not fully understood and further research is necessary to make the drug safe. Legalizing the drug would make further research easier to conduct since with present laws the government is reluctant to grant scientists permission to do research concerning the side effects of the drug (Marshall 56). THC has been proven to help assuage symptoms from various medical conditions such as glaucoma, AIDS, cancer and epilepsy. Cancer patients use marijuana to reduce the nausea associated with chemotherapy, and THC alleviates symptoms associated with AIDS such as severe leg cramps, headaches and loss of appetite. Finally it is used to help control epileptic convulsions, as a muscle relaxer, a sedative, an antibiotic salve, for loss of muscle coordination, and to control tumors. There have been attempts to isolate the active compounds that are medically useful, but it has been unsuccessful, and patients find that this type of treatment does not work as fast when compared to smoking marijuana from cigarettes, bowls or bongs (Marshall 70).However, the American Cancer Society, the American Glaucoma Society and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society feel: "There is no conclusive evidence that marijuana is a beneficial medicine (and that) marijuana lobbyists are using the medical argument as a way to get what they really want, which is legalization of marijuana for every-one as a recreational drug." (Ruzzamenti 23).Also, Marinol, the synthetic form of THC is not that effective in relieving nausea. In fact, it is 6th on the list for reducing nausea. AIDS patients who have experimented with marijuana have had bad side effects such as psychic anxiety, sleep problems, and have had difficulties with their circulatory systems. Only 12% of oncologists would give their patients marijuana to relieve their pains because of the high level of intoxication needed to feel the effects. Marijuana helps to relieve pressure in the eyes for victims of glaucoma. In spite of...
