Medical marijuana is marijuana used for its (supposed) analgesic or otherwise therapeutic effects (see Glaucoma).
Critics doubt that there are any medicinal effects of marijuana, other than an overall effect sought by drug addicts. "Medical beer," "medical heroin," "medical pornography" and "medical gambling" are not recognized either, for good reason.
Opponents of drug abuse charge that efforts to legalize medical marijuana are intended to be a step towards complete decriminalization and generally decry marijuana as a "gateway drug".