Sydney Westenberg Dr.

Wanda White English 1102-018 24 February 2014

Title or Topic: High on Life: Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized?

Thesis Statement: Although the legalization of Medicinal Marijuana is a highly debated topic in society currently, when looking at the positive benefits of this natural substance it is clear that the legalization of medical cannabis would be advantageous in the field of medicine.

Introduction to Topic (Background Information): One of the most highly controversial issues in the media and facing the government right now is the debate on legalizing medicinal cannabis, also known as medical marijuana. Countless studies and reports have been made on the pros and cons of using this natural substance medicinally and often the results support that the benefits outweigh the negatives. There have been cases in which marijuana is the only substance that works in treating and dealing with certain conditions. Although the legalization of Medicinal Marijuana is a highly debated topic in society currently, when looking at the positive benefits of this natural substance it is clear that the legalization of medical cannabis would be advantageous in the field of medicine.

Prior Knowledge: As of the current date medical marijuana is legalized in 20 states (21 if you include Maryland which has it legalized for research only) and the District of Columbia. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance on a federal level and in North Carolina, possession of 1.5 oz. or less of marijuana for personal use is a misdemeanor, and anything over 1.5 oz. for personal use and any amount of marijuana with the intent to distribute is a felony that results in incarceration. Medical marijuana has the potential to be used as a pain reliever, and also has anxiety reducing qualities that can aid in many medical settings. It is estimated that only 9% of people who use marijuana long term will become dependent and the act of smoking marijuana cannot kill you because there isnt a deadly dose of marijuana. There have been studies that have projected that marijuana has a smaller chance of harming you than tobacco does.

I chose this topic because I have relatives who have or have had cancer in the past and when traditional pharmaceuticals failed for pain relievers, medical marijuana provided relief. I believe that medical marijuana has an incredible potential in the medical field and is a much less harmful substance than tobacco or alcohol.

General Questions: 1. What are the positive benefits of medicinal marijuana? 2. What are the side effects of using medical marijuana? 3. How does medical marijuana work inside the body?

4. What conditions could medical marijuana be used for? 5. What effect will legalizing medical marijuana have on society? 6. What is the availability of medical marijuana as a resource? 7. How does medical marijuana compare to lab made pharmaceuticals? 8. What kind of profits could be made from legalizing medical marijuana? 9. How does medical marijuana usage effect everyday life?

Primary Questions: 1. What are the beneficial properties of medical marijuana and how do they affect the body? 2. What effect would medical marijuana have on the Big Pharm companies? 3. How would legalizing medical marijuana impact society?

Possible Sources: 1. Video Documentary Weed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Dr. Sanjay Gupta will provide an interesting perspective on the subject due to the fact that he used to be against marijuana as a whole and has since done extensive research and switched sides. 2. Drugpolicy.org: This site will show the current policies on medical marijuana usage and allow me to understand what it takes to change them. 3. Medicalmarijuana.procon.org: This site will provide both pros and cons of the legalization of marijuana allowing me to look at the issue from all perspectives and make a more convincing argument.

4. Interviews with medical professionals: These interviews could help me see what those currently in the medical field think about the incorporation of this new substance as a medicinal treatment. 5. Norml.org: NORML is a foundation that is working to reform marijuana laws which will be a super helpful resource when looking into the current laws and for arguments on why marijuana should be legalized.

Anticipated Problems: 1. This is a very controversial issue and it may be hard to find unbiased information on certain aspects. 2. Like all drugs, marijuana has the potential to effect everyone differently which makes finding out what its primary uses could be a very difficult task. 3. The legalization process must happen on both a state and federal level, which makes finding out information on how to do both more difficult and potentially confusing.