Medicine from Weed: The Benefits of Medical Cannabis

The use of cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, for medical purposes is still the subject of debate in the US. As of 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still holds that using the drug for any purpose whatsoever is legally prohibited. Yet this hasn’t stopped certain states such as Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada, from permitting the limited use of medical cannabis to treat certain disorders such as chronic pain and clinical depression.

This practice is not all new since pharmacists from Ancient China, Egypt, and India prescribed cannabis to treat wounds, sores, nervous disorders, and even falling hair. Some drugs, such as Marinol, actually contain a synthetic version of the active ingredient found in cannabis, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In the right doses, medical cannabis can improve appetite among chemotherapy patients and thus encourage healthier food consumption.

Perhaps one of the most interesting medical benefits of cannabis is its alleged ability to halt or reduce the risk of certain cancers. A research institute in California has discovered that another component of cannabis called Cannabidiol can actually help prevent breast cancer cells from spreading throughout the body. Further research is currently underway to determine whether or not cannabis can serve as an alternative to chemotherapy.

The Various Health Benefits of Medical Marijuana

According to ProCon.org, eighteen states have enacted laws that legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Dr. Lester Grinspoon, professor at Harvard Medical School, states that there have been no deaths directly linked to cannabis use. Although the legalization of marijuana is a point of contention in the country, it has been reported that medical cannabis actually offers several health benefits.

 Marijuana reportedly stops the progression of Alzheimer’s plaques and protein clumps that inhibit a person’s memory and cognitive functions. Cannabis also helps control epileptic seizures and eases the pain caused by MS (multiple sclerosis). Perhaps the biggest health benefit of medical marijuana is the fact that it is arguably one of the most effective substances in the treatment for glaucoma. Taking cannabis can relieve the pressure that causes optic nerve damage, which causes total vision loss in some cases.

Even though a good number of states have allowed cannabis for medical purposes, Colorado is the only state, so far, that has legalized it for recreational purposes. Patients who require cannabis for treatment must go to an authorized dispensary for their required doses. These dispensaries also need to make sure that they comply with all regulations pertaining to the sale of this medicinal herb.

A Look Back at the Legalization of Medical Marijuana in the United States

In ancient China, people reportedly consumed cannabis (popularly known as marijuana) to achieve “a feeling of great happiness and well-being”. The United States was not so welcoming of the use of this substance, however. In fact, President Franklin Roosevelt made the ban official on August 2, 1937 when he signed into law federal legislation that prohibited the use, production, and sales of marijuana.

Things changed in 1988 when Francis Young of the Drug Enforcement Administration granted a request from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws to permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes, such as pain relief. Ten years later, the states of Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona allowed the use of medical marijuana. After that, 15 more states followed suit, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

While medical marijuana is legal in the aforementioned states, patients still need to acquire a prescription from a qualified medical practitioner before they can access this substance. Patients need to buy from a dispensary that demonstrates full compliance with all laws pertaining to medical cannabis. In addition, only personnel who are trained to provide information and advice are authorized to dispense medical marijuana.

Medical Marijuana: From Flower Power to Medical Power

At the height of the Vietnam War during the 1960s, many U.S. campuses became restless grounds of student activism. They all had one message in common: to put an end to the conflict that has wasted so many American lives and resources. Amid all this turmoil, there appeared a countercultural movement known as the hippies who whore flowers in their hair and adopted cannabis or marijuana as one of their symbols.

 The hippies became a largely anti-establishment youth revolution that blossomed in the U.S. and soon spread to rest of the world. The Beatles, Britain’s iconic rock and roll group, even became associated with the movement at one point. While the hippies mainly used marijuana as a recreational drug, it has in fact been recognized for its medicinal benefits for thousands of years, and advocates of medical cannabis have since pushed for its inclusion in treatment for pain, nausea, insomnia, lack of appetite, and even alcohol abuse.

 Today, California and 17 other states (including the District of Columbia) have legalized the regulated medical use of marijuana. Scientific research has since proven its efficacy in treating health issues ranging from migraine to AIDS. Responsible and regulated use of cannabis can go a long way in ensuring the success of various treatments.