Medical marijuana has many health benefits for example relieving chronic pain due to an illness 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, and other debilitating symptoms caused 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 will not have a high prospect of abuse and you will find very legitimate applications. Also "Sometimes marijuana is 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 you will find several legitimate advantages of medical marijuana, you'll find still people who disagree and argue that the legalization of medical marijuana will be harmful to society.

Those who are against Amendment 2 and also the legal utilization of 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 did not know what he was talking about and marijuana has been proven to be less toxic and much less addictive than other drugs. "The fact is that Medical associations country wide and more than 80% of Americans think marijuana can help seriously ill people (Opposing Views) states Tvert." A study conducted by 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 quality weed (Learn Even more Here)" 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% in accordance with the nation's Household Survey on Drug use. It's still continuing to increase: 1997-6.8%, 1998-7.4, and 1999-8.4%. Even when the usage of marijuana continues to increase which is legalized, how will the poor households obtain it if they cannot afford it?

The City of Berkeley, Calif. recently announced a whole new law by which marijuana dispensaries may have to donate 2% of their cannabis to low-income people starting in August of next year (OpposingViews). This could be a good law that other states like Florida can use to regulate to utilization of marijuana whenever they do elect to make it legal. With the donation law, poor individuals can usually 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 forms for example liquid or extracted may cost more. The most important part about state regulation is the fact that poor families with "debilitating medical conditions" may have a way to get the medical marijuana they need to alleviate their symptoms.

With all of the factual evidence pointing to the amazing benefits of medical marijuana, I agree and vote yes on amendment 2 which will legalize medical marijuana. I have a grandmother who may have epilepsy seizures and if a dose of prescribed marijuana will assist alleviate her or every other patient's symptoms, why not give her or other patients dosages by pill? The Epilepsy Foundation released a statement earlier this coming year that supported the rights of patients and families living with seizures and epilepsy to access physician-directed care, including marijuana (OpposingViews). There isn't any factual proof of anyone dying from marijuana and my research concluded mostly positive benefits. Weighing out the advantages of medical marijuana as well as the idea that poor households may have a way to get it, gives the state of Florida all of the reasons and factual evidence it needs to legalize marijuana.