Marijuana Use For Medical And Recreational Purposes

The use of medical marijuana (slang: Acapulco gold, ace, bhang, cannabis, hash, dope, ganja, grass, weed, hashish oil, hemp, home-grown, honey oil, indica, Jamaican roach, sativa, sinse, sinsemilla, tea, weed oil) has a been a major topic of debate for countless years. People all around the United States have seen propaganda of some sort regarding the legalization of marijuana. For example, with the ongoing discussion of legalization throughout the states, it’s abruptly mentioned in the news, everyday conversations, school topics for debate, and within stories of social media. In the article, “Is marijuana prohibition coming to an end”, Michelle Johnson a North Carolina journalist, states “Legalizing marijuana for a medical or recreational

Marijuana is composed of approximately over four hundred chemicals. According to the Mayo Clinic "Marijuana contains at least 60 chemicals called cannabinoids. Researchers are evaluating how effective some of these cannabinoids might be in controlling symptoms of certain medical conditions. For example: THC, an abbreviation for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the main component responsible for marijuana's mind-altering effect. It also may help treat signs and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting that are associated with a number of medical conditions. Cannabinol and cannabidiol, these compounds have some of the properties of THC, but cause less psychoactive effects — the high. [...]” Medical marijuana can be used to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from anxiety to more life threatening diseases like cancer.

Marijuana is a plant that people use for various reasons, whether that is for medicinal, recreational, social, personal, religious or nutritional uses. Recreational cannabis (marijuana), is designed to help get people high, the compound that recreational users chase is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana, which bonds with specific receptors in the brain to produce a number of effects. It can have a sedative effect, relax your inhibitions, increase your appetite, lower your blood pressure and many other factors. Marijuana can also interfere with your short-term memory, lower your reaction time and make you unsteady and off balance. Even though marijuana has been classed as an illegal drug, there are some negatives, there are many studies that prove marijuana is less harmful to our bodies than other legal dangers, such as drinking or smoking.

Medical marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a controversial topic because many find it beneficial as others find the usage to be recreational. Throughout the years, medical marijuana has gone through periods of times in which it was legal and illegal. Over the years laws have been developed in order to try and regulate the usage of the drug. Studies have shown many the benefits of treating diseases and symptoms. Today it is used in treatment with many different diseases and disorders such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, and multiple sclerosis. As medical marijuana has different species and uses of the product, it is important to depict where the drug can be used for treatment. The usage of this drug enables patients to have a more positive and livable outcome with treatments.

"Various forms of medicinal cannabis have provided mostly positive responses for patients with different types of pain: Neuropathic, chronic, postoperative, and that related to fibromyalgia, rhematoid arthritis, mutiple sclerosis and cancer" (Borgelt, Franson, & Nussbaum, 2013). In a study outlined in the article The Pharmacologic and Clinical Effects of Medical Cannabis, which evaluated smoked cannabis compared to placebo, significant improvements in pain were observed. The study included 56 patients and used cigarettes wtih varying THC contents. In general, a higher THC content (up to 9.4%) appears to be more effective for pain relief (Borgelt, Franson, & Nussbaum, 2013).

The use of Cannabis (Marijuana) for medical treatment is gaining momentum across the United States. Currently twenty three states and the District of Columbia have passed bills legalizing medical marijuana for treatment of cancer, AIDS, PTSD, neuromuscular disease and various other health issues (Medical Marijuana Pros and Cons, 2014). On May 3, 2013, Representative Robert Hagan (Democrat- Youngstown) introduced HB 153 ( a reintroduction of HB 214 to the 129th Ohio General Assembly) to the 130th Ohio General Assembly to legalize medical marijuana for patients and provision for statutory protection regarding medical use of marijuana (Ohio Legislative Service Commission, 2014).

(Breene, Sophia). Cannabidiol contains pain relieving, anti-inflammatory and antipsychotic properties which makes many doctors believe that medical marijuana, or drugs made from cannabidiol at the very least, can help with “cancer related pains, pain from HIV or AIDS, [and] pain related to multiple sclerosis.” (Nampiaparampil, Devi) Medical marijuana works similar to opioids by binding to receptors in the brain however with medical marijuana THC mimics the natural neurotransmitter anandamide, (Breene, Sophia) a chemical that boost memory and learning, dulls pain, and stimulates appetite, by replacing it and binding itself with another neurotransmitter called dopamine, the chemical that mediated pleasure in the body. (Mandala, Anany). Do to THC’s interruption of the brain's natural processes, and the affects of smoke being inhaled when marijuana is consumed, medical marijuana may not be the alternative people are looking

Despite the hurdles the federal government has long surrounded the study of marijuana with, discoveries have been made, and relief has been granted to countless individuals. Relief to people like chemotherapy and HIV patients that have lost their appetite, who upon beginning their treatment with marijuana, were finding themselves able to eat again. In fact, beyond assisting with appetite issues in cancer patients, early studies show the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, causes death in cancer causing cells

As a state legislator, if I took on the utilitarian method that means I would do the greater good for the greatest amount of people in the situation, which means my decision has to be based on the greater good for everyone (Johnson 157). Without thinking of my personal beliefs or values, I think of those around me instead. But until the eighteenth and nineteenth century we did not have a definition for this kind of act, now it is known as Utilitarianism (Johnson 157). If I had to make the decision on if I should vote for the use of marijuana for medical usage such as helping cancer and glaucoma while using utilitarianism I would need to use the four steps. The first step to prepare my decision would be to identify the action under consideration, which would be to vote to legally allow the marijuana for cancer and glaucoma patients (Johnson 157). The second step is to acknowledge all who are affected by this action, such as myself, the patients, the doctors, the community, and technically the nation (Johnson 157). The third step is to realize the good and the bad consequences from this decision, so the good would to take pain away from the patients but the bad would be if people start to use it for non- medical reasons (Johnson 157). It also could be a good consequence because it could lead to scientists and doctors to use marijuana to explore these diseases to try to create a cure. And in the end game, that is what it is all about is to try to find a cure for these

cThere have been numerous amounts of research done on the use of medical marijuana. In the past 10 years, in the amount of research done on medical cannabis has increased significantly. Different research have done a variety of different studies on cannabis, cannabis based extracts, synthetic cannabinoids and how the medication is delivered via smoking, vaporization, oral, sublingual or mucosal routes (Grant, Atkinson, Gouaux, and Wilsey, 2012). Research has shown that cannabis significantly helped individuals with chronic pain. One study gave medical marijuana to patients who were currently suffering for HIV peripheral neuropathy (Maule, 2015). The research showed that the individuals who received medical marijuana showed significantly higher pain relief than the placebo group (Maule, 2015).

Marijuana is the name for several breeds of the Cannibus sativa l. plants. This plant most commonly seen on the evening news, the drug is Delta-9-tetrahydocannabinol (THC) and I refer to the plant as "Mary Jane". Typically Mary Jane is extremely short, produces very poor fibers, and has high THC concentration in its buds. Hemp plants, Mary Jane's brothers, are distinguished by towering over thirteen feet high, poor production of THC, and exceptionally strong fibers. Hemp is a largely ignored plant because of the bad rap that its sister gets as a vice, generated by energy, legal and illegal drug, and paper industries; all of these industries are threatened by the industrialization of marijuana. I ask you to now read on to what I have to say

We know there are numerous medical benefits of marijuana, but others are uncharted territory since only limited research can be done on an illegal drug. We also know the therapeutic effects of marijuana are based on science. Marijuana contains 60 active ingredients known as cannabinoids (Zimmermann). The primary one is THC which targets the CB1 receptor in the brain, liver, kidneys, lung, and nervous system. The CB1 receptor helps the person handle pain. In fact, the FDA has approved two chemically altered forms of THC that are used for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Another cannabinoid is CBD which reduces pain and inflammation, has been shown to control epileptic seizures, and may even be a treatment for mental illness and addition. Recent animal studies of THC and CBD show that it may help kill

Although marijuana continues to be classified federally as an illegal narcotic, several states have passed laws to allow the use of cannabis (marijuana) as a medicine. "Dozens of peer-reviewed studies," combined with the support of various medical organizations, have slowly paved the way for the use of marijuana to treat illnesses and medical conditions ("Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?"). The illnesses and medical conditions that have been explored most in research include anorexia, glaucoma, epilepsy, and nausea. In addition to the support of the scientific and medical communities, some government reports also substantiate the claim that marijuana should cease to be stigmatized as a drug ("Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?"). Marijuana has a long history of use in more than one culture around the world, from Asia to the Americas. It is a natural plant substance, albeit one that contains psychoactive substances that cause a "high." Thus, the use of marijuana for medical purposes remains a controversial topic.

Marijuana is a herbal drug produced from Cannabis Sativa L., that has been used as a psychoactive drug from 2900 B.C.1 Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, and making possession is illegal in most states in America. The drug use in the past was not a major public concern. Also, the lack of scientific knowledge allowed many people use the cannabis as a medicine legally in the United States. Since the United States constituted the first law of outlaw of opium exclusion act in 1909, there were no more free to importation of opium, especially Marijuana in the pharmacy.2

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