The Benefits of Medical Marijuana Imagine that your elderly grandmother suffered from a disease such as arthritis, cancer, or Alzheimer's disease to the point that she was in so much pain that it hurt to even walk or leave the house. Most people wish they had access to any type of drug or painkiller currently available. There's just one problem; what if the drug you want to use has been proven effective, but is considered illegal to purchase under current government conditions. These circumstances are occurring across the country and impacting many families across the nation. The solution to this problem could be traced back to a drug known as medical marijuana. Medical marijuana has proven to be effective in treating disease, is easily accessible, and substantially beneficial to the economy. According to the “Issues and Controversies” dossier, medical marijuana is an alternative medicine that is used to both treat and prevent diseases in ways that are not currently used in hospitals at this time (alternative). The file labeled “Medical Marijuana” describes this plant as beneficial in multiple ways and with great potential to help people across the country. This drug has been banned by the government since 1990 as an illegal Schedule I drug because it was deemed harmful and addictive (Problems). The government did not know the full beneficial potential of medical marijuana and all the positive results this drug can bring (Problems). This plant has a bright future in the healthcare industry and deserves to be given a fair chance in the medical field. Many known statistics along with a great deal of science...... middle of paper... s. 05 November 2013: D7. Electronic library science. Network. 04 February 2014. Grant, Bob. “MEDICAL MARIJUANA: SMOKE, FIRE AND SCIENCE.” Scientist, Il. 01 Jul 2012: 36. eLibrary Science. Network. 04 February 2014.Harrison, Tracy E., Bruce, Barbara K., Weiss, Karen E., Rummans, Teresa A.,Bostwick, J Michael.. “Marijuana and Chronic Nonmalignant Pain in Adolescents.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings 7(2013):647. Electronic library science. Network. 04 Feb 2014."Medical marijuana abroad (sidebar)." Issues and controversies on file: n. pag.Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, July 8, 2005. Web. February 4, 2014. Medical marijuana." Issues & Controversies On File: page no. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, June 6, 2005. Web. February 4, 2014. Update: Medical Marijuana." Issues and controversies on file: n. pag.Problems and controversies. Facts On File News Services, July 15, 2009. Web. February 4. 2014.