Abstract: 

In this research proposal for the Scientific controversy paper that I will write it will talk about the topic of the marijuana debate and whether it should be a healing herb. It will talk about why and how this controversy is important. This paper will talk about both sides explaining the different points made. Some ideas are that smoking is a terrible delivery system, and that besides potential risk of lung damage, the potency of smoked marijunaa is difficult to measure due to the THC levels varying widely from one plant to the other. However, some defend marijuana as a healing herb by stating “When you inhale something into the lungs, it’s very rapidly absorbed—you get an effect in five minutes,”. “When you take a capsule, it may take an hour and a half.” So it comes as more efficient. It will further explain the sides of this debate on whether marijuna should be used a medical herb. This paper is a topic proposal for a larger research paper that I will write. In the paper it will argue that there is not enough information and testing done to be able to use marijuana medically, and that more testing needs to be done. 

What is medical marijuna? Medical marijuna is using the whole, unprocessed plant to treat symptoms of illness.This topic about marijuna being a medical herb is very controversial and can stir up strong different emotions within doctors, scientists, researchers, and the general public. This debate stirs up many questions such as is it safe? Should it be legal? Is the effect of marijuna proven? What is it actually useful for? Is it addictive? How can we use it medically, but keep it away from teenagers? Is the idea of medical marijuna just to help legalize mariguana for the public? Why do patients find it useful? And how can you discuss this with a doctor? 

Currently marijuana is legal in 29 states. President Donald Trump says that he promises to not interfere with people who use medical marijuna to help cure themselves. Most of America (85%) support making marijuana legal and several million Americans use marijuna. Scientific data on controversial subjects, such as the marijuna debate, are usually misinterpreted, overinterpreted, and misrepresented. The goal of this paper is to help understand the scientific data, and the logic behind the conclusions made. 

Mariijuna usage for more “professional” individuals may come off as a little embarrassing to them. “The businessman, who is in his 40’s, says he does not like the sensation of marijuana and is so embarrassed to be using it that he would not allow his name to be used. But, he says, it eases his chronic pain and nausea and stimulates appetite. “Without this,” he said the other day, “I wouldn’t be able to eat.” (Trester, 1993) This idea, or mentality of being embarrassed in common within some individuals. Even though marijuana was helping him with his appetite, he still did not like the idea that it was “marijuna” that was helping him because of its known stereotype. 

For many years, individuals who had AIDS, cancer and other diseases explained how marijuana helped them cope with what they were dealing with. “ … drug has helped them cope with nausea and muscle spasms and has reversed drastic weight loss by giving them the desire, once again, to eat. “It’s a crime to keep this medicinal herb from people,” said Beth Moore, an AIDS patient who helps distribute marijuana with a group in San Francisco. ‘It Brightens Your Life’ “ (Trester, 1993) Many people seen very positive effects due to the usage of marijuna in different ways such as the desire to eat, or helping with troubled diarrhea and cramps. People also claim that “it motivates you. It energizes you.” (Trester, 2017) Individuals also say that even though marijuana is not strong enough for severe pain such as a broken bone it is effective for chronic pain people face on a daily basis. “ Part of its allure is that it is clearly safer than opiates (it is impossible to overdose on and far less addictive) and it can take the place of NSAIDs such as Advil or Aleve, if people can’t take them due to problems with their kidneys or ulcers or GERD.” (Grinspoon, 2019) It is also said that marijuna can be used for PTSD in veterans  who are returning from combat. Many therapists say that there was a very dramatic improvement in clamor for more studies. 

Experiments have been performed on animals that have shown that marijuna extracts can help kill certain cancer cells and decrease the size of others. “Evidence from one cell culture study with rodents suggests that purified extracts from whole-plant marijuana can slow the growth of cancer cells from one of the most serious types of brain tumors. Research in mice showed that treatment with purified extracts of THC and CBD, when used with radiation, increased the cancer-killing effects of the radiation.” (Marijuana as Medicine, 2019)

Some argue that “smoking is a terrible delivery system” That besides potential risk of lung damage, the potency of smoked marijunaa is difficult to measure due to the THC levels varying widely from one plant to the other. (Gillman, 2005) Marijuna can lead to many problems. Recent data shows that 30% of individuals using marijuna have some type of degree of marijuana use disorder. This disorder is based on dependance, when the drug is not being taken anymore the individual will feel withdrawal symptoms. “People who use marijuana frequently often report irritability, mood and sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, cravings, restlessness, and/or various forms of physical discomfort that peak within the first week after quitting and last up to 2 weeks.” (Volkow, 2019) Studies also show that 9% of marijuna users will most likely become addicted to it. 

It is said that researchers as of now do not know the full consequences of the brain and body being exposed to high levels of THV. Animal research shows that marijuana exposure during the development of the infant can cause lifelong changes in the brain. The rats in the experiment that were exposed to THC during their development show signs of problems and specific learning and memory disabilities. More studies should be done to eliminate any doubts and questions to avoid any unknown problems. 

References :

• Grinspoon , Peter. “Health.harvard.edu.” Health.harvard.edu, 2019, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085.

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