Medical Marijuana – The Debate Rages On

Marijuana is also called pot, grass and weed however its formal name is definitely cannabis. It comes from the leaves and flowers of the plant Cannabis sativa. It’s thought-about an unlawful substance within the US and plenty of international locations and possession of marijuana is against the law punishable by regulation. The FDA classifies marijuana as Schedule I, substances which have a really excessive potential for abuse and haven’t any confirmed medical use. Over time a number of research declare that some substances present in marijuana have medicinal use, particularly in terminal illnesses equivalent to most cancers and AIDS. This began a fierce debate over the professionals and cons of the usage of medical marijuana. To settle this debate, the Institute of Drugs printed the well-known 1999 IOM report entitled Marijuana and Drugs: Assessing the Science Base. The report was complete however didn’t give a transparent lower sure or no reply. The alternative camps of the medical marijuana problem usually cite a part of the report of their advocacy arguments. Nevertheless, though the report clarified many issues, it by no means settled the controversy as soon as and for all.

Let us take a look at the problems that help why medical marijuana needs to be legalized.

(1) Marijuana is a naturally occurring herb and has been used from South America to Asia as an natural drugs for millennia. On this day and age when the all pure and natural are essential health buzzwords, a naturally occurring herb like marijuana is perhaps extra interesting to and safer for shoppers than artificial medication.

(2) Marijuana has robust therapeutic potential. A number of research, as summarized within the IOM report, have noticed that cannabis can be utilized as analgesic, e.g. to deal with pain. Just a few research confirmed that THC, a marijuana element is efficient in treating persistent pain skilled by most cancers sufferers. Nevertheless, research on acute pain equivalent to these skilled throughout surgical procedure and trauma have inconclusive experiences. Just a few research, additionally summarized within the IOM report, have demonstrated that some marijuana parts have antiemetic properties and are, due to this fact, efficient towards nausea and vomiting, that are frequent unwanted effects of most cancers chemotherapy and radiation remedy. Some researchers are satisfied that cannabis has some therapeutic potential towards neurological illnesses equivalent to a number of sclerosis. Particular compounds extracted from marijuana have robust therapeutic potential. Cannobidiol (CBD), a significant element of marijuana, has been proven to have antipsychotic, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Different cannabinoids have been proven to forestall excessive intraocular pressure (IOP), a significant danger issue for glaucoma. Medication that include lively substances current in marijuana however have been synthetically produced within the laboratory have been accepted by the US FDA. One instance is Marinol, an antiemetic agent indicated for nausea and vomiting related to most cancers chemotherapy. Its lively ingredient is dronabinol, an artificial delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

(3) One of many main proponents of medical marijuana is the Marijuana Coverage Undertaking (MPP), a US-based group. Many medical skilled societies and organizations have expressed their help. For instance, The American School of Physicians, advisable a re-evaluation of the Schedule I classification of marijuana of their 2008 place paper. ACP additionally expresses its robust help for analysis into the therapeutic function of marijuana in addition to exemption from federal legal prosecution; civil legal responsibility; or skilled sanctioning for physicians who prescribe or dispense medical marijuana in accordance with state regulation. Equally, safety from legal or civil penalties for sufferers who use medical marijuana as permitted underneath state legal guidelines.

(4) Medical marijuana is legally utilized in many developed international locations The argument of if they will do it, why not us? is one other robust level. Some international locations, together with Canada, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Israel, and Finland have legalized the therapeutic use of marijuana underneath strict prescription control. Some states within the US are additionally permitting exemptions.

Now listed below are the arguments towards medical marijuana.

(1) Lack of information on safety and efficacy. Drug regulation is predicated on safety first. The safety of marijuana and its parts nonetheless has to first be established. Efficacy solely comes second. Even when marijuana has some helpful health results, the advantages ought to outweigh the dangers for it to be thought-about for medical use. Until marijuana is confirmed to be higher (safer and simpler) than medication presently accessible out there, its approval for medical use could also be an extended shot. In line with the testimony of Robert J. Meyer of the Division of Health and Human Services gaining access to a drug or medical remedy, with out understanding tips on how to use it and even whether it is efficient, doesn’t profit anybody. Merely having entry, with out having safety, efficacy, and satisfactory use data doesn’t assist sufferers dispensaries near me.

(2) Unknown chemical parts. Medical marijuana can solely be simply accessible and reasonably priced in natural type. Like different herbs, marijuana falls underneath the class of botanical products. Unpurified botanical products, nonetheless, face many issues together with lot-to-lot consistency, dosage willpower, efficiency, shelf-life, and toxicity. In line with the IOM report if there may be any way forward for marijuana as a drugs, it lies in its remoted parts, the cannabinoids and their artificial derivatives. To completely characterize the completely different parts of marijuana would value a lot money and time that the prices of the drugs that can come out of it will be too excessive. At the moment, no pharmaceutical company appears enthusiastic about investing cash to isolate extra therapeutic parts from marijuana past what’s already accessible out there.

(3) Potential for abuse. Marijuana or cannabis is addictive. It might not be as addictive as laborious medication equivalent to cocaine; however it can’t be denied that there’s a potential for substance abuse related to marijuana. This has been demonstrated by a number of research as summarized within the IOM report.

(4) Lack of a protected supply system. The most typical type of supply of marijuana is thru smoking. Contemplating the present developments in anti-smoking legislations, this type of supply won’t ever be accepted by health authorities. Dependable and protected supply programs within the type of vaporizers, nebulizers, or inhalers are nonetheless on the testing stage.

(5) Symptom alleviation, not treatment. Even when marijuana has therapeutic results, it’s only addressing the signs of sure illnesses. It doesn’t deal with or treatment these sicknesses. On condition that it’s efficient towards these signs, there are already drugs accessible which work simply as nicely and even higher, with out the unwanted effects and danger of abuse related to marijuana.

The 1999 IOM report couldn’t settle the controversy about medical marijuana with scientific proof accessible at the moment. The report positively discouraged the usage of smoked marijuana however gave a nod in direction of marijuana use by means of a medical inhaler or vaporizer. As well as, the report additionally advisable the compassionate use of marijuana underneath strict medical supervision. Moreover, it urged extra funding within the analysis of the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids.

So what stands in the way in which of clarifying the questions introduced up by the IOM report? The health authorities don’t appear to be enthusiastic about having one other overview. There’s restricted knowledge accessible and no matter is on the market is biased in direction of safety points on the opposed results of smoked marijuana. Knowledge accessible on efficacy primarily come from research on artificial cannabinoids (e.g. THC). This disparity in knowledge makes an goal risk-benefit evaluation troublesome.

Medical research on marijuana are few and troublesome to conduct resulting from restricted funding and strict rules. Due to the difficult legalities concerned, only a few pharmaceutical firms are investing in cannabinoid analysis. In lots of cases, it isn’t clear tips on how to outline medical marijuana as advocated and opposed by many teams. Does it solely discuss with the usage of the botanical product marijuana or does it embrace artificial cannabinoid parts (e.g. THC and derivatives) as nicely? Artificial cannabinoids (e.g. Marinol) accessible out there are extraordinarily costly, pushing individuals in direction of the extra reasonably priced cannabinoid within the type of marijuana. After all, the difficulty is additional clouded by conspiracy theories involving the pharmaceutical trade and drug regulators.

In conclusion, the way forward for medical marijuana and the settlement of the controversy would rely upon extra complete and comparable scientific analysis. An replace of the IOM report anytime quickly is well-needed.