Medical marijuana

Medical marijuana

Attention

Did you know that people have used marijuana since 2337 BC? According to Mohamed and Amar, people have used cannabis form of medicine since 2737 BCE (2). Did you also know that marijuana plant is one or the top sources of the medicine that is consumed by human beings today? The cannabis plant has also been ranked as one of the top 50 major plants used in as a source of medicine by the Chinese since time immemorial (Wong 23). Medical marijuana is part of marijuana referred to as cannabis, which is used as a doctor-recommended therapy, or herbal medicine. It can also be in form of cannabinoid, which is a synthetic form of medicine.

Need

Today, medical marijuana can be used in treating most of the major illnesses that the world faces today. Many countries have prohibited the use of medical marijuana by its citizens. Therefore, there is a need to make these states comprehend the merits of using medical marijuana for medical purposes. Most of the major illnesses in the world today can be successfully managed using medical marijuana. In Africa, medical cannabis has been successfully used from the 15^th century especially during child birth, snake bites, asthma and even in cases of blood poisoning.

Although uses of the cannabis medicine have been faced with both rejection and acceptance by various societies, it has medical value. According to Aggarwal et al., cannabis has many beneficial results in medical therapy (153). These include: nausea amelioration, amelioration of vomiting, management of cancer patients through chemotherapy where it is used to stimulate hunger, treatment of glaucoma where it is used in lowering of intraocular pressure of the eye and treatment of illnesses of the gastric canal (Joy et al.13). Medical marijuana has also been used for analgesic purposes.

Satisfaction

Researchers have found Medical marijuana to be more effective in treatment of some illnesses than other synthetic medicine. For example, in clinical use, Medical marijuana has been found to be very effective especially in treatment of asthma, neurogenic pains and glaucoma (Grotenhermen 124). Many patients with eye problems and gastric canal related illnesses have been successfully treated using this medicine. Medical cannabis is also effective in treating fibromyalgia, adrenal illnesses and migraines (Russo 31). As a result, many people suffering from persistent headaches have been treated using medicine originating from the cannabis herb. This is used for purposes of relieving pain. Medical cannabis also relieves the impacts of injuries, for example in the spinal cord and even in multiple sclerosis.

Other illnesses and conditions have also been successfully treated using medical marijuana, for example alcohol abuse, arthritis, arthrosclerosis, colorectal cancer, depression, epilepsy, hepatitis, sleep apnea, post-traumatic stress, sickle-cell and even dystonia. This implies that most of the common illnesses in the world today can be managed through the use of medical marijuana. Some of these illnesses are terminal and the patients suffer a great deal due to States’ regulations against the use of medical marijuana.

For successful results medical marijuana is administered in various form of vapor, smoking of buds that have been dries, making extract and eating or drinking it, and inform of capsules that are swallowed with water or soup. It is also available in form of cannabinoids in various countries, for example in the US and Canada, it is available as Merinol, and in Mexico and United Kingdom it is available as synthetic Casamet. These are some of the countries that have allowed medical use of marijuana. Such countries include the United States, Spain, Italy, Israel, Portugal and many others. However, in the U.S, some states still prohibit its use. On the other hand, many people have been using marijuana for recreational purposes. This has been declared illegal in most countries.

The argument by critics of medical marijuana that it has adverse effects on tics has been found futile through research. For example, according to Robertson, cannabis was found to lack negative effect on tics, in fact, it increased the inner tension of a patient (425). The medical use of cannabis has very minute toxic levels. Toxic materials originating from medical cannabis do not pose any threat to life. It is therefore safe to use it, especially where it is not smoked but vaporized or ingested orally. Smoking medical marijuana has negative effects both on the environment and on the patient. This is because the smoke of cannabis has inorganic and organic chemical compounds, for example, tar that is carcinogenic. These compounds damages the DNA just like tobacco smoking does. In fact, the chemicals that cause cancer are about 50% more in cannabis than in tobacco.

Visualization

With the adaptation of smoking ban in many countries, smoking of medical marijuana is faced with great opposition. Critics are therefore opposed to administration of medical marijuana through smoking. They argue that it has a great potential for abuse, is not acceptable in many countries and states, and that it requires close medical supervision. Without the presence of a medical doctor, then it can be abused. These critics should be made to understand that just like any other medicine medical marijuana can be administered by qualified medical professionals hence these negative effects can be curbed. Every medicine can be abused if the patient is irresponsible.

Critics also argue that smoking of medical marijuana poses a health risk since it is unpurified, hence may contain chemical compounds that may have undesirable effects on the consumer. However with the current trends in medical marijuana research these side-effects can be eliminated through more researches by the medical cannabis centers.

The other argument is that too much use of medical marijuana may also result in a mental condition referred to as schizophrenia (Anon 2). The argument is that there is a likelihood of the schizophrenic people to be attracted to the abuse of medical marijuana, or the medical marijuana users become schizophrenic. However, with proper attention from a medical practitioner, this effect can be controlled just like in any other medicine.

Others argue that medical marijuana administered through smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer by 8% (Beckert et al. 280). This indicates that if a patient uses medical marijuana through smoking method of administration for many years, they may develop lung cancer, which is a terminal illness. However, if administered though vaporization and ingestible pills this effect is curbed. It is therefore true that medical marijuana can be used and administered through these means only and prove very effective. This is a safe, effective and healthy way of administering it.

Action

Every state in the world should embrace the use of medical marijuana since it has more benefits than losses. States that have prohibited the use of medical marijuana should also reconsider their decision since many states are in the verge of legalizing the medical use of marijuana, for example, state of Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii and many others, especially with the medical marijuana movement in the United States. Some non-governmental organizations are also working hard to ensure that everyone is legally allowed to access medical marijuana and its value, for instance, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. States should enact regulations to ensure that this medicine is used only with the advice of medical professionals instead of banning its use.

States should focus on the many benefits of medical marijuana, especially when administered by a qualified medical professional. Medical marijuana has many health benefits. It can even prolong the lives of patients that are terminally ill. Researchers have also proved that the negative impacts of Medical marijuana are minimal. States and governments should therefore allow for the medical use of marijuana, with the aid of medical practitioners.

Works cited

Aggarwal, Simon., et al. “Medicinal use of cannabis in the United States: historical perspectives current trends, and future directions”. J Opioid Manag 5.3 (2009) pp.153–68

https://docs.google.com/fileview? =1Lay summary – SF Weekly (15 September 2009).

Anon, Jea,. “Medical marijuana and the mind”. Harvard Mental Health Letter 26 .10 (2010) pp. 1–3.

Joy, Janet et al. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. 1999. p. 13.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309071550.

Mohamed, Ben and Amar Jes,. Cannabinoids in medicine: A review of their therapeutic Potential. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 105 .1 (2006). Pp.1–25.

http://www.doctordeluca.com/Library/WOD/WPS3MedMj/CannabinoidsMedMetaAnaly sis06.pdf.

Robertson, M. M,. Tourette syndrome, associated conditions and the complexities of treatment. Brain: A journal of neurology 123 .3 (2000) pp.425–62.

Wong, Ming. La Médecine chinoise par les plantes. Paris: Tchou.(1976).