federal
government not allowing the research for medical purposes.
Leafly launched in 2010 and quickly became known as the world's largest cannabis
resource center. They have information on thousands of different strains throughout the world,
giving a detailed description of every one, how it affects the body and most likely what you will
experience when taking the drug. In addition to the detailed information, they also have a library
of videos that provide assistance in finding the strain that is right for you. In addition to the video
comes to a chart that is similar to the table of elements but specifically relates to those properties
found within the specific strain of marijuana.
A father whose son suffers from severe epileptic seizures went through a rigorous series
of powerful medications that seemed to never be the right concoction. The father began looking
into the medicinal usage of marijuana and CBDs for his son. With an amazing breakthrough, the
child became more coherent and involved. He always wanted to swim as a child, but never could
because of the change in body temperature that would cause him to suffer for crippling seizures.
several months after starting the CBDs the child was able to swim and finally tell his father he
loved him.This shows that marijuana can not only help bring a family back together after a
devastating medical emergency occurred with their son, but it also show that the CBDs and
marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes, even if you are against the recreational
legalization.
With the generalization that marijuana is an illegal drug in some states, we can not take
account for the people who are government employees and want to be able to use medical
marijuana, but are unable to because they are being paid by the federal government. Along with
the employees, comes the hard working people who are living in low-income housing which is

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supported by federal grants. When the housing units are being supplemented by federal grants
they have to abide by the rules and regulations of the federal government. If the leases are
involved or have any marijuana within their house they are subject to eviction. This is where the
legalization would help protect the lower income residents of these apartment complexes and or
homes.
The Huffington Post released an article on the top twenty issues with the legalization of
marijuana nationally. Among those issues listed most of them consisted of the federal
government having some sort of issues with the laws that are already in place that specifically
relate to partaking or having any amount of THC in your system is a federal offense. If you are
caught with any form of marijuana you are subject to time in jail, fines, and even the loss of your
job. Even with the illegitimate laws that are currently in effect that relate to marijuana, it seems
to be very clear how the feds feel about legalization.
Another factor that weighs heavily on the medical marijuana industry is the fact that the
businesses are not insured, nor are they able to have a bank account that is insured by the FDIC.
This creates an automatic business failure, with the amount of money the stores are bringing in,
they must have the ability to deposit the money into a safe place where it is insured and backed
by the feds in case anything significant was to happen to their business.
With the various disputes between legislator and the federal government bring and a
whirlwind of debates, protests, and public outrage on both sides of the debate. I think it is safe to
provide an educated guess that with the newer information that is being provided to the public
and then back to the government that in the next five years medical marijuana will be legalized
nationally. In the hope of this event, the outcomes that I would personally like to see would be
that everyone who is 21 years of age and older would have access to marijuana and CBD oil,

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salves, and lotions. not only would this bring in revenue for the state, but it could also help with
the renovation of public schools, curriculum change, new books, new roads, hiking trails, bike
lanes, and other public amenities.
The legalization of marijuana could help those who are in pain or suffer from severe
medical disabilities, it could bring funding to those underfunded schools, providing the students
with a new chance to learn the curriculum right the first time. The ideal situation would be to tax
marijuana similarly to how alcohol is taxed thus providing the taxed funds to the community
development and further research within that specific field.
From various health issues to the supplemental taxes funding of school and community
projects I think that with the support from either the community or government that this is a
situation where lawmakers are making choices based upon what they feel is necessary instead of
what the community wants to happen. The one thing I learned from researching the legalization
of medical marijuana would be that there is always someone who can benefit from the usage of
CBD or THC factors that marijuana is providing us.

Works Cited
"Google Images." Google Images. Web. 9 Nov. 2015.
"How Does Marijuana Use Affect School, Work, and Social Life?" How Does Marijuana Use
School, Work, and Social Life? Web. 5 Oct. 2015.
"Is Marijuana Medicine?" DrugFacts:. Web. 5 Oct. 2015.
"The World's Cannabis Information Resource." Leafly. Web. 9 Nov. 2015.
"Marijuana Research at NIDA." Marijuana Research at NIDA. 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 5 Oct. 2015.

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Reid, Brad. "Numerous Legal Issues Surround Medical Marijuana." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com. Web. 9 Nov. 2015.
"THC Hampers Spatial Memory Development in Young Monkeys." THC Hampers Spatial
Memory Development in Young Monkeys. Dr. Lewis and Verrico, 16 Sep. 2015. Web. 28
Sep. 2015.
"Want to Know More? Some FAQs about Marijuana." Want to Know More? Some FAQs about
Marijuana. Web. 5 Oct. 2015.