The United States has recently made efforts to legalize medical marijuana under federal law. Although medical marijuana is legal for prescription in twenty states, medicinal marijuana remains illegal under federal law (Berlatsky, 2012). Medical marijuana is an important issue due to the many patients who have not found a cure for their disease using other drugs. There is a huge controversy surrounding medical marijuana due to those who use it recreationally. With those using marijuana recreationally and medically, it would be extremely difficult for America to set limits on who actually receives the drug. Medical marijuana is also an important issue due to the high risk of abuse. Patients across the country use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aleve and Aspirin to reduce pain, fever and inflammation. Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can work, NSAIDs can become harmful to the heart and liver. It is important to focus on the issue of medical marijuana because marijuana is an alternative for patients who want pain relief using marijuana instead of NSAIDs. The American movement toward legalizing medical marijuana under federal law is growing. Supporters of legalization argue that medical marijuana is harmless due to its pain-relieving effects and overdose is not possible. While both statements are true, marijuana has not been approved by any major medical program. Medical marijuana is not as addictive as heroin or cocaine, but daily use of marijuana can lead to addiction. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 9% of marijuana users become addicted. Research conducted in the laboratory mo... middle of paper... Evidence of memory impairment is clearly demonstrated for medicinal marijuana. Memory is a serious matter and should be taken into consideration before legalization. Medical marijuana continues to be a problem in America due to those seeking an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medical marijuana may be beneficial for glaucoma and increase appetite in HIV-infected individuals, but medical marijuana has its own health risks. The three most prominent health risks from medical marijuana are memory loss, lung cancer, and addiction. With daily marijuana use, all of these health risks could quickly become a reality. The FDA has conducted research to demonstrate that the health risks of medical marijuana are real. The government should seriously consider the health risks of marijuana before legalizing it under federal law.