Pro and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper

Pro and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana - Research Paper Example Scientists have conducted many experiments on marijuana, which have proved that the plant has very many medicinal attributes. Protagonists are pushing for marijuana legalization by showing evidence that the plant can be used to control or cure a variety of medical complications. First, marijuana has anti-inflammatory attributes, and it is also used as a pain reliever. It is a very potent pain reliever that can be used to numb pain experienced by patients with AIDS, Cancer or multiple sclerosis and other painful medical conditions. Marijuana also contains substances that can prevent Alzheimer’s disease or some of the symptoms, especially in elderly people. Marijuana has also indicated great success in fighting neurological decay and inflammation caused by old age. Marijuana has been used to control seizures, increase appetite in AIDS and cancer victims, fight glaucoma, epilepsy and muscular dystrophy. Scientists have also isolated cancer-fighting substances in marijuana that ha ve proved to beneficial in the fight against cancer. These are a few examples of the medicinal value of marijuana and as more research is conducted on the plant, there are prospects in finding new medicinal attributes of the cannabis plant. It is only ethical for lawmakers to consider these beneficial attributes of marijuana, which surpass its abuse, therefore, legalizing the cannabis plant (Caulkins, 2012). Economically, the government will reap billions from legalizing marijuana because it is an underground and untaxed business.