Should medical marijuana be legalized? The controversy over the use of marijuana leaves many uncertain. However, is this stigma justified? After studying the issue and considering the pros and cons of legalizing medical marijuana, I am inclined to believe that the bad reputation it has earned is unnecessary and that the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. Therefore, it should be legalized and treated as an acceptable form of treatment for those it could help. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Medical marijuana can be defined as the use of cannabis to treat a condition or symptoms of a disease. Due to the use of marijuana as a recreational drug, some parts of society have begun to consider it inherently harmful, but there is reason to believe that not only is it not harmful, but it can also be beneficial. Marijuana has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years. In fact, the oldest known evidence of the use of cannabis for its medicinal benefits dates back to 2727 BC, when Chinese Emperor Shen Nung noted that marijuana used to treat ailments had become very popular in Chinese society. Clearly the use of cannabis is nothing new and has been used for many generations. Those against the legalization of medical marijuana might argue that medical marijuana could serve as a sort of gateway to the use of harder drugs or that medical marijuana users could become addicted. As Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana states on its website, “Marijuana is a dangerous, psychoactive, and addictive drug that impacts the brain.” In response to this I would like to point out that it has been shown that although marijuana addiction is possible, it is rare. Studies have shown that only 9% of adults who use marijuana will develop an addiction. Considering all the known benefits of medical marijuana, I believe the help it can provide to those suffering from ailments outweighs the slight risk of addiction. It should also be noted that, although some sources may claim otherwise, marijuana is often only a gateway drug because it requires you to obtain it from an illegal source, often forcing you to be on hard, addictive drugs as well. If it were made legal and became available in a safe environment, it would no longer require association with those who use harder drugs, with the result that the user would not be exposed to them in the first place and would not move on to other substances. Clearly these two arguments against medical marijuana do not stand up to scrutiny. To support my opinion that medical marijuana should be legalized, I would like to point out that many peer-reviewed studies have shown that medical marijuana is an effective treatment for health problems. These conditions include multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, Huntington's disease, and more. In addition to treating physical ailments, it has also been shown to help treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Tourette's syndrome. A professor of psychiatry at Harvard University, Lester Grinspoon, states: "Contrary to what we have been told, marijuana is not a very harmful drug... It is a remarkably non-toxic drug, provided it is used in a intelligent". The health benefits of marijuana are possible thanks to a chemical compound called a cannabinoid, which gives marijuana its therapeutic effect. Cannabinoids provide relief to many.