Numerous studies have evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of medical marijuana. In this article we will look at the history and beginnings of this drug and how it has affected society. Many laws and policies have been created to limit the use of this drug, but the goal of this article is to demonstrate that it can have positive effects on sick patients as well. Cannabis, the proper name for this hemp plant, contains cannabinoids such as THC. Cannabis has many positive physiological and psychological effects on the body. This medication also helps treat and relieve headaches/migraines and decreases the possibility of seizures. It has played an important role in helping people with certain disorders such as Tourette's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Cannabis has also been shown to considerably slow tumor growth in the lungs, breast and brain. It is a non-lethal way of delivering drugs for various diseases, “Because cannabinoid receptors, unlike opioid receptors, are not located in the areas of the brainstem that control breathing, lethal excesses from cannabis and cannabinoids do not occur.” (Association for Cancer Research .2013).How did it come to be seen as a problem? (use details from the second literature review here!) Medical cannabis fibers can be traced as early as 4000 BC. In 2737, under the rule of Emperor Shen-Nung, marijuana consumption was recommended for ailments such as female problems, malaria , gout, rheumatism and distraction. The practice of this drug spread from China to India and then to North Africa. In India this drug was considered a divine substance that gave extended life and divine visions. This drug had many uses such as relief for dandruff, leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases... middle of paper... mental and physical health. It outweighs the benefits and makes it clear that, in the opinion of these authors, the negative data outweighs the benefits. Covering the legalization of cannabis and the legal bans against it, including its history. This article analyzes the different ways medical cannabinoids are used, such as: smoking, in pill form, Nabilone (synthetic cannabinoid), Sativex (liquid extract from the cannabis plant), and Dronabinol (synthetic THC). Physical adverse effects from smoking cannabinoids have been indicated such as respiratory problems, liver damage, increased mortality of HIV-positive patients, and damage to the heart rate. Mental health effects have been reported as mental sluggishness, tiredness, euphoria, relaxation and impaired concentration. Meta-analyses have supported the hypothesis of an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.