Manufacturing, sealing, and the use of marijuana, has been prohibited by Federal law for over 70 years. With new knowledge that potentially marijuana could have medicinal benefits, there has been a rise in the efforts to allocate the drug in become legal. Parents and doctors alike have been trying to use medical marijuana to treat children with certain medical conditions. Unfortunately, there is an insignificant amount of data on the effects it has when administered to children as part of treating illnesses. Managing the health of children with medical marijuana is not common, but it does happen. Use of the drug for alternative treatments for certain health conditions have been legalized by several states. Although treating children with the …show more content…
According to the “DEA/ Drug Scheduling” (n.d.) marijuana, is classified as a Schedule I drug, which means that the “substance, or chemicals, is defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”. In the United States marijuana happens to be one of the largest discussed and controversial topics today. The journal article “Pots for Tots: Children and Medical Marijuana”, goes into detail about various children who have befitted from the use of medical marijuana in the treatment of epilepsy and the controversy surrounding it. There are several that question the legality of the treatment, the problem is, very little research shows that alternative medicine can be safe and effective, in order it to be able to use for these purposes. Beaning that is the case, it is extremely challenging to gain federal approval for scientific study. Also in this article it discusses the unintentional exposer children can have, and the advocacy for the use of the drug for medicinal …show more content…
“While some experts caution that the effects of the drug on child development are unknown, others point out that the same is true for other medications used to fight the pain and nausea that are currently given to children with cancer, as well as for powerful antipsychotic drugs that are used in long-term treatment of childhood mental illness”. (Rollins, 2014) Many who start off being opposed to legalizing marijuana end up fighting for the sick children, in order for them to gain access to the drug, after viewing how it helps. While medical professionals wait for further evidence on the variety of illnesses marijuana can assist, the side effects that come along with the care, and the advantages of this drug may have, parents are organizing to educate and lobby governments to change the laws for marijuana’s medical purposes in
The debate on Medical marijuana has been a controversial subject mainly because people have an abundance of opinions and very little scientific research to back up either side of the debate. The most important question here is “will medical marijuana be used for medical purposes or will it be used inappropriately?”
In today’s medical field we often see a controversy over the use of medical marijuana, but the parents of eight year old Mykayla Comstock fully support the medical use of it. In the documentary called “Stoned Kids” we learned about Mykayla, a girl who had been diagnosed with leukemia. After going through numerous chemotherapy treatments, her parents were informed by Mykayla’s doctor that the chemotherapy was not working and a full body radiation would be the next step to take in the procedure. Mykayla’s parents didn’t want to put their child through radiation because there was another option, medical marijuana.
Many physicians across North America hesitate to prescribe medical marijuana to their adult patients out of fear, why would they even start considering prescribing it to children . This fear mainly originates from the fact that as medical students in medical school, doctors learn absolutely nothing about prescribing it, therefor, cannot knowledgeably advise patients on dosage and side effects of this medication. This is quite sad considering how much benefits can come from medical marijuana, especially in paediatric care, as it useful, safe and in some cases lifesaving. The stereotype associated with "weed" forces doctors to second guess the benefits that may come from it. The fact that it is considered a Schedule 1 drug in United States
“In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis, marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care.” Francis Young, DEA Administrative Law Judge, stated. Marijuana was thought of as a drug that was enormously harmful to the user’s health and well-being, but the truth about it is that if used correctly, marijuana has the ability to alleviate a variety of medical conditions, some that were thought to be “untreatable.” An immense amount of research and evidence has proven repeatedly that marijuana is able to treat many problems that plague much of our nation. Medical marijuana needs to legalization across the United States because of its ability to aid those with respiratory issues, to assuage one’s struggle with mental disorders, and it has a profound ability to mitigate the side effects often seen with people who are burdened with cancer.
According to “ Marijuana: A Continuing Concern for Pediatricians” from the journal Pediatrics, marijuana has major effects on the human body and one’s personal life. The author feels that people need to be aware of these effects. Therefore, marijuana should not be legalized in the United States. In this article the author wants to advise people of all the effects that can take place after smoking marijuana. One of the author’s largest ideas, is that marijuana is known as a gateway drug. Therefore, the drug itself can cause addiction, and if you smoke marijuana you can likely become addicted to another type of drug. Once someone uses the drug, issues regarding school, grades, money, and a job come into play as well (Marijuana: A Continuing Concern).
“Drugs are bad for you,” a constant reminder everyone is told from the day they are born to the day that they die. As a child one doesn’t understand why drugs are bad; he just knows not to do them. Growing up some people begin to realize: although it’s against the law some people are still going to find a way to get them. There are good and beneficial drugs, and then there are drugs that are bad and malignant. One of the commonly misunderstood benefitting drug is Marijuana. In today’s society, most children and teens are taught to believe that any drug is a bad and most drugs can be. Marijuana, in contrast, is healthier and more beneficial than what society gives it credit for.
The use of medical marijuana to treat children with Epilepsy wasn’t a thought, at least until Charlotte Figi. The story of Charlotte Figi has shined a light and opened the door for many children with epilepsy. To sum it up, Charlotte had Dravet Syndrome and her seizures declined dramatically after she began taking a product called “Charlotte’s Web” extracted from marijuana. It is said that after Charlotte’s story many families who have a child with epilepsy have moved to Colorado in order to get “Charlotte’s Web”. Many kids like Charlotte would go through the day and have at least five or more seizures. Not all families can afford to pack up their home and move to Colorado to get their kids the treatment they need. If marijuana was legal everywhere in
Since the legalization of marijuana for medical use, eight out of ten states caused a decreased in teenage cannabis use. Currently in the nation there are several states that allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Government officials have different belief on medical marijuana. According to Judge Young, “Marijuana has been accepted as capable of relieving the distress of great numbers of very ill people” (“Top Ten”). The governmental figure sees potential with the use of medical cannabis. According to Walters, “Smoked marijuana damages the brain, heart, lungs, and immune system” (“Top Ten”). Walters is suggesting that this study is only going to do harm. Though there are many people who agree and disagree with cannabis use for
There are a lot of negative material out there on the negative effects of Marijuana use. However, I currently am looking at this in a whole new light now that I have watched by 4 ½ month old grandson have 4 grand mall seizures in less them a months’ time. Talk about the feeling of helplessness when his current “Psychotropic” medication (Keppra) is not working. I have researched and researched and have read about the potential positive effects of Marijuana. Cannabidiol Oil (CBD) produced from the Marijuana plant and is a non-psychotropic medication. When it comes at looking at the side effects of Medical Marijuana the seizure medications, I would take the Medical Marijuana all day long. I have a strong belief that patients should
Cannabis or marijuana has been used for medical purposes for more than five centuries. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.), marijuana is considered a Schedule I substance. Schedule I drugs have been shown to have a high potential for abuse and are not currently accepted for medical use. However, some states have permitted the use of medical cannabis for chronic medical conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, spinal cord injury/disease, glaucoma, sleep disorders, and HIV. Even though there are not many medical trials supporting the effects of medical marijuana, it appears to have some benefits in conditions mentioned above. Many health care providers believe children and adolescents may also benefit
Medical practices constantly undergo research and updates. They change as newer and better options become discovered. Medical marijuana continuously undergoes series of debates on its legality and usefulness. However, this topic requires no further debate. The pros of medical marijuana outweigh the cons. Most medical professions do not deny marijuana's potential curative powers. Also, medical marijuana holds roots in medical history. People used medical marijuana in the past due to positive effects it had. Most people do not believe that medical marijuana contains magical properties that will cure every symptom and illness. However, some diseases and symptoms would strongly benefit from medical marijuana. The problem lies with the lack of certainty that accompanies medical marijuana due to the illegality of it. As more and more physicians conduct research, the more knowledgeable people will become. The more educated people become on medical marijuana,
Medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis as medical therapy in the palliative sense to treat diseases or alleviate symptoms. This treatment modality has proven to be a highly debatable issue within the medical field due to the use of this substance as an illicit drug. “The National Youth Risk Behavior Survey monitors priority health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). The most recent survey conducted on ninth through twelfth grade students in public and private schools throughout the United States indicated that in 2011, a mean of 39.9% of participants reported ever using marijuana one or more times during their lives (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Although this substance has been most often used for recreational purposes, recent studies have shown that an increasing number of people are fighting to have legislation passed in order for the use medicinal marijuana to be made legal. The populations most affected by such legislation include those positively affected by the use of medical marijuana, patients suffering from chronic and debilitating illnesses, and those who utilize the drug for other reasons associated with recreation and personal pleasure. The issue highlights the beneficial aspect of marijuana use detailing symptom management and improving overall quality of life; and conversely,
Close your eyes and imagine for a moment. You now have a child who suffers from extreme, almost constant, terrifying seizures. Unfortunately, none of the medicine prescribed in the past has worked. In fact, some medication even makes the seizures worse. Suddenly, doctors discover a medicine that has the potential to reduce seizures and sometimes stop them all together, therefore improving your child’s quality of life. They have turned that medicine into safe drops, vapor, and pills. Would you want to at least give the medicine a try? Would you want to give your child some relief? If you answered yes, then you have just proven that it is not the medicine that people feel uneasy about, it is the stigma of the name of plant the medicine comes from, marijuana.
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
Opponents also support that marijuana may affect brain development and irritate the heart and the lungs. It may be true, but it is not a reason for criminalizing the use of marijuana since we know that smoking cigarette causes lung cancer and many heart diseases. Moreover, mental diseases such as the Parkinson’s disease and the Multiple Sclerosis can be treated with marijuana thanks to two substances it contains called cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol, which permit to reduce inflammation, control spasms, and even prevent neurological damage. For instance, an Australian mother Cheri O'Connell revealed in a report of Herald Sun News about the benefits of liquid marijuana, which she says saved her epileptic daughter Tara who was only given months to live. In fact, Tara could barely walk or talk, and she slept as much as a newborn. She endured more than 20,000 seizures every year; her condition left her parents and siblings, exhausted and scared for the future. Running out of options, they met another family, who had lost a similar battle. This family advices the O’Connell’s to try Marijuana. Then, they did so, and Tara is now seizure-free, walking, running and even dancing after one year of treatment. Cheri says, "We didn't see her having a future at all. But I can now see us being able to