Medical Marijuana is, on balance, an effective medicine

1. Drug legalization: a red herring My opponent makes many claims on a different topic: drug legalization. Although he raises many valid points, I would like to point out this is a merely a red herring. We are debating the effectiveness of medical marijuana, not the benefits/costs of drug legalization. My opponent claims I have instigated the discussion on drug legalization, claiming I talked about cartels. This is false; I never mentioned the cartels or drug legalization once, nor is it mentioned in the resolution, introduction, or rules. So, this point is a red herring that has no bearing on the debate. It is also interesting to consider this is not even a debate about the legality of medical marijuana! We are merely arguing the costs and benefits of medical marijuana use. Whether or not it is actually legal is irrelevant to the resolution as well. My opponent seems to have only skimmed my argument and looked at my sources. I cited NORML, a pro-marijuana organization, that makes the claim my opponent has refuted. Here is the problem: the article I cited didn’t mention drug prohibition. Therefore, my opponent is merely using this to refute a different claim (not mentioned or relevant to the debate) to push his views through this median. I truly think these points he has made are not constrictive to the effectiveness of marijuana as a medicine. 2. Health effects of marijuana My opponent has cited studies claiming the amount of teenagers that think marijuana is harmless has increased. Now, let’s make this clear: I do not think marijuana is harmless! Indeed, any rational person would agree that is has health effects. What I do think, however, are the claims arguing marijuana is a horribly harmful drug is untrue. Medical marijuana, when used for patients with cancer (and many other diseases or discomforts) has far more benefits than downfalls. As for (extensive) recreational use, I would generally recommend against it. Now, the amounts [most] recreational and medical users use marijuana isn’t harmful. Smoking one joint per day actually does not harm lungs, and it may increase lung function. Studies have been published showing long term marijuana use leads to more respiratory problems, but more recent studies have shown there is likely no such link. Also, the vast preponderance of evidence supports the effectiveness of medical marijuana [1]. Some studies even say marijuana may improve lung function. A study with a sample of 5115 young adults were tracked for 20 years. This is the largest, one of the longest and most robust study on the issue. The results find moderate marijuana usage (which is all you would usually need for medical purposes) has, at worst, no effect on your lungs, and probably increases lung function [2]. Other studies find marijuana may slow down an aging brain [3]. It seems as though my opponents claim that no credible research supports my thesis is totally wrong. On addiction, all drugs can cause addiction. Medical marijuana has about a 9% addiction rate according to a very comprehensive 1999 study by the Institute of Medicine, cited last round. Pshychotherapudic drugs have much higher addiction rates, ranging from 13 – 18% for teenagers, 13% for those 18-25, and 12-13% for those 16 and older [4]. With this data in mind, the fact these other medicines are considered effective but have higher addiction rates then marijuana merely shows the governmental, political, and ideological bias in the issue. The benefits for these drugs is much higher than the costs, marijuana has a plethora more studies confirming its effectiveness compared to these drugs as well as more studies proving it is less harmful than thought, not more (these drugs have more studies showing the “it’s worse than we thought” mentality, whereas the best research now confirms marijuana is better than thought). CONCLUSION: A much shorter round then last, but the majority of my opponents statements were irrelevant. As voters, and those evaluating the evidence can see, marijuana’s bad side is largely exaggerated, and its benefits (NOTE: benefits for medical use, NOT ABUSIVE RECREATIONAL USE) trump its downsides. I urge a pro vote. 1. http://www.benthamscience.com... 2. http://healthland.time.com... 3. http://healthland.time.com... 4. http://www.drugabuse.gov...