Marijuana is likewise known as pot, weed and grass but the formal name of its is really cannabis. It comes from the foliage as well as blooms of the plant Cannabis sativa. It is regarded as an illegal substance in the US and a lot of places & possession of marijuana is a crime punishable by law. The FDA classifies marijuana as Schedule I, substances that have a very high potential for abuse and in addition have zero proven medical use. Over the years a few studies state that a number of things found in marijuana have healing use, particularly in terminal illnesses including cancer and AIDS. This started a fierce debate over the pros and cons of the use of medical marijuana. To settle the controversy, the Institute of Medicine published the famous 1999 IOM report entitled Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. The report was thorough but did not give a clear cut yes or no answer. The opposite camps of the medical marijuana issue often cite part of the article in their advocacy arguments. Nevertheless, though the report clarified many things, it don't settled the controversy permanently.
Let's take a look at the problems which support why medical marijuana must be legalized.
(1) Marijuana is a natural herb and appears to have been used from South America to Asia as an herbal medication for millennia. In this point in time when the all natural and organic are crucial health buzzwords, a naturally occurring herb like marijuana may very well be much more attractive to and safer for consumers than synthetic drugs.
(2) Marijuana has strong healing potential. Several studies, as summarized in the IOM report, have observed that cannabis can be utilized as analgesic, e.g. for treatment of pain. A few scientific studies indicated that THC, a marijuana component is very effective in treating chronic pain experienced by cancer patients. Nonetheless, studies on acute pain like those knowledgeable during surgical treatment as well as trauma have inconclusive reports. A few scientific studies, also summarized in the IOM report, have shown that some marijuana elements have antiemetic qualities and are, therefore, effective against vomiting and nausea, which are common unwanted side effects of cancer chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy. Some researchers are convinced that cannabis has some healing potential from neurological diseases such as for instance multiple sclerosis. Specific elements extracted from marijuana have strong healing potential. Cannobidiol (eagle hemp cbd gummies for arthritis (home-page)), a big part of marijuana, has been found to have antioxidant, anticancer, and antipsychotic properties. Other cannabinoids have been proven to avoid high intraocular pressure (IOP), a major risk factor for glaucoma. Drugs which contain active components present in marijuana but have been synthetically manufactured in the lab had been authorized by the US FDA. A good example is Marinol, an antiemetic agent suggested for nausea and vomiting related to cancer chemotherapy. The active ingredient of its is dronabinol, a synthetic delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
(3) On the list of major proponents of medical marijuana is the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), a US-based organization. Many medical professional societies and groups have expressed their support. As an example, The American College of Physicians, recommended a re-evaluation of the Schedule I classification of marijuana in their 2008 position paper. ACP also expresses the strong support of its for research into the therapeutic task of marijuana in addition to exemption from federal criminal prosecution; municipal liability; or professional sanctioning for medical professionals that prescribe as well as dispense medical marijuana in accordance with state law. In the same way, protection from criminal or civil penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws.
(4) Medical marijuana is legally used in several developed countries around the world The argument of if they will undertake it, why not us? is yet another good point. Several places, like Canada, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, and Finland have legalized the therapeutic use of marijuana under stringent prescription control. A number of states in the US will also be permitting exemptions.
Now here are the arguments against medical marijuana.
(1) Lack of information on efficacy as well as safety. Drug regulation relies on safety first. The protection of marijuana and its components still must first be established. Efficacy only comes next. Even when marijuana has several helpful health effects, the benefits should outweigh the risks for it to looked into for medical use. Unless marijuana is shown to be better (safer and much more effective) than drugs currently available in the industry, the approval of its for medical use may be a great deal of shot. Based on the testimony of Robert J. Meyer of the Department of Health and Human Services having access to a drug or medical treatment, without realizing the way to use it or even in case it is good, does not be beneficial to anybody. Simply having access, without getting safety, efficacy, and adequate use information doesn't help patients.