Medical marijuana has many medical benefits for example relieving chronic pain as a result of a disease or relieving stress after a long or busy day. The evidence is proven by research that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting, as well as other debilitating symptoms brought on by such illnesses as cancer and AIDS in patients all over the globe (ProCon 2014). Sanjay Gupta, MD, Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN mentioned that marijuana doesn't have a high potential for abuse and you will discover very legitimate applications. Also "Sometimes marijuana will be the only thing that works", said Gupta. Arthritis is another common disease, usually in older adults, with no current cure and marijuana has been proven to help alleviate the symptoms of this disease as well. Rheumatology reported in 2006 that "In comparison with the placebo, the CBM [cannabis-based medicine] produced statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest and quality of sleep (ProCon 2014). Although there are actually several legitimate advantages of medical marijuana, there are actually still people who disagree and argue that the legalization of medical marijuana will be harmful to society.

The ones who are against Amendment 2 and also the legal utilization of affordable marijuana argue it may be detrimental to society by causing a rise in crime. Bishop Ron Allen claimed that marijuana would increase crime and poverty in Berkeley and he explains, "Research tells us that marijuana has the same effects on the pleasure central system within the brain as heroin and crack cocaine." (OpposingViews 2014) Supporters of marijuana like Mason Tvert, of the Marijuana Policy Project disagree with Allen, stating that Allen didn't know what he was speaking about and marijuana has been proven to be less toxic and less addictive than other drugs. "The fact is the fact that Medical associations nationwide and even more than 80% of Americans think marijuana can help seriously ill people (Opposing Views) states Tvert." A study conducted through the University of Texas at Dallas found that legalized marijuana may reduce crimes like robbery and homicide (Ferner 2014).

Another downfall of marijuana is that it really is said to be a gateway or stepping stone to other harmful drugs for example cocaine or heroine. The Eagle Forum mentioned in a statement that "Since THC is continually within the body the "high" from pot gradually diminishes so pot smokers usually take other drugs to get a kick (ProCon 2014)." Sue Rosche, Founder and President of the nation's Families in Action says, "This issue received intense press coverage and California's teenagers got the message, their past month marijuana use increased by nearly one third that year, from 6.5% to 9.2% based on the national Household Survey on Drug use. It's still continuing to rise: 1997-6.8%, 1998-7.4, and 1999-8.4%. Even if the utilization of marijuana continues to increase and it's legalized, how will the poor households obtain it should they can not afford it?

The City of Berkeley, Calif. recently announced a new law in which marijuana dispensaries will have to donate 2% of their cannabis to low-income people starting in August of next year (OpposingViews). This could be a great law that other states like Florida can use to regulate to use of marijuana whenever they do opt to make it legal. With the donation law, poor individuals could possibly get access to the marijuana they need which is known to sell for at least $400 an ounce in California. This price is only the street value of the plant-form (what you smoke) of medical marijuana, so other kinds for example liquid or extracted may cost more. The most critical part about state regulation is the fact that poor families with "debilitating medical conditions" shall have a method of getting the medical marijuana they need to alleviate their symptoms.

With all the factual evidence pointing to the amazing benefits of medical marijuana, I agree and vote yes on amendment 2 that may legalize medical marijuana. I have a grandmother who has epilepsy seizures and if a dose of prescribed marijuana will help alleviate her or some other patient's symptoms, why not give her or other patients dosages by pill? The Epilepsy Foundation released a statement earlier this year that supported the rights of patients and families living with seizures and epilepsy to gain access to physician-directed care, including marijuana (OpposingViews). There is no factual evidence of anyone dying from marijuana and my research concluded mostly positive benefits. Weighing out the advantages of medical marijuana and also the proven fact that poor households may have a way to obtain it, gives the region of Florida all the reasons and factual evidence it needs to legalize marijuana.