Health Effects of Marijuana Compared to Prescription Drugs

Lately, I've been reading and listening to many of the marijuana debates. One of the more recent articles stated that the "health Effects of marijuana are being overlooked." I have strong feelings on this issue. I have known many people with many different types of illnesses from cancer to multiple sclerosis that experienced such bad side effects from the synthetic medications prescribed by their physicians, it was almost worse than living with the illness. One patient nearly died twice when doctors insisted he take a chemotherapy medication in pill form without explaining what it was and what the side effects were. When they quit these medications and used marijuana for relief from pain and nausea, they were finally able to live. They had energy again, slowly started getting their health back, and recovered from depression. Take a look at this article: http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-10-14/bay-area/24134026_1_legalization-debate-marijuana-dependence-addiction-research The author and the several medical professionals quoted talk about people who are addicted to marijuana. Some people may develop a dependence, but there is no physical withdrawal to marijuana as there is in both many anti-depressant medication and pain medications. There are people with addictive personalities who have a tendency to develop a dependence on many things, and there is usually a lot more going on than meets the eye. The woman in the article who states she was "addicted" for 19 years, as far as we know, not in need of marijuana to relieve pain or other issues. Why must we continue to punish people who have chronic illnesses, pain or deadly diseases by stigmatizing and prohibiting the use of the one medication that works? People need to be educated on how deadly and addictive prescription medications are. Prescription medications can cause severe physical withdrawal (even anti-depressant medications). Synthetic medications can ruin lives, and they can literally kill you! Marijuana grows naturally for a reason and you can't overdose on it. Addiction to pain medication has gone up to 400 percent over the last decade: Some state that they are afraid the legalization of marijuana will encourage people to develop the habit. Do they realize how many teens and adults develop an addiction to pain medications? The addictions are so severe they will do anything to obtain it. The United States has had a "war on drugs" for years that it is not winning. For example, in Portugal where marijuana was decriminalized, they experienced the lowest rate of marijuana use in the European Union, at 10 percent. In America, that same figure is 39 percent. Decriminalization has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does. I hope that someday people will look at the true facts and open their minds to a natural medication that has been on the earth and used for thousands of years.