Medical Marijuana is a common controversy in the medical society. According to Laura Borgelt, Pharm.D (2013), “your body already makes marijuana-like chemicals that affect pain, inflammation and many other processes. Marijuana can sometimes help those natural chemicals work better.” The chemical THC in marijuana is analogous to the brain chemical anandamide. Medical marijuana may not be a benefit for all conditions but the ones that it can help with can make the difference of living pain free and in some cases the difference between life and death. Although many doctors do not have faith in using medical marijuana as a substitute for common medicines, cases have shown that it can help with a variety of conditions. Medical marijuana is an effective treatment for those who have cancer and are going through chemotherapy. Medical marijuana helps to lessen the side effects of the chemotherapy such as, nausea and vomiting. Continuing Medical Education (2000) stated that nausea from chemotherapy is alleviated by marijuana. Marijuana used for vomiting and nausea has been proven highly effective. The medical marijuana serves as an appetite stimulate to help cancer treatment related anorexia. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, AACR (2007), found that medical marijuana could help slow down tumor growth. Meanwhile, some doctors like Jones, MD, PhD, and Director of the Drug Dependence Research Center (2001) say that there are other medications to take and are better treatments than medical marijuana. Even though there are many other medications available, everyone is different and sometimes other treatments than over-the-counter may be the best for a patients’ health. Despite the controversy on the effecti... ... middle of paper ... .... Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000137 MD, J. S. (2014, February 1). On medical marijuana and epilepsy. . Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/other-treatment-approaches/medical-marijuana-and-epilepsy Medical education, Inc.. (2000, January 1). Should Marijuana be a Medical Option?. . Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000137#answer-id-009521 Reuters Health. (2012, May 14). Marijuana may ease multiple sclerosis symptoms. . Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/us-marijuana-sclerosis-idUSBRE84D0RS20120514 Taylor, P. (2014, January 20). The pros and cons of medical marijuana. . Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://health.sunnybrook.ca/navigator/pros-cons-medical-marijuana/
Marijuana is a proven agent to prevent nausea in people. In 1985, the FDA approved a synthetic version of the active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol(THC). It was approved to combat nausea and vomiting that accompanies chemotherapy. In a 1988 study, 78% of 56 people said that they had received some
Proponents agree that medical marijuana can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, Aids, MS, glaucoma, and other conditions. Marijuana legalization boosted the economy such as reducing marijuana prices, saving huge prison cost, and many more. Some scientist feel that more research have shown that cannabinoids is useful in treating multiple sclerosis. Marijuana may protect nerves from the kind of damage that occurs during the disease. People believe that marijuana is less toxic than many drugs that physicians prescribe every day.
...o treat many conditions; an ancient Chinese emperor prescribed it to cure conditions such as gout and malaria, soon its healing properties were heard around the world and the use of cannabis as a medicine spread like wild fire to many other regions (Earleywine, p. 168). In fact marijuana was legal in the United States till 1942 when against the medical communities recommendation it was removed from the list of acceptable medications. Today there are numerous studies being conducted on the effects of medical marijuana and scientists have proven its effects on treating many symptoms. According to Dale H. Gieringer in his book Medical Marijuana Handbook he states, Marijuana is proven to be effective as an anti-nauseant and an appetite stimulant for people going through chemotherapy and as an analgesic for patients suffering from chronic pain (Gieringer, p. 39).
Marijuana, also known as weed, is smoked for the high, as well as for “nausea, glaucoma, appetite simulations, mucous membrane inflammation, leprosy, fever, dandruff, hemorrhoids, obesity, asthma, urinary tract infections, cough, anorexia associated with weight loss in AIDS patients, pain, and multiple sclerosis” (“Marijuana Overview Information”). Medicines to treat some of the listed ailments have not been found as of, yet so patients are suffering from pain and ongoing symptoms from their disease or illness. The only treatment for some of these ongoing symptoms and pain is medical marijuana. This is why medical marijuana is being pushed to be legalized in America. The “high” that users get from smoking marijuana relieves pain for a short period of time. Dr. Mark Ware tested cannabis (mar...
In a recent article by Okie (2005), some doctors prescribe medical marijuana to deal with chronic or neuropathic pain. Okie provides information about one patient, Angel McCleary Riach who is dependent on the drug marijuana because she found that it helped her control her pain and increase her appetite. The patient and her doctor Ludico, believed that Riach’s health will fail extremely if she is denied the use of medical marijuana, because she will not be able to bear the pain. Although the doctors in the article prescribe marijuana primarily to control pain, some have found it affective for treating muscle spasms, mood disorders, AIDS, migraines, and to increase appetite in cancer patients(Okie,2005) One doctor stated that many of their patients that are using the drug marijuana, but buying it illegally, but for the patients with a family that is too much of a risk. This is a continuous struggle in their everyday life, and without the legalization of medical marijuana these patients will continue...
This article listed the 10 most common conditions that medical marijuana has been proven to help. The list included Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, arthritis, depression, anxiety, hepatitis C, morning sickness, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and chemotherapy. Each condition provides research or some type of support to verify the benefits.
"Marijuana as Medicine: Consider the Pros and Cons." Procon.org. 08 July 2009. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. .
Marijuana is often referred to as a drug, but this “drug” has been proven to kill a portion of cancer and help other diseases. Marijuana for years has been judge as a harmful drug for teens and adults, but in reality marijuana saves lives and helps patients with pain who suffer from severe diseases. Besides helping patients with cancer, marijuana has also help people who have diabetes and anxiety. Marijuana can’t cure these diseases but it does help patients who suffer from pain keep calm and relieve their pain. “Nonetheless, cannabis has recently been the focus of medical research and considered as a potential therapeutic treatment and cure for cancer.Cannabinoids have been proven to reduce cancer cells as they have a great impact on the rebuilding of the immune system. While not every strain of cannabis has the same effect, more and more patients are seeing success in cancer reduction in a short period of time by using cannabis.” (“Cannabis...
Marijuana has been found, through clinical trials, when used by MS patients or patients with spinal cord injuries that it can relieve spasticity, pain, and tremors. In the AIDS patient, marijuana has been found to quickly relieve nausea and vomiting at the same time increasing the appetite of the patient. This has helped significantly in those patients with AIDS –wasting syndrome. When this happens, the patient who has a lowered or nonexistent immune system becomes susceptible to increased risk of infection and muscle wasting, as they are unable to eat the needed proteins and carbohydrates to support recovery.
Medically, marijuana has proven to be a productive drug. Studies show marijuana has helped dealing with “pain, muscle spasms, seizure disorders and nausea from cancer chemotherapy.” (Weir) Scientist believes these benefits come from a chemical compound in marijuana called cannabidiol. This chemical is not the active chemical that gives marijuana users the mind-altering effects. With the unce...
Medical Marijuana helps reduce pain and should be legalized. Medical Marijuana helps with more pain than prescription drugs. “1,746 Medical Marijuana patients, for instance, they found that 83% said said it relieved pain and half were using it in place of prescription drugs” (Graves,60). Medical Marijuana can help with more than pain. “CBD has been hailed as a new frontier in epilepsy treatment, with parents testifying that it managed to stop their children’s seizures when nothing else could” (Bruenig,18). Medical Marijuana led to lower drug overdose.
Marijuana can be a step in the right direction in diagnosing and treating many diseases. Medical Marijuana saves lives and helps patients deal and overcome pain due to diseases or disorders. Dr. Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, explained how marijuana can “relieve pain, nausea, and other debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis and cancer and the drugs used to treat them.” (Weil) Dr. Weil revealed how marijuana is able to target certain cancer cells without harming the healthy cells in order to help patients fighting for their lives. Dr. Weil is a supporter for the use of medical marijuana and declared “our current national policy is counter-productive and irrational.” (Weil) Currently, there are many doctors who have been and starting to advocate for the use of medical marijuana. In our advancing medical industry, we are faced with incurable diseases which ultimately can lead to a loss of life. Marijuana has been proven to help patients who suffer from pain by relieving their pain and relaxing their bodies. People must understand how marijuana is tremendously beneficial to all types of people in America whether it is used as medicine or a supplement to help people throughout their everyday lives. Marijuana is inexpensive and effortless to produce, so it can be utilized to boost our technological advancement in medicine. When more people realize the
Imagine having cancer,going through harsh chemotherapy treatments.When noticing that the treatments are causing various side effects, you begin to look for a form of medication that will help with pain.Medical marijuana is a very effective form of medication that has a lot of known benefits.Studies show that the use of medical marijuana can help with the treatment of various chronic illnesses.
But Doctors and Scientist are amazed by it’s benefits and 76% of doctors approve marijuana for medicinal purposes. “In a placebo controlled in a 2007 study in the journal Neurology, Abrams and his colleagues found that marijuana is effective at reducing neuropathic pain, or pain caused by damaged nerves, in HIV patients. Opiates, such as morphine, which is generally given for increased pain, aren’t effective for treating that sort of pain.” Also Researchers at the American Academy of Neurology have also found that medical marijuana in pills or sprays reduce stiffness of muscles and muscle spasms in MS. As well of relieving certain pain related spasms, burning, numbness, as well as an overactive bladder. Marijuana also relieves the pressure in eyes, slowing down the progression of Glaucoma and preventing blindness. One family used medical marijuana to treat their 5 year old daughter with Dravets Syndrome and the results were dramatic, their daughter, Charlotte, went from 300 seizures a week to once a week. This treatment works due to the cannabidiol in the plant interacting with the brain cells to hinder the activity in the brain that causes seizures.
Around 35 million people worldwide are infected with HIV virus and AIDS has caused approximately thirty-six million deaths since the 1980’s. Medical marijuana has been shown to be effective at treating many symptoms of these conditions. Because there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, people living with these conditions must find ways to improve their quality of life while still dealing with the pain of the disease. Medical marijuana can help treat these symptoms by working as an appetite stimulant, anti-nausea medication, antidepressant, analgesic and by reducing peripheral neuropathy. Nausea is a big problem for these patients and as the disease progresses, so does the nausea. Cannabinoids can counter the symptoms of nausea and a patient survey found that ninety-three percent of HIV-positive cannabis users found improvements in nausea after smoking (Seshata). Peripheral neuropathy is caused by damage to neurons in the peripheral nervous system. This usually occurs on top of the symptoms of other conditions, only making the pain worse for the patient. Several studies have showed that cannabis is effective in treating and reducing this pain which is extremely helpful to people fighting this