Marijuana has long been a schedule one drug in the United States of America. Starting in the 1930’s marijuana was demonized1 and quickly placed on the list of illegal substances in America in 1937. Many say that this demonization was a result of racism (most marijuana users at the time were Mexican and African-American) and a propaganda campaign propagated by William Randolph Hearst, who aimed to eliminate a growing threat, to the paper industry he controlled, from the hemp industry. Medicinal marijuana is currently one of the most widely debated topics in America and average Americans are learning about the beneficial uses of marijuana and the hemp crop. Twenty-three states and Washington D.C. have already approved medical marijuana and states …show more content…
Seventy-five patients were asked to submit their experiences with oral cannabis extracts, which are legal in Colorado. Of the seventy-five, 57% reported improvement in seizure control. 33% reported a less than 50% improvement in epileptic attacks. One problem with this study is that not all participants in oral cannabis extract therapy responded. Of the families that moved to Colorado to treat their children with oral cannabis extract only 47% responded. Of the oral cannabis extract patients that already lived in Colorado only 22% of families responded. The overall consensus of this study was that controlled experiments and double blind studies have to be undertaken to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral cannabis extracts to treat pediatric …show more content…
The other 86 cannabinoids have not been studied thoroughly. This raises crucial questions about the proper dosing and type of cannabis that should be used to treat epilepsy. Also we can ask, what kinds of epilepsy can be treated with marijuana? And, can marijuana have adverse effects on epilepsy patients? Anecdotal reports are not enough to tell physicians the answers to these questions and many others. This is why it is of the utmost importance to begin extensive experimentation of the cannabis plant. One reason why our society has had a slow response to this call-to-action is because marijuana cannot be patented, therefore many pharmaceutical companies are not interested in exploring the medical benefits of
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).
According to the United Nations, “158.8 million people around the world use marijuana—more than 3.8% of the planet’s population” (Marijuana). Marijuana has become a crucial topic throughout the world in recent years. Marijuana has been legalized medically throughout many countries, such as Australia, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay. Within the United States of America, twenty-eight states have legalized marijuana for medicinal use, the most recent legalization passed was in the state of Florida. Therefore, one can assert that medical marijuana is a controversial topic locally and globally. Medical marijuana portrays many advantages and disadvantages within society. Medical marijuana portrays many benefits to victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Medical marijuana has been one of the most controversial topics in politics for years regardings its legalization and any possible benefits. Marijuana is commonly referred to as the “gateway drug” and has been thought to be what causes the downfall of our youth in today’s society. This has caused Marijuana to earn a bad reputation due to the immense surrounding propaganda and bias opinions. Cannabis is the scientific name of the plant which is absolutely natural and free of chemicals, but the psychoactive components in the plant has been proven to be of medical use. If medical marijuana is prescribed correctly it has the potential to help thousands of patients due to the variety of benefits it can medically provide. Medical Marijuana should
The topic of marijuana, both medicinal and recreational use, has been one of controversy over the past few decades. As with any drug, the abuse or overuse of marijuana can lead to adverse health effects. These effects are especially prominent and the most influential among adolescents, which substances in general pose the most risk too. Although the developmental influence of marijuana is detrimental to this population, it is not intended for adolescent use as is the case with alcohol. According to The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) published in 2016, rates of use among adolescents has
Anti-epileptic pharmaceutical drugs are powerful drugs that children with varying forms of epilepsy are often prescribed. Current epilepsy drug affects different parts of the brain, including the brain stem, which can basically shut off the body’s critical function if dosage is significant. Marijuana doesn’t do that and is part of the reason so many doctors are changing their minds. Marijuana may be safer because of cannabidiol, which with overstimulation or inhibition, does not shut off breathing or respiration like anti-epileptic drug could cause.
Marijuana is a drug misunderstood by many nation wide however, most people do not consider it 's legitimate medicinal application. Medical marijuana defined by Drugfacts refers to the use of the whole unprocessed plant to treat a disease or illness. The Drug Enforcement Administration has listed it under the schedule I classification which is the same classification that heroin, LSD, ecstasy and many other drugs are under. The classification identifies the drug as a dangerous substance that has no recognized medicinal use as reported by the DEA. It 's classification as a highly regulated Schedule I drug makes it challenging to study its medical benefits. Due to this classification, marijuana is commonly regarded by the general public as possessing "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse" (DEA.gov). The DEA has yet to acknowledge many conducted scientific studies that point to the very tangible medical benefits of cannabinoids (Voth and Schwartz 1997). The blockade on marijuana research has caused a severe halt in reaping the benefits of THC. The drug is a better alternative than many drugs given to patients as seen in some cases of neurological disorders such as epilepsy and chronic terminal conditions like cancer, because of its "analgesic, sedative, and anticonvulsant" properties (Abood, Sorensen, and Stella 2012). Marijuana can serve as both a viable treatment option and improves the quality of life through its pain relieving capacities. While
Marijuana is a herb, also known as cannabis sativa. It is a hemp plant that refers to plant leaves and flowers. Cannabis is used for many things, mainly as a painkiller. It is also known as a relaxtion drug that gives a calm feeling to those who use it. Marijuana also has various other names, such as pot, weed and grass.
It was a beautiful Sunday morning for little Tommy. He was playing in the backyard when all of the sudden, he started vomiting constantly. His parents were concerned and rushed him to the hospital. The doctors took him in immediately and ran a series of tests. The doctors didn’t what was wrong with him until the final test. The test came back positive for colon cancer. The doctor greets the parents, and this breaks them down. The doctor suggests that he uses medical marijuana to help with the symptoms. The doctor mentions that the risks outweigh the benefits, but it will help some of his symptoms from chemotherapy. Many patients have symptoms that are very painful and uncomfortable. Many think that medical marihuana will help, but in the long
When you look at Medical Marijuana what do you see? Some people would say it’s just a drug, others would say a cure. People say it’s a waste of space and time, others say it’s a savior. How would you feel if after all the voting you done against medical usage of marijuana, was the only thing that could save your life, a family member's life, or worst of all your child's life. Just cause you may not need it, doesn’t mean others don’t. Think about others and not just yourself, saving a life is worth so much more than you may think.
Colorado legalized medical and recreational use of marijuana. Charlotte Figi was a three month old baby when she had her first seizure, as time went on they progressed and came more often lasting about 3-4 hours. She was hospitalized many times and her parents had to prepare for the possibility the these seizures she was have could kill her. The seizures she was having is called grand mal seizures, she was having about 300 of them every week, after a while of this she lost the ability to walk, talk and eat. Charlotte had some very serious seizures that sometimes made her heart stop. The doctors didn’t know what to do for the little girl any more so they suggested putting her in a medical induced coma for a little to giver her body a rest. Charlotte's father did like this idea and went and did a little research for himself. He found a video online about a boy who went through the same thing Charlotte was. He found that the boy was controlling his seizures by smoking medical marijuana. Charlotte's mom and dad decided to give it a go. They found the Stanley brothers, one of colorado’s biggest marijuana growers and dispensaries. At the time the 6 brothers were crossbreeding a strain of marijuana low in THC the chemical in marijuana that’s psychoactive and high in CBD a chemical in marijuana that has medical benefits and no psychoactive properties. Paige Figi Charlotte’s mom was the first person to give her daughter cannabis oil and after the first time her seizures stopped for 7 days. Charlotte continues to use cannabis oil as her treatment to this day. She only has seizures 2-3 times a month and can walk, talk, and eat by herself now. (Young) Kristen Courtney was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 16 which quickly turned into an autoimmune disorder that left her bedridden for four years. She had enough one day and started juicing raw cannabis and after a month, she
When discussing cannabis, understanding the different forms of medical cannabis can be useful. Herbal or botanical cannabis is any plant classified under the genus Cannabis and is typically thought of as containing three subspecies: C. indica, C. sativa, and C. ruderalis (Abuhasira, Shbiro, & Landcraft, 2018). Extracts of the plant used to produce cannabis oil are referred to cannabis extracts and include magistral preparations which are medicinal products that are prepared for patients with medical prescriptions (Abuhasira et al., 2018). Finally, cannabinoids refer to the chemical properties of the cannabis plant that activate cannabinoid receptors in the body (Abuhasira et al., 2018). There
A 2014 survey at Stanford University resulted in good reports of parents who used cannabidiol to treat their children’s seizures. According to the study 84 per cent of the parents reported that their children’s seizures were reduced with the CBD. 11 per cent reported total freedom from seizures, 42 per cent reported an 80 per cent reduction in frequency of seizures, and 32 per cent reported 25 to 60 per cent seizure reduction. Other reported benefits included better mood, enhanced sleep, and a boost in alertness. The commonly reported side effects were fatigue and
In one study completed by 137 patients suffering from varying forms of severe epileptic seizures, they were administered a liquid form of CBD on a daily basis for a period of 12 weeks to evaluate the efficacy of cannabis therapy; there was a 54% decrease in the number of seizures, with a 53% decline in patients with convulsive seizures, and a 55% decline in “atonic” seizures (results in sudden loss of muscle tone). Source:
Calling it cannabis, weed, pot, marijuana, kush, or whatever one wants to call it, most people know of its dangers, or do they? Many famous and influential people throughout history have ignored the supposed dangers of this plant and used it for their purposes. Such people include: Pharaohs, Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, former president John F. Kennedy, and even former President Obama. What then, are the purposes for which one could use marijuana. Marijuana, when used for medicinal purposes, has incredible benefits for those who have not been able to find aid by any other means; moreover, putting taxes on medicinal marijuana would stir the American economy.
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