According to a 1996 Gallup poll, "73% of Americans favored making marijuana available by prescription," but 69% did not favor legalizing its recreational use. (Koch) With this topic continually in the news, there is more talk about its medicinal and therapeutic uses and less about how it is used recreationally. Medical marijuana should be federally legalized for use as an alternative medicine because it is a better choice than other medications for pain and nausea, it is more affordable than other medications, and with the change from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II, would fall under the same regulations as a prescription drug. Marijuana is a better choice than other medications for pain and nausea because its side effects are not as severe and it is the only thing that seems to work for some patients. For those who suffer from nausea, it makes it go away, giving them the ability to eat again. For those in pain, it helps them in the same way an aspirin would work for an average person. An example of this is Angel Raich, who suffered from chronic pain and a brain tumor that could not be removed, who at one point was so weak that he had to use a wheelchair. With no pain relief in sight, he decided to try marijuana with his doctors' approval. The medication worked, “…his symptoms improved and he even retired his wheelchair” (Marshall). It is also a better choice because other medicines could be made from it. Kathy Koch, assistant managing editor specializing in education and social policy issues, explains more about this in her article "Medical Marijuana": Scientists see potential for developing a variety of new drugs among more than 200 ingredients active in [marijuana]cannabis, including more than......half of paper......and medicines. Marijuana is also more convenient for patients than other more expensive prescription drugs due to its ability to be grown at home or in a dispensary. Finally, if marijuana were reclassified as a Schedule II drug, it would be prescribed in some cases and monitored closely for those who need it, without doctors fearing breaking the law or losing their medical license. Legalizing medical marijuana would pave the way for research into more drugs and treatments and, therefore, better health for all. Works Cited Koch, Kathy. "Medical marijuana." CQ Researcher 9.31(1999):705-728. Online QC Researcher. Network. November 8, 2011.Marshall, Patrick. “Marijuana Laws.” CQ Researcher 15.6(2005):125-148. Online QC Researcher. Network. November 8, 2011. Worsnop, Richard L. “The Next Phase of Alternative Medicine.” CQ Researcher 7.6 (1997):121-144. Online QC Researcher. Network. November 8 2011.