Medical_Marijuana

Marijuana, is it more than just a weed' Could it actually have medicinal benefits on the human body and be more than just a recreationally used drug' Why, yes it can! For decades, physicians and organizations have been studying the effects of marijuana use on the human body. I think marijuana is like anything else that could be abused. For example, alcohol, prescription drugs, and even food. However, I feel that the benefits from medicinal marijuana outweigh the risks associated with it. I have taken care of many patients’ who were going through chemotherapy and it’s not easy on the body. When one is nauseous, unable to eat, and just plain ill and dying, life is not all that great. So, when a pill called Marinol, (Dronabinol/THC pill) is given to one of these patients‘, you can actually see a difference for the better in his/her overall affect. Is that not worth a comfortable existence' In 2010, The University of California’s Center for Medical Cannabis Research, announced the findings of their placebo controlled clinical trials. These studies conducted by the researchers assessed marijuana’s ability to reduce neuropathic pain. Such pain can be caused by cancer, diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injuries, and other debilitating conditions. “Each of the clinical trials found that cannabis consistently reduced patients’ pain levels to a degree that was good or better than currently available medications.” (Armantano) As good as some of the research sounds, medicinal marijuana use is still not for everyone. According to Paul Armantano, (Deputy Director NORML Foundation) adolescents, pregnant or nursing mother’s, anyone with a family history of mental illness, patients with hepatitis C, patients with decreased lung function (COPD), and heart disease or stroke are at a greater risk of experiencing an adverse side effect from marijuana. With this in mind, The United States Government classifies marijuana as a “Schedule-1 Drug“. (Drug Scheduling) Which means, it is considered a drug that has a high tendency for abuse and has no accepted medical use. Heroin, is another example of a “Schedule-1 Drug“. Because of this classification and the populations with certain diagnoses listed, it makes it difficult for researchers to obtain appropriate candidates for these clinical trials. From my studies, it seems like marijuana has been around for quite some time now. I don’t just mean in the 1950’s or 1960’s, but as far back as 6000 B.C., when China used cannabis seeds for food. 2727 B.C., first recorded use of cannabis as medicine in Chinese pharmacopoeia. (Concept 420) Even today it is used by many. “By the time students graduate from high school, about forty-two percent of teens will have tried marijuana”. (Volkow) It’s not just teens who are trying marijuana either. ”In 2008, an estimated 2.2 million Americans used marijuana for the first time; greater than half were under age 18”. (Volkow) In a few of my own past experiences, marijuana has played some sort of a role. Although, mostly recreational (and another lifetime ago), I can remember influential moments when I smoked marijuana. One, was with the father of my best friend, who has been very successful in life. Not only is he successful, he is one of the smartest individuals I have ever met. I consider him to be a great role model for me and he smokes marijuana on a daily basis and maintains his business and success. The second was when I had an unbearable toothache. I am sure most people have experienced a toothache before and the wrath of pain associated with it. I was in such excruciating pain waiting for my dental appointment that a friend offered to smoke one with me to help ease my pain. He is a firm believer in the benefits of marijuana and other “herbal remedies”. We smoked and the pain was well under control. One example that marijuana does not always alter a person’s abilities or status in life. Another example, that marijuana is effective for pain control, per my own trial. In 2001, Canada became the first country in North America to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. (Roach) Before obtaining any marijuana in Canada, each citizen must first have a license. This license is his/her proof of medical necessity for the use of marijuana in Canada. In some cases, these citizens can grow their own crop. If these citizens have licensure and decide to grow a crop, they must be approved by the Canadian Government to grow for medicinal purposes for themselves only and not for commercial use by others. Legalized medicinal marijuana also exists in fifteen states in The United States of America, as well. These states include; Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. When speaking of ways to use medicinal marijuana, some think it can only be smoked. That is a very wrong assumption to make. THC or Tetrahydrocannibanol, is the main component of marijuana that effects the human body. This effect can be obtained by not just smoking from a bowl, bong, or joint, but can also be used in cooking or baking or for some a pill form can be used. Smoking medicinal marijuana effects depend on the potency and how much is smoked. Smoking effects can last for two to three hours. (Cannibis 4/20/11) Oral consumption of medicinal marijuana effects take longer to obtain and generally last longer. Oral effects can last for four to ten hours depending on the amount consumed. One benefit of consuming medicinal marijuana is avoiding the harmful toxins that smoking can place in your lungs. These methods of using medicinal marijuana depend on personal preference and such benefits from each may include; appetite stimulation, anti-nausea, decrease intraocular pressure for patients with glaucoma, decrease muscular pain and plasticity, and decrease of neuropathic pain. Medicinal marijuana not only has benefits on the human body but also adverse side effects. Some of these physical adverse side effects may include; “dry mouth, nausea, headache, nystagmus, tremor, decreased coordination, increased heart rate, altered Pulmonary status, altered body temperature, reduced muscle strength, decreased blood flow, increased food consumption.” (Table 2 Medical Implications) Some neuropsychiatry adverse side effects are, “anxiety and panic, paranoia, confusion, aggressiveness, hallucinations, sedation, altered libido, possible suicidal ideation, depersonalization, poor sense of time, worsened short term memory, addictive behaviors and a motivational syndrome.” (Table 3 Medical Implications) These all seem to be kind of serious to me until you’re faced with a debilitating disease. So given all the information we have on marijuana and THC and that there are possible medical uses I think that maybe the government should lower their rating of a “Schedule 1 drug”. Make it easier for credible research to be done on debilitating diseases so that maybe we can spend more time with our loved ones and friends. Even for ourselves, I don’t want to loose a fight against any disease and it should be our choice as to what we are willing to administer to our own body. When you’re faced with any medical condition you go and see your doctor right' Therefore should only concern you, your family and your doctor. So as you can tell there is much more to just smoking weed but a whole range of what possibilities there is for marijuana and THC. Besides as far back in history the uses of marijuana, their seeds and there byproduct hemp goes, I think that their uses will go on just as long after we are gone. Who knows maybe by the time that comes we just might have found the cure for cancer or HIV/AIDS or maybe even space travel.