It is legitimate to investigate and consider the potential medical benefits of any drug, even mind-altering illegal ones. For example, morphine is a proven pain-killer commonly used in hospitals and nursing homes. Doing so prevents supplying measured, controlled, properly timed doses or providing stringent quality control to avoid toxic pollutants. Marijuana smoke contains about 2,000 separate chemicals, in an unpredictable, unmeasured and unstable mix. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, is already available by prescription in pill form.
Much current marijuana is far more potent, mind-altering and harmful than before.
The side effects can outweigh the benefits. Tests show pot smoking can damage the heart, lungs, brain, reproductive organs and the immune system. It can be especially dangerous to those who seek it the most, suffering chronic, intractable illnesses. For many of the conditions supposedly helped by marijuana, including pain management, there are numerous adequately tested and proven, safer and more effective medicines already available, without marijuana's harmful side effects. Studies have documented the similarity in marijuana addiction, and difficulty of withdrawal, to that of heroin or cocaine.