Jordan Wagner

Per. 5th
1-22-15

Medical Marijuana
Medical Marijuana means the use of cannabis and its constituent
cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, as medical therapy to
treat disease or alleviate symptoms. The Cannabis plant has a history of medicinal
use dating back thousands of years across many cultures. Its usage in modern times
is controversial, and in recent years the American Medical Association, the MMA, the
American Society of Addiction Medicine, and other medical organizations have
issued statements opposing its usage for medicinal purposes. Cannabis has been
used to reduce nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy and people with HIV/AIDS,
and to treat pain and muscle spasticity; its use for other medical applications has
been studied, but there is insufficient data for conclusions about safety and efficacy.
Short-term use increases minor adverse effects, but does not appear to increase
major adverse effects.
"Marijuana itself is an unlikely medication candidate for several reasons: it is
an unpurified plant containing numerous chemicals with unknown health effects; it
is typically consumed by smoking further contributing to potential adverse effects;
and its cognitive impairing effects may limit its utility."(TNIODA, 2009). The Institute
of Medicine, run by the United States National Academy of Sciences, did a study in
1999 assessing the potential health benefits of cannabis and its other known form
cannabinoids. The study concluded that smoking cannabis is not really
recommended for the treatment providing the same relief as smoked cannabis,
there was no alternative. Also, the study pointed out the inherent difficulty in
marketing a non-patentable herb, as pharmaceutical companies will likely make
smaller investments in product development if the result is not patentable. The

Jordan Wagner
Per. 5th
1-22-15
Institute of Medicine said that there is little future in smoked cannabis as a
medically approved medication, while in the report also concluding that for certain
patients, such as the terminally ill or those with debilitating symptoms, the longterm risks are not of great concern.
"The dangers of cannabis and the lack of clinical research supporting its
medicinal value"(IOF, 1999). The American Society of Addiction Medicine in March
2011 issued a white paper recommending a stop to the use of marijuana as
medication in the U.S., even in states where it had been declared legal. Medical
Marijuana is kind of effective in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Other
studies have found cannabinoids to be more effective than some conventional
antiemetic like: prochlorperazine, promethazine, and metoclopramide in controlling
CINV, but these arent used as much because of side effects including dizziness,
dysphasia, and hallucinations. Long-term cannabis use may cause nausea and
vomiting, a condition known as cannabinoid hyper emesis syndrome.
Evidence is lacking for both efficiency and safety of cannabis and
cannabinoids in treating patients with HIV/AIDS or for anorexia associated with
AIDS. Cannabis appears to be a little bit effective for the treatment of chronic pain,
including pain caused by neuropathy and possibly that due to fibromyalgia and
rheumatoid arthritis. But the big thing was the benefits might now out due all of the
risks that could happen. The use of cannabis in neurological problems, including
multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and movement problems, isnt clear at all. Studies of
the efficiency of cannabis for treating multiple sclerosis have produced different
results. The combinations of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol extracts give
subjective relief of spasticity, though objective post-treatment assessments do not

Jordan Wagner
Per. 5th
1-22-15
reveal significant changes. A trial of cannabis is said to be a reasonable option if
other treatments have not been effective.
With all of this information I believe that it definitely has its benefits as it does
its risks. If I was in charge of making legal or illegal I would make some very strict
rules and restrictions on what type and how much you could have and use. To me
this could get out of hand if they legalize it all, because I think people will overuse it
more than they already do all around the world. This is probably the most talked
about and discussed problem in many states in America and I think this will always
be a back and forth decision. I do not think anyone will ever come to a compromise
on complete legalization.

Resources

www.medicalmarijuana.procon.org
www.drugfacts.org
www.drugpolicy.org
Google.com