1

Brandon Frank

Mr. Cole

ENC2135

March 26, 2017

MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Marijuana, more formally known as cannabis, has been listed in the United States as a

Schedule I drug. This means that the government has come to the conclusion that cannabis has

no medicinal value and has a high potential to be abused. Science and recent studies have shown

that quite the opposite is true. In fact, cannabis has proven to have medicinal properties that aid

in treatment of Parkinsons disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Cannabis is currently

only allowed for medical use in select states that have voted in favor of legalizing the medicine.

The results from these states that decided to introduce cannabis as a form of treatment are

promising. After analyzing the medicinal benefits cannabis has in treating cancer,

neurodegenerative disorders, glaucoma, migraines, and many other diseases currently being

treated with narcotics, its clear that cannabis is a safer, more effective method of treatment.

According to an article titled Can Medical Cannabis Break the Painkiller Epidemic? by Jeremy

Hsu, states that between 1999 and 2010, states that permitted medical marijuana had an average

of almost twenty five percent fewer opioid overdose deaths each year then states where cannabis

remained illegal. Some other important statistics to consider are the 165,000 Americans that

died due to prescription opioid overdose between 1999 and 2014, as well as the estimated $55
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billion in health and social costs that prescription painkillers have caused (10-12). Since cannabis

actively works in the body to relieve pain, it is most definitely a safer alternative to narcotics that

have been proven to be highly addictive and destructive once abused.

Image by Tony Bueno

Cannabis has had a much different impact on the economy. Alan Pyke, author of an

online article that discusses the economic impact cannabis has had in Colorado, states that

cannabis created 18,005 full time jobs and added $2.4 billion to the states economy in 2015

(Pyke). The choice between a miracle producing medicine and cash crop compared to a highly

addictive man made narcotic seems obvious given the statistics. Aside from the fact that

cannabis is a superior safer alternative to prescription opioids, it contains many more medicinal

properties that make it suitable for treating an array of diseases and medical conditions.
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The versatility of cannabis and its therapeutic uses extend far beyond just pain

management. Cannabinoids, one of the many psychoactive compounds found in marijuana, have

been observed and studied to analyze the properties and effects they induce when used in clinical

treatment. According to the Parkinsons Disease journal entry titled Marijuana Compounds: A

Non-conventional Approach to Parkinsons Disease Therapy, cannabinoids have been studied

in relation to their therapeutic uses in treating the progression of Parkinsons disease. The journal

makes the claim that cannabinoids have been shown to have neuroprotective effect due to their

antioxidative, anti-inflammatory actions, as well as their ability to suppress excitotoxicity. This

is especially concerning to Parkinsons patients since Parkinsons disease is neurodegenerative

disease. A study regarding cannabis therapeutic use in treating Parkinsons disease concluded

that out of the 339 participants suffering from the disease, forty-six percent of the patients who

smoked cannabis reported an overall significant improvement in their symptoms. According to

the journal, a clinical study on the effect of cannabis or cannabinoids on pain resulted in

significantly reduced neuropathic pain intensity as well as significantly improved mood

disturbance, physical disability, and overall quality of life for patients suffering from HIV
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(Babayeva, etc. al. 1-19). Given this information its easy to debunk the myth that marijuana has

no accepted medicinal use, which the government established when they moved marijuana to a

schedule I drug.

Parkinsons Disease Treatment | medicalcannabisclinic.com.au

The pharmacology of cannabis is still being studied, but the findings so far have been

remarkable. To truly understand the pros and cons of cannabis its essential to consult a

professional of the area. In an attempt to incorporate perspectives of professionals in

pharmacology on the subject of medicinal cannabis, Im including an article discussing the role

of medicinal cannabis in clinical therapy. This articles relevance comes from its authors, Sami

Isaac, Bandana Saini, and Betty Chaar, who are pharmacists and provide their perspective

concerning medicinal marijuana in the field of pharmacology. The article claims that there is

mounting evidence demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in alleviating neuropathic

pain, improving muscular sclerosis spasticity, reducing chemotherapy induced nausea and

vomiting, and many other serious conditions. Since pharmacists are in a sense the gatekeepers
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and administrators of medicine, their personal perspectives regarding the medicine should be

taken into consideration. The article states that Overall the majority of pharmacists felt national

legalization of a standardized form of cannabis would be suitable (1-17). This is essential to

take into consideration given that the pharmacology of cannabinoids and how they work with the

endocannabinoid system have been studied and evidence has been found to support the

therapeutic use of cannabis.

The overall consensus among pharmacists regarding the application of cannabis in the

medical field leads to the reasoning behind this conclusion. If the majority of medical

professionals regarding pharmacology consider cannabis to be safe and possess compounds that

treat and/or slow the progression of numerous diseases, then its quite contradictory for the

government to place the medicine among drugs like heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. When a drug is

schedule I it makes it extremely hard to study the effects of the drug since its considered to have

no medical use. The system has to be flawed if a natural plant with evidence of therapeutic

benefits is listed as more dangerous than drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine, which are

only schedule II drugs and have accumulated a vast amount of deaths due to their use compared

to cannabis which is physically impossible to overdose from. Malcolm Dean made a very strong

argument in his article Recreational and Medicinal Cannabis Wars which was published in the

Lancet medical journal. Although the article focuses on both medicinal and recreational

cannabis, it provides many essential ideas that can be applied to the legal status and government

propaganda that is used to depict cannabis in a chaotic and dangerous manner. Dean includes in

his argument that If we tell young people that every drug they use may kill them, then they

know that isnt true. They see their friends using them. The important point to take away from

this statement is that cannabis is overall obtainable by the youth almost everywhere and people
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can observe that no one has or ever will die from ingesting or consuming cannabis. This destroys

the credibility of the government by falsely informing the population of some sort of reefer

madness. Dean goes on to explain how even though it is becoming well known that death by

cannabis is impossible, the government is forced into the position of creating a negative

connotation towards the plant. Dean informs the audience that Bowls went to BBC studios to

declare that There is no way the government would be saying anything other than that drugs are

dangerous, drugs can wreck your life, wreck your health, your career, your school career, your

family, your friendships. That has to be message we are putting across" (761). This is important

to take into consideration when determining the safety behind using the medicine. This excerpt

from the article informs the audience that in order to attempt to maintain credibility among drug

legislation, there is no way the government would acknowledge the safety or medical benefits

behind cannabis. In doing so they would contradict the previous decades of prohibition and leave

the public wondering what other drugs are being misrepresented by the government. If the public

finds out that the government has been wrong all along about the safety and therapeutic uses of

the medicine that would lead to a slippery slope of the understanding of the dangers of many

other drugs that the government has also deemed to have no accepted medical uses and a high

potential for abuse.

CDC Drug Investigation, 2011.

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Many people in opposition of medicinal cannabis argue that cannabis is a gateway drug

that will lead users to using harder drugs that can end up destroying or deteriorating their health.

The idea of cannabis being a gateway drug is simply just an idea. There is no evidence to back

up the claim that people move on to more dangerous drugs from just simply trying cannabis. An

article titled Marijuana: Useful Medicine Or Dangerous Drug? by Kathleen Fackelmann gives

a dual perspective on the controversial topic of using cannabis in treating many debilitating

conditions. The article states that those in opposition of using the plant in clinical situations

argue that Those who use marijuana are 85 times more likely to use harder drugs such as

cocaine than those who do not use marijuana. In reality, those who use prescription painkillers

that have a reputation for causing users to form a dependence on the narcotic would be

exponentially more susceptible to using other habit forming drugs than those who are treated

with cannabis, considering cannabis has no psychically addictive properties like other

pharmaceuticals. Fackelmann also includes that those in opposition argue that a push to legalize

marijuana for medicinal purposes would lead to a greater acceptance of the drug for recreational

purposes. While that may be somewhat true, the evidence Fackelmann provides relating to the

effectiveness of cannabis in treating many diseases is overwhelming and completely dismisses

the previous claim. She includes in her article that although there are other drugs available for

cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, many patients are not capable of taking these drugs (for

example any drug containing Marinol) that must be swallowed given that one of the most

common side effects of chemotherapy is unrelenting vomiting. This causes many patients to drop

out of a potentially lifesaving chemotherapy regimen. To combat this, cannabis has chemical

properties that keep the patient from vomiting on top of slowing the progression of the cancer.

The article states that the active ingredient in cannabis, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, has been
 8

proven to combat nausea and vomiting that accompany chemotherapy. Cannabis is also effective

in treating patients with Auto-Immune Deficiency Syndrome who suffer from wasting syndrome

by enhancing appetite so that they dont suffer from a net loss of body weight. Frackelmann

wrote that The alleviation of distress can be so striking that some patients and their families

have been willing to risk a jail term to obtain or grow the marijuana (15). This excerpt is

important to take into consideration when considering the impact cannabis has had on those who

need it and the risks they are willing to take to obtain relief of their symptoms or diseases.

The versatility of cannabis in a clinical setting is so vast that theres no reason to deny

scientists the right to study the plant to obtain information on cannabinoids that could potentially

treat an array of diseases and disorders. In a highly academic medical journal, The Journal of

Head & Face Pain, Eric P. Baron uncovers the therapeutic potential of cannabis as well as its

undiscovered potential in treating numerous other disorders that dont currently have effective

treatment. In the journal Comprehensive Review of Medicinal Marijuana, Cannabinoids, and

Therapeutic Implications in Medicine and Headache Baron explains the neurology behind

cannabis and how it works with the endocannabinoid system to relieve pain, making it suitable

for treating migraines and other headache disorders. An interesting concept Baron includes into

this article is that Cannabis contains an extensive amount of pharmacological and biochemical

compounds, of which only a minority are understood, so many therapeutic uses likely remain

undiscovered. He also states that Modulation of the endocannabinoid system through agonism

or antagonism of its receptors, targeting its metabolic pathways, or combining cannabinoids with

other analgesics for synergistic effects, may provide the foundation for many new classes of

medications (885-916). This is essential to the future of medicine and clinical medications given

that numerous therapeutic compounds in cannabis have been understood to have clinical
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properties that aid recovery and treatment of diseases, which gives potential for the unknown

compounds to also have beneficial health properties.

In relation to dependency and withdrawal, cannabis has been referred to as the gateway

drug back. A use of cannabis that doesnt get much attention in the media is its beneficial

properties in aiding heavy drug users to essentially slowly ween off of harmful addicting drugs

without the dangerous withdrawal symptoms that commonly manifest themselves. An online

article Medical Uses of Cannabis and THC highlights some of the less common uses of

cannabis that have shown positive results in patients. The article informs the audience that in

historic and modern case reports, cannabis has shown potential in combating withdrawal

symptoms for users dependent on benzodiazepines, opiates, and alcohol. The article states that

both the reduction of physical withdrawal symptoms and stress connected with discontinuance

of drug abuse play a role in its [cannabis] observed benefits. The article also discusses the

potential of cannabis in the treatment of asthma. The article claims that The effects of a

cannabis cigarette (2% THC) or oral THC (15 mg), respectively, approximately correspond to
 10

those obtained with therapeutic doses of common bronchodilator drugs (salbutamol,

isoprenaline). Since inhalation of smoke is somewhat problematic to the mucous membranes,

the article infers that oral administration is recommended and has shown the most positive

feedback (cannabis-med.org). This information reinforces the claim that cannabis has an

abundance of clinical benefits that far outweigh the slight cons associated with the medicine.

In relation to the challenges of using cannabis as a form of clinical treatment, many use

the argument that inhaling cannabis deteriorates the lungs and causes damage to the esophagus.

Bridin Murnion states that increased airway diseases and oropharyngeal cancers may be risks of

smoking cannabis in his article Medicinal Cannabis. There may be some truth to this, but that

argument is ineffective when considering the oral administration of THC and CBD pills. New

technology has given way to safer methods of consuming cannabis such as vaporizing. When

one vaporizes cannabis, there is no combustion of plant matter, giving the consumer no harsh

smoke that would damage their lungs. For this reason, healthcare professionals and psychiatrists

are leaning towards vaporization as a safer method of administration and consumption (212-

215).

Regardless of the numerous proven medicinal qualities of cannabis, the economic aspects

alone are extremely beneficial. An article in the Halcyon Organics, Economic Benefits of

Medicinal Marijuana Regulation, highlights the economic benefits of the plant and how it has

shown evidence of spurring growth in the economy. The article explains that through taxation of

the medicine, the government can generate revenue without having to increase taxes on the

population. Currently this revenue is going to criminal organizations and cartels when it could be

going to the states to be spent on education or other necessities. In turn, this would create more

jobs in medicinal dispensaries which would also drastically benefit the economy. The
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legalization of cannabis medicinally would also decrease government spending by saving the

government the $20 billion a year spent on fighting cannabis through the war on drugs

(halcyonorganics.com). This would create more revenue for the government instead of

persecuting innocent citizens who feel risk their lives to obtain cannabis to get relief from their

debilitating symptoms.
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All of this information is more than enough to advocate for the legalization of medicinal

cannabis. The therapeutic benefits and the evidence behind the medical properties of the drug are

undeniable. In Clyde Herreid and Kristie DeReis article Intimate Debate Technique: Medicinal

Use of Marijuana studies are provided with evidence to dismiss some misinformed claims about

the use of medicinal cannabis. The authors provide the fact that In 1995, based on 30 years of

scientific research, editors of the British medical journal Lancet deduced that "the smoking of

cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health. This is essential for arguing against those

who claim that patients using cannabis could suffer long term health effects. Even though the

study is somewhat dated, the credibility and longevity of the study establishes the accuracy of

information in the study. Another common misconception about cannabis regarding its use being

linked to users advancing to other harder drugs is also addressed in this article. The article states

It has been said that people who have used drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and LSD are likely to

have also used marijuana. Yet, most marijuana users never use any other illegal drugs. Indeed,

for the large majority of people, marijuana is a finishing point rather than a gateway drug (10-

13). This is essential to take into consideration when arguing against cannabis being a gateway

drug.
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Work Cited

Babayeva, Mariana, Assefa, Haregewein, Basu, Paramita, Chumki, Sanjeda, and Lowey, Zvi.

"Marijuana Compounds: A Nonconventional Approach to Parkinsons Disease Therapy."

Parkinson's Disease, 2016, pp. 1-19.

Mariana Babayevas peer-reviewed academic journal describes the therapeutic

uses of cannabis in treating Parkinsons disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

This is crucial to my research given that Parkinsons disease is the second most common

neurological illness in the Unites States. The article focuses on the beneficial use of

cannabis regarding both the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease as

well as the role of cannabis in slowing the progression of the disease. The article provides

detailed explanations of the science and neurology behind cannabinoids and their

therapeutic implications in tending to and treating symptoms of both neurological

diseases and other diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Turrets Syndrome, and

Huntingtons disease. The article also addresses other medicinal uses of cannabis such as

the potential of cannabis to prevent brain damage by protecting against neuronal injury.

Baron, Eric P. "Comprehensive Review of Medicinal Marijuana, Cannabinoids, and Therapeutic

Implications in Medicine and Headache: What a Long Strange Trip it's Been." Headache:

The Journal of Head & Face Pain, vol. 55, no. 6, 2015, pp. 885-916.

Eric P. Barons comprehensive review of the therapeutic implications regarding

medical marijuana and cannabinoids is essential to my research in relation to the health

benefits of cannabis. Barons article argues that multiple compounds (cannabinoids)

found in cannabis have therapeutic potential in treating pain disorders. This article
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particularly focuses on the role of cannabinoids in treating headache disorders including

migraines. Baron suggests that cannabis contains a number of pharmacological

compounds of which only a few have been studied biologically, which means that

cannabis potentially has more therapeutic uses that have yet to be discovered. This article

is essential to my research because it serves to support the health benefits of medicinal

marijuana.

Dean, Malcolm. "Recreational and Medicinal Cannabis Wars." Lancet, vol. 346, no. 8977, 1995,

pp. 761.

This article by Dean Malcolm is crucial to my argument because it displays exactly

why the government is so misleading about cannabis. The article describes how the

government loses credibility among the citizens because the government advocates that

Every drug you use may kill you and places cannabis as a schedule I drug meaning that

it has no medicinal value and has a high potential for abuse. This has already been

disproved and cannabis is commonly used in medical treatment throughout the United

States, yet the government still refuses to change its stance on the plant. Malcolm also

explains why the government is so stubborn to change the status of the plant which is

essential to arguing for the medicinal use of the drug.

"Economic Benefits of Medical Marijuana Regulation | Atlanta." Halcyon Organics. Halcyon

Organics, LLC, Web. 24 Feb. 2017.

I chose this source because it explains five ways in which medicinal marijuana

has positively impacted the United States. The article explains how medical cannabis has

the potential to increase revenues without tax increases. It also explains how cannabis can
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spur job creation and decrease government spending that is geared towards fighting the

plant through the war on drugs. The article also provides information on how legalization

of the plant would weaken criminal organizations that revolve around selling the illicit

drug.

Fackelmann, Kathleen. "Marijuana: Useful Medicine Or Dangerous Drug?" Consumers'

Research Magazine, vol. 80, no. 5, 1997, pp. 15.

Kathleen Fackelmanns article Marijuana: Useful Medicine Or Dangerous Drug

is very beneficial to my research because it offers a dual perspective on the topic and

offers information and facts for both sides of the controversial argument. The article

states that the side in opposition of medicinal marijuana argues that those who use

marijuana are 85 times more likely to use harder drugs such as cocaine than those who do

not use marijuana. The article also provides information on how the active ingredient in

marijuana, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, has been proven to combat nausea and vomiting

that accompany chemotherapy. Those who oppose marijuana as a form of treatment

argue that a push to legalize marijuana for medical purposes would lead to a greater

acceptance of the drug for recreational purposes. The article also provides abundant

information on cannabis in treating glaucoma, neurological diseases, and increasing

appetite.

Herreid, Clyde F., and Kristie DeRei. "Intimate Debate Technique: Medicinal use of Marijuana."

Journal of College Science Teaching, vol. 36, no. 4, 2007, pp. 10-13

I chose to use this article because it includes information regarding legalization of

medicinal marijuana as well as studies in well-respected medical journals that advocate

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the safety of cannabis. The statement that stuck out to me the most when reviewing this

scholarly article was a study posted in the British medical journal, Lancet. The author

includes that In 1995, based on 30 years of scientific research, editors of the British

medical journal Lancet deduced that "the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not

harmful to health. This is pertinent in arguing the safety of medicinal cannabis in long

term use. Another key statement in this article is that, Marijuana is the most popular

illegal drug in the United States today, states the Drug Policy Alliance. It has been said

that people who have used drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and LSD are likely to have also

used marijuana. Yet, most marijuana users never use any other illegal drugs. Indeed, for

the large majority of people, marijuana is a finishing point rather than a gateway drug.

Hsu, Jeremy. "Can Medical Cannabis Break the Painkiller Epidemic?" Scientific American, vol.

315, no. 3, 2016, pp. 10-12.

I chose to incorporate this article into my research because its essential to take

into consideration the health benefits that come from treating patients with medicinal

cannabis instead of addicting painkillers. This article provides a variety of statistics that

could be crucial to making my argument supporting my claims. The article states that

between 1999 and 2014, 165,000 Americans died due to prescription opioid overdose.

The article also states that the health and social costs of prescription painkiller abuse is

estimated to be around $55 billion a year. The article is effective in providing information

regarding how cannabis is a safe alternative to addictive narcotics currently being

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Isaac, Sami, Bandana Saini, and Betty B. Chaar. "The Role of Medicinal Cannabis in Clinical

Therapy: Pharmacists' Perspectives." PLoS ONE, vol. 11, no. 5, 2016, pp. 1-17.

This article is essential to my research because it offers the perspective of

multiple professionals in the field of pharmacology regarding cannabis and its clinical

uses. The article includes an abundance of information on the therapeutic benefits of

cannabis in alleviating neuropathic pain, improving multiple sclerosis spasticity,

reducing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, and many other chronic

conditions. The importance of this article is its exploration into the views of cannabis

from a pharmacological standpoint.

"Medical Uses of Cannabis and THC." Medical Uses of Cannabis and THC. N.p., n.d. Web. 25

Feb. 2017.

I chose this source because unlike the other articles Ive accumulated this article

provides information on the role of cannabis in treating or slowing the progression of

other diseases or illnesses. This article provides plentiful information regarding the

treatment of anorexia, cachexia, asthma, psychiatric symptoms, autoimmune disease, and

inflammation, etc. It also includes combating dependency and withdrawal from other

drugs (benzodiazepines, opiates, alcohol) through the use of cannabis. The article

includes the historic uses of cannabis and provides information on clinical studies

involving the therapeutic use of cannabis to treat illnesses.

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Murnion, Bridin. "Medicinal Cannabis." Australian Prescriber, vol. 38, no. 6, 2015, pp. 212-

215.

This article provides information on the pharmacology of tetrahydrocannabinol

and cannabidiol as well as how cannabis works in the endocannabinoid system to treat or

relief medical conditions. The article provides clinical applications of cannabis for

Multiple Sclerosis, HIV, chronic non-caner pain, cancer, epilepsy, neurodegenerative

disorders, and appetite suppression. The article also includes the adverse psychoactive

effects of cannabis including anxiety, dysphoria, euphoria, hallucinations, paranoia, acute

memory impairment, and reduced cognitive performance. What stands out about this

article is that it also addresses challenges of using cannabis medicinally (health concerns)

as well as the challenge of regulating cannabis production and sale.

Pyke, Alan. "Marijuana's $2.4 billion impact in Colorado is a lesson for 5 states considering

legalization." ThinkProgress. ThinkProgress, 28 Oct. 2016. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

This article covers the economic impact of cannabis in Colorado where it has

been legalized. The article states that in 2015 cannabis created over 18,000 jobs in

Colorado alone as well as raking in $2.4 billion to the states economy. The article

discusses how cannabis has become the biggest cash crop in the United States, in turn

decreasing government spending while generating economic activity. This is an

extremely valuable source to incorporate when determining the economic impact

cannabis has on the United States.

Digital Components (in order of use)

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Figure 1 - http://www.healthline.com/health-news/states-with-legal-marijuana-have-fewer-

overdose-deaths-082614

This image provides statistics on prescription painkiller overdose. It states that 55% of overdoses

resulted from prescription drugs and that 74% of overdoses were from prescription opioids

painkillers.

Figure 2 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/13/one-striking-chart-

shows-why-pharma-companies-are-fighting-legal-marijuana/?utm_term=.70104fe6902d

This image shows how fewer prescription drugs are being prescribed in medical marijuana states.

It states that 1,826 fewer doses of pills were prescribed for pain.

Figure 3 - https://mjbizdaily.com/exclusive-chart-marijuana-industry-create-10b-economic-

value-2015-30b-2019/

This image shows the monetary economic impact that cannabis has made in the U.S. It states that

in 2015, $9.6-11.1 billion was made in the marijuana industry.

Figure 4 - https://www.medicalcannabisclinic.com.au/medicinal-cannabis/parkinsons-disease-

treatment/

This image shows how the endocannabinoid system effectively treats the poor sleep,

anxiety/depression, and oxidative stress caused by Parkinsons disease.

Figure 5 - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/259379259763758653/

This chart shows the number of deaths in 2010 from different drugs. This image is important

because it shows that there are zero deaths from marijuana.

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Figure 6 - http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com/benefits/medical-marijuana-effects-009.html

This image is important because it shows the therapeutic effects of cannabis. It also includes the

therapeutic uses of cannabis for different diseases.

Figure 7 - http://fiscaltoday.com/economic-benefits-legalization-marijuana/

This image is important because it depicts the economic benefits of Amendment 64. The image

depicts the projected savings and generated revenue from the passing of Amendment 64.

Rhetorical Rationale

I began this research project by using the FSU database to explore articles and medical

journals regarding medical marijuana. I found numerous convincing articles that provided

evidence of the therapeutic effects of cannabis and began collecting sources that both support

and advocate against the use of medicinal marijuana. To keep my research unbiased, and to keep

myself from choosing a side too early, I analyzed the information from the articles I accumulated

and made a pros and cons list. I learned from my research that the benefits of marijuana

therapeutically and economically far outweigh any cons that are associated with its use. I then

formulated my thesis that medicinal cannabis has profound therapeutic and economic benefits

and should be legalized medicinally throughout the country. I began my paper by introducing

cannabis and describing its current legal status in an attempt to grab the audiences attention. I

decided to begin my argument by utilizing one of my sources regarding the potential of cannabis

in combating the current prescription painkiller epidemic in America. The article describes the

health and social costs that prescription painkillers have cost, making it easy for me to transition
 21

into my next paragraph regarding the economic benefits of cannabis in Colorado. My next step in

writing this paper was to incorporate some of the medical journals I accumulated to provide

evidence of the health benefits of cannabis in treating certain diseases. Specifically, I used a

medical journal regarding the use of cannabis to treat Parkinsons disease. This source

effectively proves that cannabis can be used to treat Parkinsons disease as well as many other

neurodegenerative disorders. I incorporated this source to debunk the myth that cannabis has no

medical value. From there, I discussed the pharmacology of cannabis and the perspective of

pharmacists regarding using cannabis medicinally. My next paragraph utilizes an article from

the Lancet medical journal to explain why the government is so misinforming about cannabis as

well as to explain why the government is so stubborn to change the status of the plant. The next

source I utilized, Marijuana: Useful Medicine Or Dangerous Drug, is pertinent to my argument

because it refutes some of the claims that have been made against cannabis. I used this source to

help dismiss some of these claims as well as to provide more information on the therapeutic

effects of cannabis. My next step was to use another medical journal to explain the effects of

cannabis in suppressing pain, making it a viable medication for patients suffering from an array

of pain-related diseases. I also used this source to explain how many cannabinoids arent well

known meaning that there are many more potential uses of cannabis that are likely still

undiscovered. I decided that to make my argument as strong as possible, it would be smart to

refute opposition of marijuana. Setting up a straw-man fallacy like argument as well as utilizing

an article debating the use of cannabis helped me to dispel some of the claims made against

cannabis as well as to strengthen my argument even more. I finally incorporated digital charts

and graphs to back-up the arguments and claims that I made, essentially strengthening my

argument.