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Medical Marijuana In Cancer Treatment 6

Medical Marijuana in Cancer Treatment

Samantha Howard

Grand Canyon University: NRS-490 (NRS-490-O503)

Running Head: Medical Marijuana In Cancer Treatment 1

January 27, 2019

Medical marijuana is an herbal medicine derived from dried leaves and buds from the cannabis sativa plant and has been used as a precaution for centuries. It is used to relieve symptoms of several chronic diseases such as pain caused from cancer among others. The herb is readily available on the market since legalization in 1996 and is acceptable for use in thirty-one states as of November, 2018 (Hawkes, N. 2018). According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FDA has not yet approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug for any chronic illness but is aware that there is substantial interest in the use to attempt to treat several medical conditions, including cancer (FDA, 2018).

The setting or context in which medical marijuana can be used

During the last five years, the use of medical marijuana for alleviation of cancer pain has become significantly popular at the state levels. Marijuana laws are set in place to monitor daily dispense dose, proper follow-up, check and balance system have been maintained to assure that the doses will only be issued for treatment of recognizable chronic disease. (Ananth, P., Reed-Weston, A., & Wolfe, J. 2017). The use of medical marijuana is more acceptable, as several specialists are now prescribing for alleviation of unbearable pain and vomiting during chemotherapy and radiation, after getting approval from the chairman and directors of the hospital therapeutics committee (Lankenau, et al., 2018).

According to MacCallum, C. A., & Russo, E. B. 2018 evidence-based practices are limited, regarding the biological effects on patient and there is a need to conduct more studies with a larger sample size, so that the evidence are clear on its effect on chronic illness such as in alleviation of cancer pain (MacCallum, C. A., & Russo, E. B).

Possible harms of marijuana and educational need.

Although Marijuana is effective for the alleviation of pain when used for treating cancer patients, it has certain chemicals that are harmful to the body. One of the most common side effects is the feeling of euphoria, this is because the herb contain is a mixture of several natural herbs and compounds that causes various side effects the body. It depresses the user control over his or her movements, causes negative thoughts and disorientation, increase appetite, anxiety and places the user at risk for depression (Pacher, P., et al., 2018). Due to this, patient should be educated on all aspect of the herb as it is difficult for doctors to predict how it affects the patient. Patients should be informed that the usage of cannabinoids can lead myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and strokes (Pacher, P., et al., 2018). It also causes high delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or marijuana high in users (Hawkes, N. 2018).

Significance of the problem and its implications to nursing

According to a study, the use of medical marijuana interacts with both prescribed and over counter drugs with a negative correlation especially between prescribed drugs (Caputi, T. L., & Humphreys, K. 2018). This can result from misuse of cannabis, as users are unlikely to use as prescribed especially for pain reliefs regardless of health professional teaching and can lead to increase recreational use (Pacher, P., et al., 2018).

Proposed Solution

In the past, marijuana was considered illegal due to its non-medical use. Presently thirty-one states, have adapted its practice medically, as studies shows when used in for the alleviation of pain such as in cancer there is positive outcome (Todd, T., 2018). To prevent misuse precautionary measures have been implemented by Medicare, such as laws that reduce the daily dose of the medicine issued to medical departments for analgesics use, to help prevent accessibility for recreational use (Powell, D., Pacula, R. L., & Jacobson, M. 2018.

References

1. Lankenau, S. E., Ataiants, J., Mohanty, S., Schrager, S., Iverson, E., & Wong, C. F. (2018). Health conditions and motivations for marijuana use among young adult medical marijuana patients and non‐patient marijuana users. Drug and alcohol review, 37(2), 237-246.

2. Pacher, P., Steffens, S., Haskó, G., Schindler, T. H., & Kunos, G. (2018). Cardiovascular effects of marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 15(3), 151.

3. Caputi, T. L., & Humphreys, K. (2018). Medical marijuana users are more likely to use prescription drugs medically and non-medically. Journal of addiction medicine, 12(4), 295-299.

4. Hawkes, N. (2018). Cannabis-based drugs: how will they be used in practice?

5. Todd, T. (2018). The Benefits of Marijuana Legalization and Regulation. Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law, 23(1), 6.

6. Powell, D., Pacula, R. L., & Jacobson, M. (2018). Do medical marijuana laws reduce addictions and deaths related to pain killers? Journal of health economics, 58, 29-42.

7. Ananth, P., Reed-Weston, A., & Wolfe, J. (2017). Medical marijuana in pediatric oncology: A review of the evidence and implications for practice. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 65(2), e26826.doi:10.1002/pbc.26826

8. MacCallum, C. A., & Russo, E. B. (2018). Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing. European journal of internal medicine, 49, 12-19.

9. FDA and Marijuana, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm421163.htm