Americans overwhelmingly support the legalization of marijuana. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 91% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. Of those, 60% say it should be legal for medical and recreational use and 31% say it should be legal for medical reasons only.
Several possible health benefits of medical marijuana have been proposed:
• Nausea: Marijuana is effective in relieving nausea and vomiting. Studies have shown that cannabis can decrease nausea caused by chemotherapy and almost eliminate vomiting.
• Muscle relaxant: Marijuana can relieve muscle tightness that is sometimes associated with multiple sclerosis and paralysis.
• Appetite: Marijuana can help treat appetite loss associated with conditions like HIV/AIDS and certain types of cancers.
• Chronic pain: Marijuana can relieve certain types of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, which is caused by nerve damage.