10 Reasons Why Florida Should Legalize Medical Marijuana

Will Florida Legalize Medical Marijuana? We won't know until the November Elections in Florida...But here are 10 compelling reasons why Florida SHOULD legalize Medical Marijuana.

2014 is a huge year for Florida legislators with amendment proposals ranging from harsher sex crime punishments to a debate over the lethal injection procedure. This November, medical marijuana will become the topic of discussion and the fate of many suffering from terminal illnesses will be determined. Below are some of the benefits Floridians could see if medical marijuana is legalized in the state of Florida.

# 1 - Stopping HIV from Spreading Throughout the Body

The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center claims they have proven that cannabis can keep strands of the HIV virus from spreading throughout the body, slowing down the process of infection. The experiment was conducted first on monkeys, but HIV patients are anxious to participate in more research.

# 2 - Clearer Vision for Glaucoma Patients

Patients suffering from glaucoma could stand to experience clearer vision as a direct result of the use of this drug. Marijuana has been proven to lower eye pressure; however opponents to this treatment claim the affect is merely temporary. Either way, people facing blindness view marijuana as a light in the darkness they're currently facing.

# 3 - Pain Relief

Numerous studies have already proven that medical marijuana can definitely, if nothing else provide pain relief for patients who suffer from terminal illnesses such as cancer and HIV. Even asthma sufferers have cited less pain associated with their affliction while using the drug.

# 4 - Increased Appetite for Terminally Ill Patients

The Munchies, a known drug side effect associated with smoking weed, could help terminally ill patients experience a much needed weight gain while battling their disease.

# 5 - Less Addiction Problems

Marijuana is much less addictive than other pain relieving drugs. It has even been suggested as an addiction battling catalyst for those who suffer from substance abuse disorder.

# 6 - It Fights Depression

Unlike the legal intoxicant alcohol, which is a scientifically proven depressant, marijuana functions as an anti-depressant in the vast majority of patient studies. It has been known to increase feelings of confidence and pleasure and it often wards off anxiety. Marijuana could easily be a great alternative to harsher anti-depressant prescription drugs.

# 7 - Helps Alleviates Symptoms of Illness

Even in inconclusive studies where marijuana has not been proven to cure illness, it has definitely helped alleviate the symptoms of illnesses like Parkinson’s, epilepsy and arthritis. Studies were conducted by the FDA this December and the results exceeded expectations.

# 8 - Slows the Spread of Illness in the Body

Marijuana has been proven to slow down certain systems in the body and the same is true when it comes to slowing down illnesses spreading throughout the body. This slow down effect has been proven to pertain to cancer cells, the progression of Alzheimer’s and even metabolism complications.

# 9 - It Could be a Pregnancy Friendly Drug

Researchers at the British Columbia Compassion Club Society claim that pregnant mothers can safely consume small amounts of marijuana and that 92% of pregnant mothers who incorporated the use of the drug say it was “effective” in helping to combat morning sickness and other uncomfortable pains associated with pregnancy.

# 10 - It Could Lead to the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

While some might see this as a con, marijuana legalization has done wonders for states who have dared to legalize it in a recreational form. Colorado has allegedly profited more than $2 million in marijuana tax revenue in just under a month’s time.

There are numerous reasons to legalize medical marijuana, but Florida residents will still have to wait until November for a verdict from their state legislators regarding the legality of this drug in the healthcare world.