Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is largely known for its use as a psychoactive drug and medicine. It’s become a controversial issue as many people are against legalizing it because they believe it is a gateway drug (a drug that isn’t necessarily addictive, but can lead the user to use more addictive drugs) or for other reasons. Others, such as Daniel J. Pfeifer, support the legalization of marijuana for recreational and/or medicinal use. As a law student, Pfeifer argues the federal government’s involvement and laws concerning the medicinal use of marijuana because he believes that the federal government is violating bodily autonomy rights. Pfeifer defends his stance by citing the benefits of medical marijuana, criticizing federal organizations such as the FDA who have prevented research and denied the medical value of the drug, and discussing the unalienable human right to health. However, Pfeifer neglects to provide regulations to distinguish those who are addicted to marijuana and those who need it for medicine which weakens his argument significantly.
According to Daniel Pfeifer, marijuana has been used medicinally for over five thousand years, originating in China wherein it was used to treat malaria and rheumatic discomfort. Cannabinoids such as THC are the main cause of pain relief in marijuana. THC can also eliminate the “loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting” in cancer patients. For many cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, treatments and drugs, such as
Nevertheless, it is proven fact marijuana frequently contributes aid to the struggles which accompany several severe illnesses. For example, marijuana treats the side effects of the treatment of AIDS. Vomiting and nausea are significantly reduced, as well as appetites being increased (qtd. in “Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine”). The substance also assists with intense effects which come from chemotherapy. Constant feelings of nausea are diminished and stomach sensitivity is lessened. Those who have used marijuana, while undergoing cancer treatment, have experienced better results than when using brand name medications. Not only does it help with the effects of treatment, in some cases it stops the disease from progressing or happening (qtd. in “Ibid”). In epilepsy patients who used cannabis, it allowed them to reduce their dosage of other medications and in some cases prevented the epileptic seizure from occurring in other patients (Kubby and Rosenthal 68).
Marijuana has survived the passing of time and still helps the sick today. The advanced stages of treatment for patients with Cancer, AIDS and other diseases often include, terrible nausea, vomiting, and different types of pain. Patients have reported much relief from
Marijuana, also call “cannabis” is a plant grown all over the world. In the resin of this plant are multiple variations of “cannabinoids”, according to the National Cancer Institute cannabinoids are “active chemicals in cannabis that cause drug like effects throughout the body, including the central nervous system, and the immune system” (National Cancer Institute). This being said many people would argue that anything altering the mental, or cognitive function of an individual should be made illegal, and yet many pharmaceutical drugs, as well as alcohol do just that. One active cannabinoid in cannabis is “cannabidiol” (National Cancer Institute), this cannabinoid can reduce anxiety, pain, and lower inflammation. These effects can even be harnassed without activating the cannibinoids giving the user a “high”. Many cancer patients are exposed to chemotherapy, causing high levels of vomiting and nausea, the effects of cannabidiol could greatly reduce the
Chronic pain is a tremendous public health problem, and a costly one. As health care advances and the need for palliative care rises, patients and health care providers are constantly investigating alternative methods of pain treatment and management. Questioning and challenging traditional health policies and practices has created an interest in the use of cannabis as an alternative option to standard opioids, for the management of chronic pain. Cannabis, or marijuana, is a leafy green plant consisting of buds and leaves of the cannabis sativa forma indica plants. Marijuana has been used in holistic solutions for hundreds of years; it has also been especially prevalent among terminally ill cancer patients, who have been reported using it to alleviate symptoms like chronic pain, nausea and depression.
Further, there are many proven medical benefits of marijuana. Currently, marijuana is being used to treat glaucoma, and it has been shown to significantly reduce nausea in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Additionally, people with HIV/AIDS and other terminal illnesses use marijuana to stimulate their appetites and to reduce various side effects of pain medications. Marijuana can also be used for the treatment of pain and muscle spasms in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. Scientists report that cannibidiol; one of the chemicals found in marijuana, slows growth of breast cancer cells growing in laboratory dishes, and can even result in shrinkage of cancerous brain tumors in laboratory animals. Evidence for marijuana’s effectiveness in treating, or reducing the symptoms of, arthritis, insomnia, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches and Tourette’s syndrome is also very promising. The most
Marijuana in the medical field has countless usages from dealing with chronic pain to helping cancer patients with nausea. “Two of the most important treatments, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, also cause damage and often, severe vomiting” (McKinley). Cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are essential in treatments for cancer though it often can result in extreme vomiting in the patients receiving treatments. Medicinal marijuana can help patients with their nausea and vomiting. If the vomiting ceases while using marijuana, the individual’s appetite is sure to increase making it easier for the individuals to sustain an adequate weight as cancer patients are most of the time under weight. “The smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to
In this paper I discuss why Cannabis should not be liberated in the United States. My focus and concerns are to the harm Cannabis is bringing to society now a days. In the United States more people are being influenced and being in favor of this famous “Drug Addiction” causing by illusions as ignorance is taking over and affecting a nation that is role models to many other nations. Awareness of after effects of drugs are being hidden and taken for granted as people keep on living this irresponsible life not thinking of the future. In this paper, I will consider some information based on my side of the argument.
Until very recently the only research that has been conducted on the medical use of Cannabis has been for the relief of cancer patients. The primary use at this point has been for the relief of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy (Nantional Cancer Institute, 2014). Some of the other uses have been for anorexia and cachexia in HIV/AIDS, chronic, especially neuropathic pain, spasticity in multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury (Nantional Cancer Institute, 2014). The scientific data collected over the years is precisely clear that the use of medical Cannabis is needed and should be allowed everywhere in the United States.
Imagine that your only father is lying in a hospital bed with one of the many life-threatening ailments. The disease has left him with nothing but agonizing pain and he only has a short time to live. Wouldn’t you like to see him live the last weeks of his life not having to deal with the pain? Sure you would, however, this would only be possible by the use of a drug called marijuana. Cancer patients smoke marijuana to dispel the nausea and vomiting they get from chemotherapy and to alleviate pre-treatment anxiety. The drug was first recorded as a medicine in Chinese pharmacopoeia in 2727BC (CNN Interactive). An AIDS patient might use marijuana to improve their appetite, while it also reduces the muscle pain cause by Multiple Sclerosis. It
When doing chemotherapy people are often given prescriptions to medical use of marijuana now why do you think this is? Well Chemotherapy induces nausea and vomiting, with the help of research from some helpful researchers they have tested several cannabis products and the ability to suppress the pain and nausea/vomiting from chemo (N. A.
FDA-approved cannabinoids have been found to be very effective for curing nausea, as specified previously. Not only were the cannabinoids effective in curing chemotherapy-related nausea, but is a medication and treatment preferred by those suffering with chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting compared to other medications. Cannabinoids can provide a great sense of euphoria and a high level of sedation. Receptors for cannabinoids are primarily found in the brain and spinal cord, but are also found throughout the body. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the primary sources of cannabinoids found in medical marijuana. THC induces the feeling of euphoria, whereas CBD provides anti-anxiety effects. It can be smoked,
Cannabis usage has become a very controversial topic within the health industry. The psychoactive substance Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has proven to assist in the relief of nausea, which is associated with cancer chemotherapy, and in stimulating the patients appetite (Voth & Schwarts 1997, cited in Dennis & White
The Consensus Conference convened by the National Institutes of Health in 1997 concluded that THC, the active substance in cannabis, would be useful in the medical treatment of chronic pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea during cancer treatment. Additionally, the consultants present at the conference unanimously concurred that medical
Marijuana is the most essential and therapeutically active substance that has been discovered by man. Therefore, medical cannabis refers to the use of the cannabis drug as recommended herbal therapy by physicians. This is mostly known as antiemetic. The experimental demonstration of marijuana’s significant properties thousands of years ago proves that it is one of the most essential substances that can be used in manufacturing drugs (Minamide). As provided from the ancient Indians, its psychoactive properties were realized which triggered its use by doctors to treat a variety of ailments and illnesses. This argument has been supported by the modern scientific experiment in the United States. Researchers have found that marijuana was greatly important in treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, pain reliever mostly in childbirth. In addition, they also found out that smoking marijuana reduces pain, especially with patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, and chemotherapy (Minamide). In the recent past, marijuana has been found to be an important substance on AIDs patients where it reduces nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss. Moreover, it was recognized as a significant substance in relieving glaucoma eye pressure. It was also shown that it plays a vital role in Multiple Sclerosis. It reduces muscle pain, spasticity, and reduces diseases that cause body tremors. Epilepsy,
The use of cannabis toward medicine should not be shocking to anyone, since it has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, it has been under medicinal aid for an estimated 5,000 years. Western medicine truly grasped marijuana’s medicinal abilities in the 1850’s. Infact, doctors documented over one hundred papers about how marijuana helped numerous disorders, such as nausea, glaucoma, movement disorders, pain relief, depression, and anxiety. It also helps cancer patients and those with HIV or Aids. Currently, many American patients have access to marijuana use so that they can have effective treatments for their illnesses. Medical marijuana use is achievable because