Introduction for Essay
In early 2000 BC, many stories recall medical ‘miracles’ related to marijuana. The Chinese tell a story about one of their emperors Liu Chi-nu that may explain the connection between cannabis and illness. Chi-nu was bitten by a snake and used crushed marijuana leaves on his wound. Fortunately, the medicine healed him, and Liu consequently announced his discovery to the people of China, and henceforth they began using it for their injuries. This was the earliest record of the use of marijuana medically (Schultes, 1981).
Research Paper on Medical Marijuana
Since then, marijuana has gained popularity for being used recreationally. Due to the negative connotations of the drug, most people don’t associate it with its healing properties. Everyone has contrasting opinions regarding the use of marijuana. Does the existence of opposite points of view mean that the medical properties of marijuana should be ignored?
Argumentative Essay Examples of Medical Marijuana
Marijuana has always been controversial and has caused debate. This has led to an increase in research and development to decide whether the use of marijuana is positive or negative. The prescribed title talks of assuring the ‘health’ of a discipline which is only done by increasing the knowledge present within the discipline. Contrasting perspectives ensure that knowledge does not fade but increases in robustness. Allowing the development of open-mindedness and ensuring that the knowledge an individual acquires is not ‘outdated.’ We can define the word ‘health’ as a condition in which something is thriving or doing well. Disciplines that are the strongest are constantly under the microscope to relay the most accurate information. The use of the metaphor ‘health’ indicates that the knowledge within the discipline is capable of dying, implying that it is not permanent. When looking at it holistically, the marijuana industry and the knowledge it holds is still very scattered due to the negative connotations surrounding it, regardless of the use of it as a medicine in the past. The way to fill these holes is by acknowledging and acting upon the existence of different perspectives. The applicable ways of knowing are language, reason, emotion, and memory.
Thesis Statement for Medical Marijuana
Humans have a tendency to seek out information that confirms our own experiences. This is known as confirmation bias. Similar to when we consciously look for negative reviews about a restaurant we hate. Likewise, when you have a population of people who have a negative experience with marijuana use, they pass on this information or gather more information based on the belief they have developed.
Research Types on Medical Marijuana
Unfortunately, confirmation bias is a bias against information. This is due to a person’s stronghold on their beliefs, which is motivated by wishful thinking so that they can accept something to be ‘true.’ This mistake causes individuals to stop gathering information that is against what they deem as ‘true.’ This bias leads to information being outdated and weak regarding the use of marijuana medically. Leading to a false view of the claim an individual has because ignoring a contrasting idea doesn’t mean it is not applicable. Due to the negative connotations surrounding it, individuals tend to ignore the positive aspects of the drug. With a lack of information, the beliefs most individuals have are outdated and one-sided. In the case of marijuana, many people report benefits from it, such as relief from insomnia, anxiety, and epilepsy.
This also can bring us back to natural selection and the survival of knowledge. Most often associated with animals and plants, it can also be applied to the survival of knowledge. Due to the ignorance of the positive or less harmful aspects of cannabis, the use of it as a medicine and research to validate it is increasing by the day. To fight the prejudice against the drug, research (“What drives patients to use medical marijuana: Mostly chronic pain,” 2019) is being conducted to provide robust evidence about the safety of its usage. Further prompting those who have negative opinions of the drug to also increase research about the drug’s negative effects. This battle causes the knowledge within the discipline to constantly improve. When one claim is made from either side, there is always evidence to support it and, soon enough, a counter to discount it. The improvement of the knowledge within the discipline is key as it allows information to be presented in its most updated format to individuals who can then make a judgment based on it about its medical usage. This allows the knowledge within the discipline to not fade away due to the lack of modern evidence to support it.
Ideas: Cognitive Dissonance and Beliefs About Marijuana
Humans find it hard to digest their own mistakes or go back on their words. Causing our confirmation bias to kick in to look for evidence that proves what we already believe. Cognitive dissonance occurs when we encounter two contradictory thoughts which threaten our sense of self and makes us uncomfortable, which causes motivation to reduce it. Refusal to go back on our ‘word’ automatically shows a lack of open-mindedness and the lack of room for constructive criticism. Thus, only parts of the information within the discipline get popularized. This, overall, may lead to knowledge fading away, causing knowledge within the discipline to weaken. Anchoring bias can cause prejudice towards the use of marijuana medically or recreationally due to the heavy reliance on decisions based on the first piece of information provided to an individual. When applied to the use of marijuana, we often jump to conclusions based on stories we have heard or information we have learned at the very beginning. This causes information to be one-sided within the discipline.
Promotion of Debate in Medical Marijuana Studies
Debate within the medicinal field has been encouraged by allocating resources to research studies that advocate or critic the usage of marijuana. Whether it’s confirmation bias, anger, or just plain curiosity, knowledge within the medicinal field is increasing each day. However, studies that advocate and provide evidence for the use of marijuana medically are still based on small samples or are anecdotal evidence. This weakens one side of the argument and causes knowledge within the discipline to become close-minded, and does not provide individuals with a holistic picture of the effects of cannabis, whether it’s for medicinal or recreational use.
Advantages of Diverse Opinions in Health Argumentative Essays
In a world full of knowledge around us, contrasting perspectives are a facilitator of the development of knowledge. Counter-arguments are acknowledged when there is evidence and clear reasoning to justify their existence. They provide us with an opportunity to understand how a different viewpoint has been processed and interpreted. Allowing us to get acquainted with different ideas, ways of thinking, and approaching things. For example, within psychology, theories are viewed from multiple lenses, such as biological, cognitive, and sociocultural. No one perspective has explanatory power over the rest. Via these perspectives contradicting and building upon one another, can there be the creation of effective conclusions? The existence of different perspectives represents the complexity and richness of the discipline. A contrasting perspective is in battle with existing knowledge, often having to justify its existence. This creates a desire to pursue more knowledge to reaffirm each position, thus, strengthening the health of the discipline. Without arguments, discussions, or disagreements, knowledge with never evolve or strengthen. Knowledge needs to be challenged, much like ours, in order to improve.
Promoting Healthy Debate: Nurturing Diverse Perspectives in Health Studies
However, nurturing contrasting perspectives can be done in a multitude of ways. Encouraging debate within a discipline allows knowledge to develop through the use of arguments that are for or against it. Research through experiments and investigations allows the creation of data that points toward specific conclusions. Theories within natural sciences reach a general consensus through experiments and investigations. If the results are consistent, then the knowledge is considered valid. There is also an inherent value in understanding the ‘other side’ of a perspective or opinion. Scrutinization of multiple perspectives encourages judgment and justification instead of just accommodation.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Health Studies
In terms of marijuana, there is a conflict due to the nature of the drug. Even though the research required to gain knowledge shows that it is a natural science discipline. However, due to the differing perspectives which are affected by multiple cognitive dissonances, there are also human sciences that play a part. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the discipline develops under more scrutiny causing it to be more robust. In the past, we have understood our world by creating disciplines and disciplines within those disciplines, which have dedicated resources to create experts within those fields. Regardless of the success and understanding, the fact still remains that we have a complex world and interconnected systems that have to be addressed through a multifaceted approach.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is crucial to ‘nurture’ or defend knowledge when it is countered. The cyclical system of perspectives fighting with each other ensures the health of the discipline. It builds knowledge that makes the field of medicine more credible and open-minded. Constricted perspectives bind us within the limits and restrictions of our viewpoints. Every perspective has its strengths and limitations, but overall allows the understanding of the discipline to develop. It is important to understand that every perspective carries its experiences and interpretations, all of which feed into the development of knowledge. Just like the way a story changes depending on the person who tells it. Having multiple perspectives doesn’t mean that only one of them holds the ‘truth,’ but it can be different pieces put together to make a robust whole.
However, we are left with the question; do contrasting perspectives always result in assuring the health of a discipline? Even if we believe that one ‘truth’ exists, there may still be multiple perspectives of that truth itself. These perspectives are shaped by a multitude of factors, such as history, environment, and personal experiences. The effectiveness of claims and counterclaims is dependent on the underlying factors which affect them.
