Marijuana used to be considered a dangerous, illicit drug. Now many people are beginning to see the benefits of medical marijuana. Some states have even legalized the drug for recreational use. There are undeniable medical benefits to using the drug, including using cannabis and its extracts to treat a number of illnesses. The FDA has currently approved two medications derived from marijuana, and other countries have also approved other medications as well. Even with all of this knew knowledge involving the benefits of medical marijuana, we still draw concern due to lack of research and the potentially harmful effects of the drug. Cannabis and its extracts are said to treat many diseases including those affecting the immune system, inflammation, pain, seizures, mental disorders, and even substance use disorders. After assessing a lot of evidence revolving the uses of medical marijuana, a committee of the independent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that they found a significant amount of evidence in treating muscle spasms in MS sufferers, easing nausea post chemo, as well as effectively treating chronic pain with cannabis. Although they found limited evidence in using the drug as treatment for PTSD, anxiety, IBS, and epilepsy, there are still a lot of claims to the medicinal benefits for these conditions. (Mantel, 2017. p.10-13) The powerful cannabinoids found in the plant are believed to play a major role in its "healing"
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.
There are so many diseases that can and can’t be curable. However, there are medications that can help ease the pain from different conditions. There is one medication that can be prescribed for pain is medical marijuana. Even though it’s illegal in some states, but marijuana has become the most profitable and healing vital substance. Medical marijuana, also refer to as medical cannabis, is a good herbal therapy according to health practitioners("Medical marijuana for pain and depression"). Medical marijuana has been around for centuries. Physicians back then used medical marijuana for illnesses and disorders("Medical marijuana for pain and depression"). This is used mostly for the GI System disorders (gastrointestinal
As of April 2017, 29 states in the United States have legalized medical marijuana. That now makes 58% of the 50 states that have recognized the medical benefits that marijuana can provide. Marijuana should be legalized in all states for health purposes because it can reduce seizure activity for those with epilepsy, provide better long term relief to people that have chronic pain (stemming from a variety of health issues) versus the use of opioids, and has been effective in not only treating the symptoms and side effects of cancer, but in killing cancer cells in preclinical trials as well.
“Marijuana has been shown to alleviate symptoms of a wide range of debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer 's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), epilepsy, Crohn 's disease, and glaucoma, and is often an effective alternative to narcotic painkillers.” (Merino) Medical marijuana helps increase people 's appetite, relieves symptoms of pain and diseases that affect their ability to move, and helps reduce anxiety levels when dealing with certain diseases or more intense treatments. There are also different and safer forms of using medical marijuana other than smoking such as edibles, oils, vaporizing, tinctures, transdermal patches, and beverages. “ Marijuana took away my nausea, so I could eat healthy. It took away the severe restlessness and anxiety, so I could relax. It allowed me to eat, sleep and be up and active when I was awake — all of which are critical to recovery.” (Bokland) Most medical marijuana supporters suffer from a form of cancer or other disease, medical marijuana is a safe treatment that has been proven to help people who suffer from these diseases. A group of physicians named “The Doctors for Cannabis Regulation” are the largest group of doctors that are in favor of medical marijuana legalization, deming that cannabis is far less dangerous and unhealthy for adults than both alcohol and tobacco. Even with all this information, people still refuse to allow the use of medical
Jacqueline Patterson was born with cerebral palsy. This condition makes her experience stuttering, crippling pain, and muscle imbalance. She has four children and was living in Kansas City, Missouri. Now she lives in California, where a judge determined that her cannabis use is medically necessary to ease her symptoms (Price, In Pot We Trust). Cannabis use for medical purposes and the relief of various symptoms has been around since before recorded history as the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that, “The earliest written reference is found in the 15th century BC Chinese Pharmacopeia, the Rh-Ya.” While cannabis can be used for recreational purposes, recent research and history provide evidence to its medical benefits (Procon.org, 2017). While the Chinese Pharmacopeia may not have understood the science behind medical benefits of cannabis on certain ailments, it provides a historical background into the use of medicinal cannabis. WebMD defines medical cannabis (or medical marijuana) as, “A drug that is made up of the leaves, flowers, and buds of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Medical marijuana is the use of this drug to help treat symptoms like pain, muscle stiffness (spasticity), nausea, and lack of appetite.” (WebMD, 2017) This definition provides us with a basis for what can be considered medical cannabis and what a doctor can prescribe legally. As with any other drugs like opioids, cannabis can be abused and it is important that we distinguish what can be used
Medical marijuana has been proven to an effective drug in the treatment of a number of encumbering medical conditions. A large number of legitimate medical organizations recognize the benefits of marijuana. It is far less harmful and poses fewer negative side effects than many prescription drugs, including painkillers - and patients often find it to be a more effective treatment for a variety of illnesses. However, it is perhaps the most commonly misunderstood substance in America. The usage of the drug has been widely researched and proven to be a “most viable and safe source of medicine to many Americans suffering from Aids, Glaucoma, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, and Chronic Pains” (Medical Marijuana). According to the Institute of Medicines, (1999) “marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known” (Legalization of Marijuana). More and more resources and case studies will be further discussed and practices to back up the claim, and determine marijuana’s medical value.
According to a report put out by the British Police Foundation in March 2000, cannabis has been shown to produce less harmful effects than its other legal counterparts such as alcohol and tobacco. This kind of information calls into sharper focus the question on the minds of many as to why such a plant that is not only less harmful than legal drugs but has significant health benefits has remained illegal.
When people hear the word Marijuana, many think of it as a negative object, that is not necessarily the case. In some circumstances Medical Marijuana can help many people that have illnesses or conditions that can help them relieves their symptoms. Many states have already made Medical Marijuana legal and more states are fighting to have it legalize. For many years people have turned to medical marijuana instead of painkillers and opioids which could end the “opioid crisis”.
There is a lot of controversial arguments over whether the medical field should fully embrace the use of Medical Marijuana in the treatment of patients. There is evidence based practice that proves Medical Marijuana can help treat patients with signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, Breast Cancer, Diabetes, Glaucoma, Mesothelioma, Multiple Sclerosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The lists are endless of benefits of how Medical Marijuana helps treat patient’s signs and symptoms. There is also arguments against using Medical Marijuana to treat patients. Arguments against the use of Medical Marijuana include: evidence based practice lack consistency, concerns over side effects, and that it interferes with memory, learning, judgment, and perception.
Marijuana has been used for its medicinal properties dating back to 2737 B.C. when it was used by the Chinese. From the Chinese, it began to spread throughout Asia and continually outward. Many different cultures began to use marijuana as a form of treatment for certain ailments. While there is a lot of debate on what exactly marijuana treats, there seems to be an overall consensus that it does provide some medical benefits. By delving into the history of marijuana use and its effects, one can see how this affects individuals in modern time, specifically focusing on high school/college students.
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
Medical Cannabis is one of the most controversial topics in the United States in today. Even though the FDA stating it has no medical use, twenty-eight states have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes including the treatment of inflammation, pain, seizures, mental disorders, obesity, wasting disease, glaucoma, and diseases that affect the autoimmune system including multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS. Medical cannabis also shows signs of having anti-tumor effects along with anti-nausea effects which could be a breakthrough in cancer research.
Marijuana is a very controversial topic in the U.S. today. Almost every citizen has an opinion on whether they think it could help benefit the country. What most people don't know though is that most of what they have come to believe they are wrong about. There is both medical and economic benefits that could dramatically help the county.
Marijuana is believe it or not, one of the safest ‘illegal’ drugs on Earth. It is safer than legal alternatives: alcohol or tobacco. According to CNN “1 in 8 Americans smoke marijuana on a regular basis.” the drug can provide medical benefits, lower social costs, and better the economy. Therefore Marijuana should be deemed legal for recreational and medicinal usage across America, because it provides medical benefits, lowers social cost, and betters the economy across the board.
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