Why Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal: Essay Writing Guidelines for Students

Medical marijuana is arguably a controversial topic for many. It has been gaining significant attention in recent years after the legalization call. The potential benefits of this plant-based substance have sparked debates leading to various legal and medical considerations.

Writing a ‘Why Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal’ essay is a valuable opportunity students should not skip. It will help them explore this complex issue and develop persuasive arguments.

By understanding the topic, conducting thorough research, and employing effective writing strategies, students can create compelling essays explaining why marijuana should be legal.

What is Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis plant products as prescribed by a physician. Also known as medical marijuana or medical cannabis, these products are mainly used to ease the symptoms caused by various medical conditions.

Current medical studies have shown the potential of cannabis sativa (and the derived products) in cancer chemotherapy and other severe health conditions. Medical marijuana use comes from lab-made samples that are specially made to target symptoms brought by specific illnesses.

Cannabis sativa has many compounds that the medical field is trying to tap into. By 2024, studies have shown that it has more than 500 chemical compounds, 100 of which are classified as phytocannabinoids.

Two major ones are THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). The former is known for its psychoactive effects, while the latter attenuates its effects. That is why CBD is being favored more in medical research.

Why Are Students Asked to Write a ‘Why Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal’ Essay?

Your tutor asked you to write an essay on why medical Marijuana should be legal. How does the topic make you feel? How much do you know about medical marijuana? Should it be legalized in the first place?

We don't know if you are advocating for legalizing marijuana use or not, but we will tell you why your professor is asking you to write about it.

1. Sharpening Your Arguments and Critical Thinking

Legalizing marijuana use in the medical field is a complex topic that scientists have not exhausted all their research. Even the current evidence supporting the use of both medical and recreational marijuana is still under scrutiny since no data explains the effects of long-term use. Why? Because marijuana was an illegal drug that was legalized in some of the US states barely a decade ago. What suppresses the research is the federal law that still categorizes marijuana as one of the most dangerous drugs.

Delving into such a complex matter helps improve your analytical skills. You will consider different perspectives as you write. Those perspectives are majorly divided between the medical benefits the current global society is realizing and the health risks still being explored as doctors and patients utilize it to curb symptoms.

As you write the essay, your art of better arguing comes out. You can present persuasive arguments since you have covered the potential counterarguments with relevant supportive evidence. Being able to argue correctly is a skill you will need beyond academics.

2. Understanding a Complex Matter

When you listen to marijuana legalization debates, you will realize how complex the matter is. We have already highlighted the complexity in the first point, which leans more on the insufficient research and findings from the involved researchers.

That means you are bound to get misinformed, even in professional debates. This could range from the medical benefits to the amount you should inhale if you are a first-time user seeking to relax. So, writing an essay about legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes will help you understand the legal, ethical, and medical aspects that revolve around a plant that people are excited about and skeptical about.

Eventually, you can address any misinformation society upholds, promoting informed public disclosure. If you have a problem getting the right research and comprehension, let our essay experts help you in discerning such matters. 

3. Nailing Research and Information Gathering

We have already mentioned the misinformation that people have about medical marijuana (and even marijuana use in general). Since you cannot depend on inaccurate data to write about such an intricate matter, gathering the correct research is essential.

You can gather data from relevant sources such as news articles, a written academic essay sample about the issue, and government reports (especially the FDA). The research and information gathering will also help you scrutinize the credibility of the sources you stumble upon through comparison.

4. Participating in a Civic Discourse

There are many issues surrounding medical cannabis legalization. Some of them extend to recreational marijuana users when it comes to using it in everyday life. Writing a Why medical Marijuana should be legal essay helps you absorb the information. Later, it will help you engage in meaningful, healthy, and thoughtful discussions.

Having the correct information will also help shape policy debates that lead to the formation and implementation of marijuana laws and regulations in society. Better insights to strengthen this point come from investigative documentaries on the matter. For example, you can check the documentaries National Geographic released in 2023 about the legalized marijuana problem and why it's still booming in the black market.

Do you know people who can benefit if the federal government legalized marijuana? That means such an article can help you develop empathy for those who will genuinely benefit from its medical benefits.

5. Addressing the Moral and Ethical Questions

As you are working on the essay, a few moral and ethical concerns may be lingering in your mind. For example, "If weed is legal, can I recommend it to my staunch catholic grandmother who is suffering from multiple sclerosis?"

Well, that seems like a good question, right? To address it, you need to understand the implications of medical marijuana legalization. That may involve individual thinking and personal freedom. Even when you recommend it to such an older adult, what will her friends say when they see her spraying Sativex? How will they react when she takes a puff before heading to a community gathering?

The challenge of grappling with such matters develops a perspective that answers moral or ethical questions about marijuana use.

Writing the Legalize Marijuana Essay from a Persuasive Approach

When asked to write why medical Marijuana should be legal essay, did the instructions include the essay type? If yes, you can skip to the next section, which is about what to consider before writing the essay.

If no, then the answer to your approach should be persuasive. Our gurus in the persuasive essay writing help department argue that this essay seeks to convince people. The essay asks 'Why medical Marijuana should be legal'. That question should allow you to win over your readers' minds by convincing them why medicated cannabis should be legal.

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We have a few marijuana legalization titles in our persuasive essay topics for college students article.

You cannot consider the argumentative way since that will corner you to present two opposing views. So, don't use an argumentative approach on a topic that seeks to convince. The persuasive approach will aid in presenting the following:

• An emotional appeal showing how medical marijuana has brought chronic pain relief
• The ethical considerations involve how the federal government should approach the matter, patient rights, and how to access it for accepted medical use.
• The practical benefits brought by legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. They include tax revenue, health benefits, and crime rate reduction.

Adding a Pinch of Salt

Scientists and other researchers are still examining marijuana and its medical benefits. So, we cannot ignore considering some of the known flaws. The long-term effects of using medical or recreational marijuana are still not well known.

So, even with a persuasive angle, you will still address the adverse effects of legalizing marijuana. In the next section, we will look into the flaws you can consider, among other things.

Now, have we all agreed that the approach is persuasive here? Good. Here are a few things to consider in your research before you start working on the essay.

What Should You Consider Before Writing on Why Medical Marijuana Should Be Legalized?

Learn Some Essay Writing Skills

You must arm yourself with introductory essay writing knowledge. If you have yet to write an essay before or have been flopping when writing one, we have a few tips to help you get good grades in college essays.

For the marijuana legalization essay, this is where you should start:

• Read on how to write an essay using various formatting styles.
• Study how to write an essay outline. This guide will help you write an outline for the essay and fill in the spaces later with essential information before you start writing.

The links we have shared in the list above have all the information you need to guide you in writing an essay. Combining them with what we have under the persuasive essay writing help will put you in a better position to write the essay.

After reviewing the recommended guides above, it's time to research what you will include in the essay.

The Research to Consider for the Medical Marijuana Legalization Essay

The History of Medical Marijuana

First, you need to differentiate between the cannabis plant history and medical marijuana history. Writers in our history essay writing service explain the difference better. The prior involves the plant's discovery, cultivation, and spread across the continents. The medical benefits are the healing properties people tapped into as they experimented on various diseases and symptoms.

Your cannabis research can start with Shen-Nung, a mythological Chinese emperor and pharmacologist who recorded its treatment methods. Then, look into the Egyptian history of the plant's use. Research what's available on the Ebers Papyrus about hemorrhoid pain relief.

Indian ancient times can also contribute to the matter. Here, you can look into how ancient Hindu physicians used cannabis to treat insomnia and pain during childbirth. More interesting trials must have been among the ancient Greeks. They used cannabis seeds to flush out tapeworms.

You can also research the Islamic medieval age between the 8th and 18th centuries. Why? The Arabic physicians explored the cannabis plant due to its antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and antipyretic properties.

A lot also happened to this plant between the 1830s and 2001. That's between when O'Shaughnessy was testing the drug's utility in medicine and when Canada became the first country to regulate medical marijuana. That allows you to look into the following:

• How Jacques-Joseph Moreau explored and wrote about the use of cannabis in psychiatry. Is there any relation between medical marijuana and healing mental illnesses?
• How cannabis was used between 1850 and the end of the 19th century after it entered the US Pharmacopeia
• What led to the ban on marijuana in 1970, its classification as an illegal drug, and the renewed interest in exploring it between the 1970s and 1980s?

The Medical Benefits of Using Marijuana

Marijuana use for medical reasons is still a subject that is under the microscope. There is evidence to support its health benefits. It's, however, not enough to make the federal government remove cannabis from the Schedule I drug list.

However, our nursing assignment help folks suggest that the available evidence is enough to push for medical marijuana legalization and pave the way for more research. You can read more about the following and see which points have enough data to support your essay.

• What does the research from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) say about using CBD for insomnia treatment?
• How does CBD counter the effects of THC in influencing sleep for those who have insomnia?
• Can cannabis be used during pregnancy?
• How marijuana helps reduce vomiting and nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy. How does its results compare to other drugs used for the same treatment?
• Does long-term use of medicated cannabis lead to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
• How does medical marijuana affect children undergoing chemotherapy?
• Does marijuana use help solve anorexia in HIV/AIDS patients?
• How does marijuana contribute to reducing epileptic seizures after interacting with the brain cells?
• How does marijuana help in pain management, especially in multiple sclerosis and rheumatic disorders?
• How does marijuana help in curbing neurological disorders, especially Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes?
• How does marijuana compare to opioids when considering the appropriate drug use for palliative care?
• How do cannabis-related drugs relate to anxiety treatments?
• Does medicated marijuana affect mental health?

• How do cannabis-derived products such as Epidiolex, Marinol, Cesamet, and Sativex help in treating illness symptoms?

Scientific Research on Marijuana

Legalizing marijuana is still a subject under heavy research. There is insufficient data to show us the actual long-term effects of using marijuana. Cannabis Sativa is a plant reported to have numerous compounds. A considerable chunk of them are cannabinoids.

They are all under the microscope. Two major ones, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol), are already well-identified. Our research team under the Biology homework help wing says that people are now growing cultivars to produce different concentrations of the two compounds.

The federal government, however, still does not advocate for medical marijuana use. That is happening despite more than half of the US states legalizing marijuana for medication. Why? The officials involved (especially the FDA) need more assurance and guaranteed quality control. That is why there's a need for a long-term study of the drug.

There is also the use of high-potency marijuana, which has more THC concentration. It still requires research despite the available innovations. So, under scientific research, you can venture into the following:

• What's the FDA's contribution to the scientific research on the use of medicated marijuana?
• What is the effect of using commercial concentrates (butter, wax, shatter, etc.), which have a 60-90% THC concentration?

• Are there other scientific research supporting the use of marijuana for medical purposes? For example, you can look into the Colorado and District of Columbia cases. You can also consider what the marijuana policy group has about the Nevada research.

The Economic Impact of Legalizing Marijuana

The distribution of medical cannabis depends on where it's legal. Most of the states in the US have already legalized medicated marijuana. That is why people are growing it in their homes, depending on where applicable.

People are using marijuana vending machines in the US. Canada will also be witnessing the first use of such machines soon. We cannot forget to mention products that are used in conjunction with cannabis oils. The electric dab rigs and bongs are accessories people need to burn the concentrates.

The above paragraph already shows how making marijuana legal will generate millions. So, when addressing the economic benefits of marijuana, consider the following:

• How will the federal government benefit from making marijuana legal as a recreational drug and also in medicine?
• How does legalizing cannabis contribute to employment?
• How do states benefit from legal sales of marijuana after legalization? You can check on Colorado and Washington DC again, as perfect examples, among other states.
• Why is there more marijuana being sold in the black market despite having state laws that decriminalize it to a degree?

Addressing Concerns

The reason why the legal status of marijuana is still biased is due to the ongoing studies. Some push for the legalization of marijuana since there are evident considerable benefits. Opponents argue that it's still under research. So, there is a need for more time before declassifying marijuana as one of the illegal drugs.

Your persuasive essay should also address this persisting issue to allow further reading and research that will solve some of the concerns. More lessons from our law essay writing service team are that addressing legal concerns should not leave out how the federal government should assist in handling ethical matters.

Learning how to write an essay on enduring issues can help you take a better approach to this problem, which has not been fully solved yet.

Under this section, you can check into the following issues:

• What is the social stigma still surrounding marijuana legalization and use?
• How can the federal law on marijuana be amended to ensure quality control after legalization?
• How should the federal law govern marijuana possession?
• Is marijuana a gateway drug that may lead to more substance abuse?
• What are some of the adverse effects of using of prolonged marijuana use? You can check if there are health issues brought about by long-term usage of medicated marijuana.
• Between smoking marijuana and inhaling or eating, which method of consumption is safer?
• How will marijuana affect the youth when legalized as a recreational drug?

Writing the Marijuana Should Be Legal Essay

By reaching this point, we assume you have gone through the essay writing guidelines. We recommended it as the first move, and we hope you have utilized those guidelines to the core.

As you gather the research above, note what you find under the outline headers or pointers. That will guide you in deciding what to include in each part when it's time to write. Reading an essay sample will also help you greatly as you collect the information.

Since you have the essay writing clues, the following points relate to how you will approach every section and the essay as a whole.

The Introduction

• Use the research you have conducted to create a strong thesis statement.
• Note down the crucial points you will address in the essay.
• Start the introduction with an attention-grabbing statement. It could be statistics or an anecdote.
• Connect the beginning statement with the key points and then end the introduction with the thesis statement.

The Body Paragraphs

This is where all the persuasive juice is going. Since you have the statements in your outline as a guideline, this is how you will approach the paragraphs and all the crucial points:

• Start every paragraph with a topic sentence or a powerful claim. You can refer to a few tips on writing a claim in an essay before jotting down the starting sentences.
• Use strong evidence to support your claim or topic sentence
• Ensure that you are maintaining a well-organized structure that helps in smooth transitioning
• Write persuasively so that you can convince the reader (or your professor for a high mark award)
• Consider the concerns, but don't let them persuade the reader otherwise

Another rule to remember here is to stick to the word count. If you are short of words, check how to make an essay longer and reach the word count. For those unsure of the length, learn how long a college essay should be before progressing to the body inclusions.

The Conclusion

After working on the body paragraphs, it's time to conclude the essay. This is how you approach the conclusion:

• Start by re-stating the thesis supporting the legalization of marijuana
• Summarize the many benefits you have discussed in a few sentences
• Don't leave out mentioning a few concerns addressed in the essay
• Encourage readers to support medical marijuana legalization and responsible use
• If there is room for further research based on your essay, give a directive for the same

We have more concluding tips on how to write a conclusion for an essay and how to end a college essay guide. Go through them to see what’s missing in the points above.

Proofreading the Essay

Once you finish writing, take a break and proofread the essay later. As you proofread, ensure to check on the following:

• Syntax, spelling and grammar errors
• Sentence structure and flow
• Overall article structure
• Plagiarism (You have to use particular tools for this)

The essay should also follow the rules given by your tutor or professor. So, learn how to format an essay as per the instructions as you follow up on the rest of the details in the teacher’s brief.

If you need professional help going through the essay, our editing and proofreading services are just a click away. Having somebody else go through the essay will aid in pointing out what you may have missed during the initial proofreading.

How We Can Help Write a Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal Essay

Writing essays is one of our many specialties. Our ten-year-plus experience in the industry enables us to help you with the following:

• Getting professional essay writers for your essay
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So, if you don't know how to approach the issue of whether medical marijuana should be legal, we are the experts you need to guide you through the matter.

In a Nutshell

Writing a Why Medical Marijuana Should Be Legal essay requires a comprehensive understanding of the topic. You also need extensive research and strong argumentation. We have shared how to explore the potential benefits of medical marijuana. We have also addressed the concerns and misconceptions and employed persuasive writing techniques.

Now, it's your turn to write compelling essays advocating marijuana legalization. If you still need help tackling the matter, contact our professional team for polished assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized?

The federal government should legalize medical marijuana since it offers many benefits that have been studied for millennia. Those who favor it say it's safer when dealing with various health symptoms. The legalization of marijuana will pave the way for medical research without illegal drug restrictions.

2. Why Should I Write a Persuasive Essay About Legalizing Marijuana?

The question of why marijuana should be legal seeks an answer that should persuade readers. The essay should tell them why they should consider legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes and even recreational use. So, it would be best if you wrote a persuasive essay showing why legalized marijuana is safe for medical exploration and consumption.

3. Who Can Help Me Write a Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Essay?

HomeworkMarket top essay writing experts. They have the experience to guide you on why marijuana should be legal using well-researched evidence and nourished skills. Submit your essay requirements whenever you need help. After that, witness how they will turn into a well-crafted essay.