Marijuana as a solution to opiate addiction

Opiate crisis in New York
This comes as a letter of concerns and a motion to point out the adverse effects of the currently legalized opioids at the expense of the safe to use marijuana. A harm that particularly brings down the active youthful populations of New York, rendering them unproductive. It is to them that the legalization of marijuana policy as herein covered is directed since they stand to benefit the most.
The American population has over the years suffered from opiate addiction since this are drugs that are easily available on prescription. There are the prescribed opioids which include oxycodone, fentanyl, buprenorphine, methadone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. There are however other opioids such as heroin which are categorized as illegal drugs of abuse (U.S Department of Health & Human Services, 2017). Addiction to opioids is a long lasting health problem that has serious social, economic as well as health repercussions.
Addiction to the opioids is seen to present the powerful urge to use the opioid drug even when the individual no longer needs them for medical intervention. These are known to have the potential to casue addiction in some individuals even when prescribed medically and taken as directed by the physician. These addicts end up prioritizing using these drugs over other activities in life that even make them productive Americans.
Further more, the opioids are known to change the chemistry of the brain of the individual hence leading to drug tolerance. The effect of this is that over time, the doses will need to be increased to achieve the same effect as of the previous quantity. The individuals are likely to suffer cramping, anxiety, diarrhea and other psychological symptoms as withdrawal effects, rendering these people are zombies and unable to work and fend for their families. Opioids are also known to pose life threatening problems like the overdose risk that can cause the slowing down of the breathing of the victim or even absolute stopping of breathing. The person will then become unconscious or even die if the overdose is not treated in time.
It is on the background of such serious addiction potential of opioids and the severity of the side effects it has on the victims that I propose the ending of marijuana arrests and the legalization of marijuana as one of the key measures to curtail the opiate addiction particularly in your jurisdiction of Newy York. The background against which the marijuana substitute is considered in my opinion is the fact that it does not have the serious side effects as opiate addiction has, yet it has the same feeling that the opiates bring the person using the marijuana.
Indeed, marijuana is not just a recreational herb but has a variety of medical benefits to the users. Apart from relieving the pain as the opiates would, marijuana is known to give the user a relaxed sense of well-being. It is also known to bring down paranoia and anxiety through the cannabidiol chemical which is found in herb. It is also known to help in stopping nausea and throwing up especially among chemotherapy patients (Greenhouse Wellness, 2018). Marijuana is also known to help in relieving stiff muscles and muscle spasm from multiple sclerosis hence giving the patients a chance to lead a normal life and be productive like the other Americans. People living with HIV/AIDS are known to lose appetite and shed off weight really fast. This can also be improved by using marijuana, the individual will regain their appetite and continue eating as usual hence regain weight and be able to fight the opportunistic infections which are the major causes of death among AIDS patients (WebMD LLC., 2018).
These benefits far outweigh the few side effects that are often highlighted against marijuana use which of course are temporary and easy to overcome. There is need therefore sir to ensure marijuana is legalized as one of the most effective ways of cutting down on the opiate addiction and the massive deaths and loss of active Americans on a daily basis. Marijuana has no overdose, hence needs to be a perfect substitute through your assistance sir.
Regards
Concerned electorate

References
Greenhouse Wellness, (2018). 10 Benefits of Marijuana You Probably Didn’t Know. Retrieved September 26, 2018 from https://www.greenhousewellness.com/news/2018/4/9/10-benefits-of-marijuana-you-probably-didnt-know
U.S Department of Health & Human Services, (2017). Opioid addiction. Retrieved September 26, 2018 from https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/opioid-addiction
WebMD LLC., (2018). How Does Marijuana Affect You? Retrieved September 26, 2018 from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/marijuana-use-and-its-effects#1