This paper describes the medical benefits of prescription preparations of marijuana. It attempts to persuade the user that the drawbacks of the marijuana-use experience are similar to those of other drugs, namely codeine, but that its benefits far outweigh its alleged addictiveness. The current state of medical marijuana research is discussed, as well as the legal and social implications of prescribing marijuana. Essentially, the reader is persuaded that marijuana is a useful substance in the medical sense, and that the fears of drug-enforcement officials that this constitutes a move toward 'legalization' are unfounded. 5 pgs. Bibliography lists 5 sources.