Robert L. Maginnis

Medical marijuana should not be legalized, argues Robert

L. Maginnis in the following viewpoint. Numerous medical associations and research institutions deny the claim that smoked marijuana provides any benefits for the seriously ill. In fact, Maginnis points out, marijuana smoke is carcinogenic and can damage the immune system. Marinol, an approved drug that contains the synthetic form of marijuana’s active ingredient, is a safer and more stable treatment for cancer and AIDS patients, the author concludes. Maginnis is a policy analyst for the Family Research Council, a conservative advocacy organization. As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Maginnis, what four limitations of smoked marijuana make it an ineffective treatment for AIDS wasting syndrome?
2. How does marijuana smoking affect...