Summary of Article

The article Blurred Boundaries: The Therapeutics and Politics of Medical Marijuana written by J. Michael Bostwick, MD focuses on medical marijuana and if it truly does help one that is in need of relieving pain, whooping cough, asthma and insomnia. Marijuana in the 20^th century has become the most abused drug illicit substance in the United States. Recreational marijuana is usually harmless but for 10% of people that do marijuana regularly become addicted.   The relaxing properties turn in to a constant need interferes with a person’s daily habits. Medical marijuana may not necessarily be bad but it has not been scientifically proven that there are benefits to smoking cannabis. Cannabis may also be considered dangerous; it is called “the crude drug” or other known as a chemical slush. Marijuana is composed with 400 different chemicals from 18 different chemical families, and just the smoke contains more than 2000 chemical compounds. In a short amount of time, cannabis can cause, increased heart rate, vasodilation with decreased blood pressure, and dizziness. With the use of a vaporizer it may minimize the toxic exposure but the smoke still contains many of the same toxins that are found in tobacco smoke. For long term smokers this may put them at risk for pharyngitis, rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer.