Drug addiction is a big problem that government faces all over the world, every culture has a tradition of consuming narcotic substances. A person who says: “A glass of beer after a long day at work is my little weakness, you know” seems normal; but an almost similar sentence, “A dose of heroin after a long day at work is my little weakness, you know” will sound suspicious to say the least, won't it? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Regardless of what you call it, narcotics are a taboo, there are different types of drugs that societies turn a blind eye to. Furthermore, there has been talk (for some time) that marijuana is not only a relaxing drug, but also a recreational one and that in some cases it can be used for medicinal purposes. The Internet is full of controversial studies, both stating that marijuana is a blessing and should be legalized everywhere, and directly stating the opposite. And while full legalization may not be the best option, there are reasons to believe that this drug can be used quite effectively in medicine. Marijuana is not entirely illegal: many US states (Colorado, California, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and 16 other states), as well as several countries such as the Netherlands, have made it legal to smoke weed. This was not done out of pure fun and carelessness, of course: the distribution of legalized drugs is easier to control, they are taxed, and their chemical compound can be standardized to minimize health risks and side effects. At the same time, numerous studies show that marijuana in its medical form can be beneficial for patients suffering from serious diseases, such as cancer. To be more precise, there are several groups of symptomatic diseases that can be treated with marijuana: In case of inflammation of various kinds, marijuana is excellent for treating chronic pain. Unlike opiates, which are better when you need quick relief from acute pain, weed is safer and more effective at reducing long-term pain. The symptoms of arthritis and other autoimmune diseases can be reduced or even eliminated with the help of marijuana as well. Patients with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries would appreciate the herb for its pain-relieving effect and its ability to reduce muscle spasticity caused by damaged nerves. Studies have been conducted on the beneficial effects of medical marijuana in patients with epilepsy. Cancer patients who have to undergo numerous chemotherapy sessions often suffer from severe nausea after them; Marijuana can not only eliminate this nausea, but also prevent the spread of some forms of cancer. Patients with HIV/AIDS often experience significant loss of weight and appetite, both due to neurological factors and multiple antibiotics taken; marijuana can increase appetite and relieve neurological symptoms (Learn. Genetics). According to a survey conducted by an authoritative medical site, WebMD, American doctors from 12 different specialties have approved the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. During the survey, more than 1,500 doctors from 48 states responded that they would support legalizing medical marijuana to make it an option for patients who need it. Additionally, the American Epilepsy Foundation has called on the Drug Enforcement Administration to loosen its restrictions on marijuana to conduct more adequate studies on it. Michael W. Smith, MD, chief medical editor of WebMD, states that “The medical community says.