No, medical marijuana should be illegal
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Marijuana is unapproved by public health organizations
Legalizing marijuana is opposed by major public health organizations.
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The Argument
Legalization campaigns that imply that marijuana is a benign substance present a significant challenge for educating the public about its known risks and adverse effects. For instance, the American Society of Addiction (ASAM) does not support the legalization of marijuana and recommends that other organizations or institutions, who have not acted to legalize marijuana, should be cautious and not adopt a policy of legalization until more research has been conducted.[1] In another instance, the American Medical Association (AMA) believes that cannabis is a dangerous drug and should be a public health concern. They claim that the sale of cannabis should not be legalized.[2]
These organizations, and many others, claim that overall marijuana use harms the brain and legalization will increase mental health problems. Marijuana use may also increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, depression, and other psychiatric disorders.
Counter arguments
In the past, clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of marijuana to treat certain conditions have been restrictive and limited. There is a lack of research done by the major public health organizations. A number of the current studies are not controlled clinical trials in which a placebo or alternative medicine is used. Without more of these comparative studies, scientific evidence on the effects of marijuana will be questioned until further research.
Premises
[P1] Health organizations don’t agree with legalizing medical marijuana due to the health risks of long-term usage and potential addiction.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] There has not been enough research done to categorically say this.