nal Institutes if Health both concluded that “there is evidence that marijuana can be useful in treating some patients who have not responded well to other therapies (555555).” Dr. Igor Grant, head of UCSD’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research brings up a good point, “It seems that if these things are indeed useful, we would have to find a way to deliver them in a manner that is prescribable (44444).” He goes on to say that marijuana cigarettes will probably never hit the shelves of pharmacies. Experts at the Institute of Medicine warn us that the benefits of smoking marijuana are limited because the smoke itself is toxic, even more so than tobacco (8888888). Alternative methods of delivering of the drug are already being researched.Researchers at Albany College of Pharmacy, led by Dr. Audra Stinchcomb are trying to develop a marijuana patch (similar to the nicotine patch) as an alternative to smoking medical marijuana. NORML has exclusively researched alternate ways of using marijuana, such as pills, suppositories, eye and ear drops, and maybe even a marijuana vapor. Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML admits, “However, smoking is a faster way to get the drug into the system, an important factor in controlling nausea (555555).” Pierre later says in the AP report, “The American Cancer Society has always been on record against people smoking tobacco and marijuana. This is a way to assuage opponents (555555).”I believe that medical marijuana should be legalized in all states. Although smoking marijuana may be harmful and risky, there is obvious medicinal value. Alternatives to smoking medical marijuana are currently being researched to provide a healthier method of medication. Marijuana is made up of hundreds of cannabinoids, many of which have been proven helpful for patients with severe illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS. Once the federal ban on marijuana is l...
