Medical Marijuana

I do not know if this is allowed, but I'll use my dad (doctor) as a source. So lets do my contentions before my rebuttal. C1: Marijuana has terrible health defects. What does it do?In addition to the possible effects on your brain, smoking marijuana may also be hazardous to your developing lungs. Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. [1]C2: FDA's statementsAs you know the FDA said that there are no medical benifits to marijuana. If you wan't a link then will be provided. C3: It's linked schizophreniaRepeatedly, studies have found that people with schizophrenia are about twice as likely to smoke pot as those who are unaffected. Conversely, data suggest that those who smoke cannabis are twice as likely to develop schizophrenia as nonsmokers. One widely publicized 2007 review of the research even concluded that trying marijuana just once was associated with a 40% increase in risk of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.[2]And males are more suceptable this disorder.C4: Linked to testicular cancerMen who use marijuana may increase their risk for developing testicular cancer. A recent study of several hundred Washington State men with testicular cancer showed an association between current marijuana use and the more aggressive of the two types of the disease. Moreover, the association was strongest among men with a long history of regular marijuana use. [3]During the past 50 years, the number of new cases of testicular cancer reported annually in the United States has nearly doubled. So has the percentage of the general population who report having smoked marijuana at least once. Dr. Dey suspected that the two trends might be related, although exposure to various environmental factors may also be involved. [3] Along with the simultaneous rise in rates, there are biological reasons to hypothesize a connection between the drug and the cancer. Research has shown that marijuana smoking reduces sperm production and male fertility, and other work has linked diminished fertility to increased risk of testicular cancer. [3]C5 withdrawl that happens every week raises aggresion (So if I smoke it now I'll be mad next week)Marijuana smokers living at home reported "clinically significant" withdrawal symptoms -- such as sleep difficulty, marijuana craving, aggression, and irritability -- during periods of abstinence from the drug. The participants' self-reports were confirmed, in part, by observers who reported increased restlessness and irritability among the marijuana users when they were not smoking. [4]Look it says aggression.During the abstinence periods, participants reported increases in the severity of craving and sleep difficulty, decreased appetite, and increased aggression, anger, and irritability. In addition, participants reported an increase in "strange dreams" during the second abstinence period. Observers reported increased irritability and restlessness among the participants during abstinence. [4] And this adds agression and anger to the list. C6: doesn't help AIDS/HIV People, you can use other medicines The Institute of Medicine concluded in its Mar. 1999 report titled "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base": "The relationship between marijuana smoking and the natural course of AIDS is of particular concern because HIV patients are the largest group who report using marijuana for medical purposes. Marijuana use has been linked both to increased risk of progression to AIDS in HIV-seropositive patients and to increased mortality in AIDS patients. The most compelling concerns regarding marijuana smoking in HIV/AIDS patients are the possible effects of marijuana on immunity. Reports of opportunistic fungal and bacterial pneumonia in AIDS patients who used marijuana suggest that marijuana smoking either suppresses the immune system or exposes patients to an added burden of pathogens. In summary, patients with preexisting immune deficits due to AIDS should be expected to be vulnerable to serious harm caused by smoking marijuana. The relative contribution of marijuana smoke versus THC or other cannabinoids is not known." So it weakens the already weakend immune system.C7: Alzheimers The Alzheimer's Research Trust stated in a Feb. 22, 2005 article in BBC News titled "Marijuana May Block Alzheimer's": "If it is possible to make drugs that act only on CR2 [one of two main types of cannabinoid receptor in the brain]... they might mimic the positive effects of cannabinoids without the damaging ones of marijuana. However, this is a fairly new field of research and producing such selective drugs is not an easy task. There is also no evidence yet that cannabinoid-based drugs can slow the decline in human Alzheimer's patients." So it doesn't really hurt their sickness, doesnt help. Also it would still give them all the downsides above. C8: It is addictive Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction; that is, people have difficulty controlling their drug use and cannot stop even though it interferes with many aspects of their lives. It is estimated that 9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it. The number goes up to about 1 in 6 in those who start using young (in their teens) and to 25-50 percent among daily users. [5] According to the 2008 NSDUH, marijuana accounted for 4.2 million of the estimated 7 million Americans dependent on or abusing illicit drugs. In 2008, approximately 15 percent of people entering drug abuse treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse; 61 percent of persons under 15 reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, as did 56 percent of those 15 to 19 years old. [5] C9: Alternatives that do the same things, minus all of the downsides. The alternatives are proven to work, always, without these Marijuana downsides. So why Marijuana if you can use these: For pain: codeine British reports say it is no weaker or stronger than marijuana. Same benifits, less downsides. Nausia: Zofran same benifits, downside: slight possible anxiety if used with other meds. Home remadies for nausia: ginger, which can be eaten in slices, made into a tea, or drunk as ginger ale, and lemon, which can be squeezed into any liquid or simply sniffed. [6] CB1 Activators: Frog legs, studies still being done on it's safeness Hungry: This is what marijuana is most used for, here are alternatives: prednisone There are more, these medicines are from 6 and on the source debate, and my dad (doctor) said thowhere correct. rubutals: Running low on space O.o "Medical Marijuana has been medically proven to have numerous benefits. " Not according to the FDA "Alzheimer's Disease" seems as though we have differing evidence both from credible sources. I will post more later. "HIV/AIDS" I proved above that marijuana hurts the immune system, worsening AIDS/HIV. I tis not helpful. My contentr rebut or make even so far. "Cancer" Well it starts cancer, so how does this help? There are alternatives As I have pointed out. I'm running low on space so an alternative won't be provided, my dad/doctor and lawyer will answer round. "The government should not decide whether medical marijuana should be illegal or not, let the competent doctors decide" The FDA is totally capable of deciding on this issue, they are made up of doctors and scientists. Also here's my view: States rights. Let the states choose. Also My dad (great surgeon, one of the best in my state) says that If only competant doctors existed, medical marijuana wouldn't exist. So basically he calls it a dumb idea. Who has the BOP? D medical marijuana is a law that would be new, so you need to prove it benificial? Answer next round. Sources in our sources debate