Medical marijuana has been used for centuries to combat pain, weakness, anxiety, insomnia, female problems and nausea. Today, it is commonly used by cancer and AIDS patients to stimulate hunger, combat nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy or other drug treatments, and reduce pain. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing eye pressure, particularly in cases of glaucoma. Medical marijuana, or cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and there is evidence that cannabis has been used for medical purposes for over four thousand years. Many believe that medical marijuana is a healthy, natural alternative to dangerous and toxic pharmaceuticals that often have worse side effects than the original condition. The United States declared marijuana a narcotic and made it illegal with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. Those who oppose the use of marijuana for medical purposes argue that it does not there have not been enough studies, that it is too dangerous and sufficiently ineffective to qualify it. for its legalization. They believe marijuana is addictive, is a gateway drug, can lead to infertility and damage the brain, lungs and other organs. However, medical marijuana proponents point to numerous government studies, peer-reviewed clinical trials, and the long proven history of medical cannabis use worldwide as counterpoints to opposition. Supporters also point out the various harmful side effects of prescription drugs and argue that if these are approved by the FDA for patient use, marijuana should be as well. Despite the federal government's 1976 ruling that marijuana has "no acceptable medical effects." use", sixteen states have passed medical marijuana laws that allow patient use of...... middle of paper ...... have shown effectiveness as a weed, and we know that they lose their effectiveness over time. There are many other uses for medical cannabis, including treating symptoms of IBS, Chron's disease and other gastrointestinal disorders, relieving pain related to cancer and multiple sclerosis, preventing Alzheimer's disease and help for people suffering from ADD, seizures or Tourette syndrome. Unfortunately, the federal government fails to see the many benefits of cannabis and the clear evidence demonstrated in the countless peer-reviewed studies conducted over the years and instead maintains its classification as one of the most dangerous drugs with no medical benefits acceptable. More states are taking steps to regain their rightful authority in the face of an overly ambitious federal government and are taking the necessary steps to bring relief to many patients suffering from a wide range of illnesses..