Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, has a lot of history that started at least 3,000 years ago. Historical records in many countries have shown that this plant has helped thousands of people in a multitude of ways. Some countries today still use medicinal marijuana yet here in the United States there has been opposition in trying to get the general medical community to recognize the benefits that marijuana brings to people who are seriously ill or in grave pain.
Medical marijuana refers to the use of the dried leaves and stems from the cannabis plant. There has been a plethora of studies done around the world showing that medicinal marijuana has many benefits.
Marijuana when used for recreational purposes is illegal in most parts of the world however, its use as a medicine is legal in a number of countries including Canada, Germany, Austria, Holland, Spain, Italy, Finland, Israel and other. There are soates that have legalized marijuana for medicinal uses only. Regardless of the country, their laws, or completed research, medical marijuana is one of the most controversial issues worldwide.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Marijuana contains over 300 compounds, 60 of which are cannabinoids and these are the basis for medical and scientific use. Cannabinoids can serve as appetite stimulants, an antispasmodic, an antiemetic (stops nausea and vomiting), and it has some analgesic effects. Three important cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant: cannabidiol, B-caryophyllene and cannabigerol.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major part of medical marijuana and it represesns up to 40% of extracts of this medical plant. Cannabidiol relieves convulsion, anxiety, nausea, inflammation and there is a possibility that it inhibits cancer cell growth. Recent studies indicate that cannabidiol is effective in treating schizophrenia. People who have multiple sclerosis, anxiety attacks, and Tourette Syndrome may benefit from medicinal marijuana.
B-Caryophyllene is a compound that is a cannabinoids receptor that plays a key role in reducing inflammation.
Cannabigrol is another cannabinoids that is found in the cannabis plant. Like cannabidiol, cannabigerol is not psychoactive and it has been shown to lower blood pressure in rats.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Throughout time, several cultures have used marijuana as medicine including India, China, South America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. some events in marijuana history are;
* 3000 BC: There is evidence that cannabis was used in Chinese medicine.
* Ancient India used cannabis to cure insomnia, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, relieve pain and relieve the pain of childbirth.
* Evers Papyrus (1550 BC) describes medical marijuana. Ancient Egyptians used cannabis in suppositories for relieving pain of hemorrhoids.
* In the medieval Islamic cultures, Arabic physicians made use if the anti emetic, antipileptic, anti-inflammatory and pain killing properties of Cannabis sativa. It was used as medicine from the 8th to the 18th Centuries.
* ancient Greeks used cannabis in veterinary medicine to dress wounds on hourses. On humans, dried leaves were used to treat nosebleeds and the seeds were used to expel tapeworms. In the 5th Century, Herodotus, a Greek historian, described how the Scythians in the Middle East used cannabis in steam baths.
* Marijuana was once grown freely in the United States. In 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act led to the criminalization of marijuana and made medical research very difficult.
* In 1975, a "Compassionate Use" program started in the U.S.
* July 2001: Canada becomes the first country to allow its citizens to legally access marijuana for medicinal purposes.
From a historical views, countries who have strict pharmaceutical controls are the countries that have less acceptance for for herbal remedies that heal or help relieve symptoms, and this includes cannabis.
IS MARIJUANA ADDICTIVE?
This question cannot be answered simply. There are many people who have a propensity toward addictions. Addictions are unhealthy obsessions and medical scientists have determined that some individuals are at higher risk. Ther are four categories that help in determining whether or not a person has a predisposition to becoming an addict. These are physical, mental, emotional and social.
Genetics is the physical factor. There may be a family history of addiction or low tolerance to drugs. People who suffer from mental health disorders or those who have low self esteem fall into the mental category. Emotional factors are people who suffer from depressive events in life such as abuse or death of a loved one. The social category is for those who are in social situations where drugs or alcohol are readily available.
So, now knowing more about addictions, is marijuana addictive? If a person is susceptible due to any of those factors, then the answer is yes. However, for most people, the answer is no. Most people who smoke marijuana for recreational purposes smoke on occasion. A small minority of Americans smoke on a daily basis. An even smaller minority develops a dependence on marijuana. Some people who smoke marijuana heavily frequently stop without an hardships. Others seek help from drug treatment professionals. Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild. Sources for this information come from:
* United States Dept. of Health and Human Services. DASIS Report Series, Differences in Marijuana Admissions Based on Source of Referral. 2002 June 24, 2005
* Johnson, L.D., et al. "National Survey Results on Drug Use from the Monitoring the Future Study, 1975-`994, Volume II: Bikkege Students and Young Adults." Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996.
* Kandel, D.B., et al. "Prevalence and demographic correlates of symptoms of dependence on cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine in the U.S. population." Drug and Alcohol Dependence 44 (1997): 11-29
* Stephens, R.S., et al. "Adult Marijuana Users Seeking Treatment." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 61 (1993): 1100-1104.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA HELPS
There is no denying or disputing the thousands of personal stories of people who have been terminally ill or have experienced sever pain and medical marijuana has helped.
People who suffer with: multiple sclerosis, injuries from a spinal cord injury, cancer, HIV/AIDS, severe forms of arthritis, epilepsy or any other medical ailment that causes incredible pain have benefited from using medical marijuana.
POST420 November 09
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