s drug is reported to restore appetite to AIDS patients, arrest deterioration of the eyes of glaucoma sufferers, and relieve symptoms of chronic migraines, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. Regardless of beneficial results demonstrated, Attorney General Janet Reno is threatening to prosecute doctors that prescribe marijuana to patients (Brookhiser 9).
Opposers of medical marijuana state its use to treat ailments is unethical and would result in legal access of marijuana to anyone. A person would only need a recommendation from a doctor and marijuana could be obtained for the relief of any ailment (Leo 23). Some believe that decriminalization of drugs would result in marijuana offenses (Weisheit and Johnson 53). A study examined whether the decriminalization of marijuana in eleven states has affected self-reported use of drugs. Results demonstrated that decriminalization did not result in significant impacts on drug use. It was concluded that drug demand is not related to incremental changes in legal sanctions for possession of small amounts of marijuana (Thies and Register 385).
In 1992, the US Public Health Service (PHS) revoked its approval of 28 applications to use marijuana under a compassionate-use program. Critics of this decision claim the agency had political rather than medical motivations. A report from the Drug Enforcement Agency claimed there was no accepted medical use for marijuana and the head of the PHS stated the government would be condoning marijuana use with the compassionate-use program. These claims were unsubstantiated and in fact many AIDS patients have reported that marijuana use results in increased weight gain due appetite stimulation. A US government study found no adverse effects of marijuana use. A survey of 1,035 oncologists demonstrated that 44 percent of respondents had previously suggested marijuana use to cancer patients and 48 percent would prescribe it, if it were legal (Cotton 257...