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Introduction Over the past twenty years, public views of marijuana have changed significantly in the United States, Canada, and other countries. What was once viewed as simply a recreational drug is now being considered a medical marvel by some scientists and members of the public. Research studies have shown that medical cannabis in various forms can be used to treat pain, nausea caused by cancer and other diseases, muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, poor appetite and weight loss caused

by chronic illness, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease, and other medical conditions. It is also being used to help fight post-traumatic stress disorder and the opioid abuse crisis. Despite the benefits of medical cannabis, there are continuing controversies over which illnesses and disorders can be treated with cannabis, and how real the effects reported in the news are. It’s clear that more medical research must be conducted to fully understand the medical benefits of cannabis. Although this debate continues, many countries have approved its use. In the United States, twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam now permit the use of medical cannabis. Other countries that have legalized medical cannabis in recent years include Canada, Mexico, Australia, Jamaica, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Romania, Germany, India, Israel, Macedonia, South Africa, and Uruguay.

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