a, or some other potentially devastating disease, who had to risk has had to risk arrest and jail to obtain marijuana to alleviate side effects of chemotherapy, AIDS wasting syndrome, or treat other serious, and potentially life threatening illnesses (Stroup 14-15). Supporters of medical marijuana make three arguments against opponents, proving their ideas to be flawed. The first is over a pill called marinol, which is made of THC, the main ingredient in marijuana. The pill, besides being expensive, seems to cause higher levels of anxiety and depression. The pure THC also produces stronger, more unpleasant psychoactive side effects than smoked marijuana. Brookhiser says, “Since I was trying to combat vomiting, I didn’t think the pill was the smart way to go”(149). The next argument is that the reason marijuana has not been thoroughly tested is because the government gives scientists the run-around. Dr. Donald Abrams, an AIDS researcher, has been trying to obtain marijuana, for research, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The NIDA says that if it supplies Abrams, it may be overwhelmed with requests from other researchers. “Can’t have that,” says Brookhiser; “then there might be some research”(149). The third argument is that instead of setting a bad example for children targeted by drug pushers, they are shown an image of a drug user as a bald, cancer patient stuck on Intravenous drugs. This can show children drugs are not glamorous and fun. Basic human compassion and common sense dictate that ill citizens should be allowed to use whatever medication proves most effective for them, subject to supervision of a physician. Many groups and states have already taken strides to decriminalize medical marijuana. Keith Stroup, founder of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), expresses a belief that the government’s opposition to doctors prescribi...
