MEDICAL MARIJUANA POWERPOINT

Historical background

Marijuana has been in use since the beginning of the times. The first most notable associations of the use of the drug come from the specs of ancient China which is the biggest entity for medicinal history in the world. There has been evidence found where marijuana was given to patients experiencing symptoms of stomach and gout pains and irritation. The next in line were patients with rheumatic arthritis, constipation, and other ailments such as senility were given the drug as a means of curing their symptoms through pharmacology. In a similar context, the drug was used in a large percentage in the medical industry of the US till the WWII, where the drug was banned from being used readily in medicine. Starting from then, the use of marijuana was prohibited and was to be administered in severe and strict cases where no other suitable form of treatment was found (medicalmarijuanainc.com, 2019). However, the legalization of marijuana has long been in debate. Since the early 90’s the citizens of the US have been advocating for the licensed use of medical marijuana for patients to access marijuana for medical purposes.

Marijuana is a basic extract that comes from the plant of cannabis, and it has been in use since centuries for dealing with a variety of painful ailments and conditions of the patients. The most clear distinction between marijuana being used a recreational drug and as a medical product is because of the hemp. The hemp is an component of the cannabis extract that comes along with marijuana (Cunha, 2019). The clear line of difference between a hemp and marijuana is the presence of the compound ‘tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)’ that is responsible for giving that feeling of high to the users. The compound THC is present in marijuana but absent from the hemp. Overall, the cannabis plant has been shown to produce almost 85 different types of cannabinoids that have been used overtime in medicinal, allopathy, homeopathy and a variety of ways since the beginning of time, while the most widely used of the 2 are; tetrahydrocannabinol THC and cannabinoid CBN. The receipting feature of the forms of marijuana is that the interaction system of the plant with the body has been found to be effective in terms of taking control of the sensory modes of the body.

What is astonishingly true is that cannabis, marijuana and the hemp have long been in use in the US, and medically in other parts of the world. The strong advocacy regarding the use of the drug has been in debate well over since the 30’s, at least in the US. But what remains a contrasting fact is that the medicinal benefits of marijuana have only been found in the last 2 decades. There has been conclusive and a stagnant amount of researches that proves that marijuana can be used in several ways (Peter Grinspoon, 2018). Also, it has been in these 2 last decades that more ways of growing cannabis have been discovered and applied by locals, businesses and farmers. The most important benefits of marijuana used as a medicinal product have been highlighted below:

· Marijuana has shown to help patients with alzheimer’s.

· Marijuana has shown to help patients with parkinson’s disease.

· As mentioned before, the drug can help slow down an epileptic seizure (the severity of the seizure can be controlled).

· Muscles spasms can be reduced for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.

· On other occasions, marijuana has been found effective in fighting of cancerous cells. It has the power to kill them and numb their effect in the body as well.

· Patients dealing with post traumatic stress disorders have been found to be calmed down by the effects of the drug. It has known to put them to sound sleep whereas there is lesser REM activity which signifies for a reduction in the number of nightmares and negative thoughts.

· The most astounding benefit of the drug is that it has the power to control the neurological activity of the brain. It can calm a stressed out brain, it can reduce the number of electron charges that are sent around the body when in the state of a seizure.

· Furthermore, the drug is powerful enough to save the brain from damage that has been induced because of brain and spinal cord injuries. When given immediately to patients in cases of injuries and accidents, the initial damage to the brain can be controlled and reduced by the ingestion of the drug to some extent.

· It can control the state of nausea.

· It has the ability to numb an area from which pain subsides, in terms of therapeutic theory.

· In reference to patients undergoing treatment of cancer, marijuana ingestion has shown to reduce pain after chemotherapy.

· Marijuana has also been known to help patients cope with the after effects of HIV treatments.

· Other than that, certain types of eczema can also be controlled in patients. Marijuana does not have an effect on the dryness or texture of the skin, but it can numb the concerned areas of the skin, and the patient feels more comfortable.

According to the article ‘Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: Investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence’ by Magdalena Cerda, Melanie Wall, Katherine M. Keyes, Sandro Galea and Deborah Hasin, explains how frequently marijuana has been in use in the US alone (Magdalena Cerda, 2012). However, the researchers agree that very little information is known about how the external factors of the environment, the cultural aspects and the norms associated with law influence the usage of the drug i.e. marijuana. The aim of the study was to determine the role of these factors and to signify the extent to which these factors encourage or discourage the use of marijuana in the society. The major elements that were to be investigated in the study focused on how marijuana was used, whether there was involvement of the concept of ‘abuse’ and what were the levels of dependency of the drug.

According to the paper ‘Medical marijuana laws, traffic fatalities and alcohol consumption’ by D. Mark Anderson, Benjamin Hansen & Daniel I. Rees, points to the fact that in the US a total of 19 states have made marijuana legal, however, the effect is not very clear (D. Mark Anderson, 2013). Being in the initial stages, the most prominent effects of marijuana is that it is the biggest reason behind traffic accidents and fatality incidents. Secondly, marijuana is the leading cause behind the death toll of Americans between ages of 5-35 year olds. The study was aimed at finding the immediate changes that have occurred as a result of legalizing the drug. The first noticeable change is that there are higher cases of traffic fatalities because of alcohol abuse rather than marijuana. On the other hand, after legalization, marijuana has become cheaper, is more readily available along with the same trend shown in the price and availability of alcohol. Furthermore, a correlation between alcohol and marijuana could not be established, they were estimated more to be of substitutes.

According to the publication ‘Pediatric marijuana exposures in a medical marijuana state’ by George Sam Wang, Genie Roosevelt & Kennon Heard, by the year 2013 it was found that more and more states were choosing to make marijuana illegal based on the performance of the adult population (George Sam Wang, 2013). The sample data excluded the younger population below the ages of 15-16 year olds. However, the main aim of the study was to evaluate the performance and effects of medically infused marijuana on the health and life of the young population who were seeking treatment from the hospitals. The results of the study found that there was an increase in the number of children who were ingesting the drug unintentionally and the correlation between the legality of marijuana was to be blamed. The study was concluded for governmental authorities to intervene in the increasing cases of children taking a higher quantity of the drug than prescribed by medical experts.

The study ‘Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems’ by Kevin P. Hill, discusses the laws that have initiated the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes (Hill, 2015). This is significant for the practicing physicians to understand the laws and the logic behind the legality of the drug. The most prominent reasons why marijuana has been made legal is based upon the pillars of reducing chronic, neuropathic pain and deals with issues resulting from multiple sclerosis. The evidence points to the state of the patients who have reported to have experienced decrease in pain levels and many measures that result from chemotherapies. However, the final consensus of the study is that there is support for both the use of medical marijuana and against it. What is required from the medical fraternity is to guide the patients and educate them about the implications and risks involved with using marijuana, including both the benefits and the negative effects. The main precision is to help patients understand how marijuana can be used to derive benefits, by remaining in the limits and boundaries of not overusing the drug.

According to the article ‘Blurred boundaries: The therapeutics and politics of medical marijuana’ by J. Micheal Bostwick, places emphasis on the historical background of marijuana (Bostwick, 2012). In the previous decades, marijuana was most widely used drug mostly for recreational purpose by the citizens. This was after and before the government considered marijuana illegal to be used as a prescribed drug for patients. However, despite federal and governmental bans, the drug remained to be used in the pharmaceutical industries where the researchers argued for the large number of possibilities that could reduce the pain for patients. This was promptly based on the qualities that marijuana possessed for the relaxing and soothing symptoms that marijuana placed on the body. The medical boards advocated for how marijuana could make it easier for patients to deal with pain, while the governmental authorities objected to the hypothesis for the high levels of addiction marijuana could entice the patients into.

According to the publication ‘Adolescent marijuana use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in states with medical marijuana laws, cause still unclear’ by Melanie M. Wall, Ernest Poh, Magdalena Cerda, Katherine M. Keyes, Sandro Galea & Deborah S. Hasin, the direction of the study has been centered about how and under what pretences was marijuana legalized in the US (Melanie M. Wall, 2011). The results from the decade 2001-2010 revealed, more teenagers were consuming the drug whereas, the rate for adolescents was comparably higher than the youngsters.

According to the paper ‘Do medical marijuana laws increase marijuana use? Replication study and extension’ by Sam Harper, Erin C. Strumpf & Jay S. Kaufman, examined the prejudice that the use of marijuana by adolescents since the legalizing of marijuana in states, according to anticipations (Sam Harper, 2012). Similarly, it was found that in states where marijuana was delegalized, there was a drop in the rates of consumption by adolescents. Therefore, it could be concluded that laws were effective, to some extent, in controlling the addictive behavior of the population. The researchers suggested that laws should be stricter and more applicable if the use of marijuana was to be prohibited.

According to the article ‘Effects of state medical marijuana laws on adolescent marijuana use’ by Sarah D. Lynne-Landsman, Melvin D. Livingston & Alexander C. Wagenaar, examined the same decade between 2001-2011, to quantify the effects of state controlled laws on marijuana use (Sarah D. Lynne-Landsman, 2013). The results were surprisingly confounding to the pattern in usage of the drug. With a sample collected from 40 different studies, the subjects were taken from different states and were given two conditions under which to use the drug. It was found that neither the implementation of the law, nor the legalizing of the drug affected the usage by the subjects. There were very little variations in the drug use when the laws were changed. Also, the study concluded that the prohibition of marijuana did not affect the individual’s behavior immediately, rather a lot of them showed signs of considering to decrease the use gradually over time. This pointed out that the laws were only effective in the longer run, but were not successful initially.

According to the paper ‘Medical marijuana and the law’ by Diane E. Hoffmann & Ellen Weber, shows the debacle side of how the US laws regarding marijuana, that are ever changing. When there are states considering marijuana illegal, at the same time there are other states who are simultaneously legalizing its use. The considerate issue of whether marijuana is beneficial for medicine or not, is still under debate since a consensus has not been reached. The other areas have also looked at marijuana from therapeutic purposes as well, but no conclusive opinion has been formed by the government of the US. There is a need to invest in the research and more time should be given to studying the effects of marijuana in all forms. It has been established that marijuana for the purpose of recreation brings more harm as it increase the chances of addiction. In cases where the drug is allowed by law for patients combating severe and chronic pains, the evidence shows that patients have been observed to be taking quantities that are higher and more than what they have been prescribed. Under these situations, the only fact that can be established is that whenever marijuana is allowed by the authorities, there will be circumstances where it would be overused.

Recently, the state of California won its battle for the stance it put out in 1996 that adults should be allowed to smoke and use marijuana as a recreational activity where they would be responsible for their own self. Finally after 10 years the state has been granted the legal right to smoke marijuana and use it with acceptable restrictions. Some of the tolerable laws include the possession of the drug for medical purposes where it can be bought from licensed dispensaries and places that have been granted the right to sale, at other occasions the state gives right and allows everyone over the age of 21 years of age to use the drug (patch.com, 2016).

The states allow for the drug to be consumed at own risk but it has to be grown at homes, in private places away from the public and the matter cannot be sold into the markets and it has still not been permissible at work to be high and present in the professional atmosphere. (Masunaga, 2016). Although, the citizens of California have long since debated that the government should not have the authority to restrict people from consuming any edible substance, the only logic being that it is being used for centuries and because it roots from a natural plant therefore it cannot be considered harmful.

It might be true but it fails to give a solid logic to the legalization of a drug. And on the same contrary other states can simply not come to accept the terms and effects that the legalization of the drug would have on their future. The only reason why other states have not permitted is because they still consider marijuana to be harmful for human consumption and unfit to be permitted to people because of its effect on the brain and the human body. The debate is still unclear as to why some parts of the country serve different reasoning to the same situation.

In the extreme of events that have led to the legalization of a drug in many parts of the US, speculations have been raised over how prosperity can be brought in the current scenario. Where the aspect of how a recreational drug can be attributed as to being made lawful by the authorities, the availability of the product has been more rapid than ever before. However when talking about marijuana the only aspect that comes to the mind is that of it used as a recreational drug, while the pharmaceutical companies have been much more interested in using it as a medical product (Cole, 2019). Whether this is the beginning of another decade of chaos, or the introduction of a new industry, it is important to understand what role marijuana plays from the point of view of medicine.

Marijuana is traditionally used in the form of smoking the dried leaves of the cannabis. More of known as a herb, is commonly rolled in paper and other forms and smoked out by the users to derive maximum benefits. The strongest effect of marijuana can be induced when it is smoked, because it reaches the blood streams directly. What is further alarming is that today we live in an era where an explicit drug i.e. marijuana is even used as an ingredient in food products. The range includes it being used in cookies, chocolate and energy bars, chewy candies, baked goods and other edible forms. However, the edible form takes longer time for the effects of marijuana to take place. The effects may not be as strong as those of ingesting the drug through smoking, but the ethical stance of the situation is quite questionable.

Works Cited Bostwick, J. M. (2012). Blurred Boundaries: The Therapeutics and Politics of Medical Marijuana. Mayo Clinic Proceedings , 172-186. Cole, D. (2019, 4 3). Georgia on cusp of legalizing medical marijuana. Retrieved from edition.cnn.com: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/03/politics/georgia-medical-marijuana-bill/index.html Cunha, E. O. (2019). Medical Marijuana (Medical Cannabis). Retrieved from medicinenet.com: https://www.medicinenet.com/medical_marijuana_medical_cannabis/article.htm D. Mark Anderson, B. H. (2013). Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption. The Journal of Law and Economics . George Sam Wang, G. R. (2013). Pediatric Marijuana Exposures in a Medical Marijuana State. JAMA Pediatrics . Hill, K. P. (2015). Medical Marijuana for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Other Medical and Psychiatric Problems. Clinical Crossroads , 2474-2483. Magdalena Cerda, M. W. (2012). Investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence , 22-27. medicalmarijuanainc.com. (2019). YOUR DEFINITIVE OVERVIEW ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA. Retrieved from medicalmarijuanainc.com: https://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com/ Melanie M. Wall, E. P. (2011). Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear. Annals of Epidemiology , 714-716. Peter Grinspoon, M. G. (2018, 1 15). Medical marijuana. Retrieved from health.harvard.edu: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085 Sam Harper, E. C. (2012). Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension. Annals of Epidemiology , 207-212. Sarah D. Lynne-Landsman, M. D. (2013). Effects of State Medical Marijuana Laws on Adolescent Marijuana Use. American Public Health Association .