Facts on Marijuana
Content
Marijuana Medical Facts Medical science has learned much about marijuana, but both opponents and proponents claim scientific support for their respective positions. Academicians writing for the Berkman Center at Harvard University acknowledge both social and scientific controversy over whether use of marijuana, Cannabis sativa, is beneficial or hazardous. All investigators agree that the active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is a powerful substance. It interacts with many body systems. Benefit or detriment may depend on a user's needs. SMOKE EFFECTS Smoking, whether marijuana or tobacco, deposits hundreds of combustion products and smoke particles throughout your lungs. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA, reports that in one marijuana cigarette, a joint, over 400 chemicals and four times the tar of a single filtered cigarette are inhaled. The DEA cites a National Institutes of Health study documenting that five joints a week deliver as many cancer-causing chemicals as a pack-a-day tobacco smoker receives. Smokers all know that smoking delivers nicotine, but the amount depends on how much of a cigarette is smoked. Smoking is not a precise dosedelivery system for medical marijuana administration. The benefit of any smoke-delivered marijuana ingredient should be weighed against its variability and hazards. Marijuana can also be ingested. Sponsored Links HORMONAL EFFECTS In 2002, physicians reporting in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reviewed 74 controlled research studies investigating the effects of THC on the human hormonal system. They found that marijuana suppresses male and female reproductive hormones, sperm production and lactation, and growth and thyroid hormones. These responses diminish with chronic use, though some males develop irreversible gynecomastia, or breast enlargement. The researchers concluded that most long-term hormonal consequences are mild and subtle.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS A 2008 British Journal of Psychiatry report searched through more than 15,000 research studies to identify the effects of marijuana use on the outcome of care in patients with psychotic disorders. They reported only low confidence that marijuana use could be correlated with either good or bad outcomes and concluded that the dangers of marijuana in such cases remained unproven. College students who use marijuana heavily, according to research cited by the American Council for Drug Education, suffer deficits in attention, short-term memory and organization up to 24 hours after use. Another study, reported from
the Berkman Center at Harvard University, documented that memory deficits can be detected for up to six weeks after the last marijuana use. If you use marijuana, you may want to weigh these potential deficits against your professional, social and educational goals. Source: Pickut, Walt. Apr. 2011, Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012 http://www.livestrong.com/article/148767-marijuana-medical-facts/
Medical Reasons for Marijuana Marijuana has long been used to treat a number of ailments associated with pain and inflammation. Marijuana can also relieve symptoms associated with cancer and other chronic illnesses. While marijuana helps some patients with certain medical conditions, individuals seeking marijuana therapies should consult a doctor before using cannabis. GLAUCOMA Cannabis has been used to treat glaucoma for many decades, if not centuries. The American Academy of Ophthalmology summarizes a number of studies involving the use of marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma. Marijuana can lower intraocular pressure to treat the symptoms of glaucoma. Interestingly, marijuana is effective as a treatment for glaucoma when smoked, inhaled, ingested or administered intravenously, but has no benefits when applied directly to the eyes. The AAO does recognize the therapeutic benefits of cannabis but does explain that a number of other FDA-approved drugs are available by prescription that might be safer and more effective than marijuana. CANCER Marijuana is used by many cancer patients as a therapy for symptoms of cancer, including nausea, appetite loss, pain, anxiety and depression. According to the American Cancer Society, marijuana helps eliminate nausea associated with chemotherapy. NORML.org reviews a number of medical studies that summarize the evidence that cannabis can be used as a treatment of cancer. Marijuana can act directly on tumors to reduce tumor size, particularly in an aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma. NORML also lists more than 20 research articles showing that cannabis similarly reduces growth of tumor cells from other major types of cancers. Many cancer patients prefer to ingest marijuana in food or to use a vaporizer to avoid complications from smoking marijuana. Cancer patients interested in marijuana therapies should be cautious before beginning marijuana use as not much is known about how cannabis interacts with other drugs that are prescribed to treat cancer. ARTHRITIS Cannabis has a number of beneficial effects on the immune system and can help to reduce pain and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when an individual's immune system attacks the tissue in their own joints, leading to pain and inflammation. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) reviews a number of studies that show marijuana can be used to relieve pain and reduce symptoms of arthritis. Most importantly, perhaps, ASA explains that marijuana has far fewer and less dangerous side effects than prescription pain killers typically used to treat arthritis. Source: Stone, Chad. May 2011. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012 from http://www.livestrong.com/article/98476-medical-reasons-marijuana/
Medical Use of Marijuana Marijuana, or cannabis, as it is more appropriately called, has been part of humanity's medicine chest for almost as long as history has been recorded. Of all the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition, none is as tragic as the denial of medicinal cannabis to the tens of thousands of patients who could benefit from its therapeutic use. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief -- particularly of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage) -- nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia. Emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective. Currently, more than 60 U.S. and international health organizations support granting patients immediate legal access to medicinal marijuana under a physician's supervision. Source: Unkown author, 2011. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012, from http://norml.org/marijuana/medical
Medical Marijuana Pros and Cons: Expert Opinions SOME CONS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA Marijuana can be addictive and have short-term side effects like memory loss and trouble thinking. It may have harmful long-term effects, like lung cancer, a weakened immune system, and increased heart-attack risk in the hour after smoking it. SOME PROS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA Marijuana also may have good health effects, like treating glaucoma, nausea, appetite loss and seizures. Proponents say it’s helpful for people experiencing side effects from AIDS and cancer medications and may help treat multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. OFFICIAL POSITIONS Medical marijuana is illegal at the federal level. But it's legal in certain states. Those states won’t come after providers, but the federal government can. Confused? Don't blame ya. In its policy statement, the American Medical Association recommends that for now, marijuana remain classified as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. The government deems drugs in this category to have a high abuse potential, no accepted medical use and a lack of acceptable safety. Then again, the AMA sees enough promise to recommend more studies on the drug and urges the National Institutes of Health “to implement administrative procedures to facilitate grant applications and the conduct of well-designed clinical research into the medical utility of marijuana.” Source: Wallick, Mitch. 2009. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012, from http://familydoctormag.com/alternative-medicine/300-medical-marijuana-pros-and-consdoctors-debate-opinions.html
The Health Risks and Benefits of Using Marijuana: Does One Outweigh the Other? The use of marijuana is often a hotly debated topic. The recreational use of marijuana is illegal in the United States, and there has been much deliberation over the legality of medical marijuana use. Research has shown that there are both risks and benefits to using marijuana. The question is, does one outweigh the other? RISKS "The major active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the mind-altering effects of marijuana intoxication" (Marijuana Abuse). THC enters the brain by passing through the lungs into the bloodstream, and then affects various centers in the brain, causing several health risks outlined below. Health risks include: impaired thinking and memory; diminished balance and coordination; increased chance of heart attack; increased risk of respiratory infection; increased risk of lung cancer, mouth cancer, and cancer of the respiratory tract; and possible hallucinations (Marijuana as Medicine). There is also a link between marijuana use and fatal accidents. "Studies show that 6 to 11 percent of fatal accident victims test positive for THC" (Marijuana Abuse). Marijuana use may also hamper the ability of the immune system to fight off infections. In addition, marijuana may be addictive. Research has shown that "people trying to quit report irritability, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. They also display increased aggression on psychological tests, peaking approximately 1 week after they stopped using the drug" (Marijuana Abuse). BENEFITS Medical benefits to marijuana use have been acknowledged throughout the medical community. These benefits primarily treat symptoms of various diseases, including: treatment of nausea often associated with cancer chemotherapy treatment; reduction of pressure in the eyes benefiting individuals with glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.; relief of pain often associated with cancer; and possible protection of nerves from the damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), thus reducing tremors and muscle spasms associated with the disease (Marijuana as Medicine). More recent research has discovered additional benefits to marijuana use. A University of Saskatchewan study suggests that the use of marijuana may stimulate the growth of brain cells. The study has shown that "a synthetic substance similar to ones found in marijuana stimulates cell growth in regions of the brain associated with anxiety and depression, pointing the way for new treatments for these diseases" (U of S Research). In addition, a study conducted by the Scripps Research institute shows that THC prevents the formation of harmful plaque in the brain, which suggests that THC "may be the most
effective drug for treating the declining effects of Alzheimer's disease" (Marijuana's Benefits Explored). CONCLUSION It is difficult to say whether the risks or benefits of marijuana use outweigh one another. There does not appear to be any general health benefit that would endorse recreational use, and the risks appear great. However, specific benefits to treat certain conditions or symptoms are evident, and may outweigh the risks in certain circumstances. Doctors and researchers are studying these benefits in an attempt to use the information to create safer and possibly risk-free treatments (Marijuana as Medicine). Source: Bushman, Melissa. Feb 2007. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012, from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-health-risks-benefits-using-marijuana-does-203856.html
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS A 2008 British Journal of Psychiatry report searched through more than 15,000 research studies to identify the effects of marijuana use on the outcome of care in patients with psychotic disorders. They reported only low confidence that marijuana use could be correlated with either good or bad outcomes and concluded that the dangers of marijuana in such cases remained unproven. College students who use marijuana heavily, according to research cited by the American Council for Drug Education, suffer deficits in attention, short-term memory and organization up to 24 hours after use. Another study, reported from
the Berkman Center at Harvard University, documented that memory deficits can be detected for up to six weeks after the last marijuana use. If you use marijuana, you may want to weigh these potential deficits against your professional, social and educational goals. Source: Pickut, Walt. Apr. 2011, Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012 http://www.livestrong.com/article/148767-marijuana-medical-facts/
Medical Reasons for Marijuana Marijuana has long been used to treat a number of ailments associated with pain and inflammation. Marijuana can also relieve symptoms associated with cancer and other chronic illnesses. While marijuana helps some patients with certain medical conditions, individuals seeking marijuana therapies should consult a doctor before using cannabis. GLAUCOMA Cannabis has been used to treat glaucoma for many decades, if not centuries. The American Academy of Ophthalmology summarizes a number of studies involving the use of marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma. Marijuana can lower intraocular pressure to treat the symptoms of glaucoma. Interestingly, marijuana is effective as a treatment for glaucoma when smoked, inhaled, ingested or administered intravenously, but has no benefits when applied directly to the eyes. The AAO does recognize the therapeutic benefits of cannabis but does explain that a number of other FDA-approved drugs are available by prescription that might be safer and more effective than marijuana. CANCER Marijuana is used by many cancer patients as a therapy for symptoms of cancer, including nausea, appetite loss, pain, anxiety and depression. According to the American Cancer Society, marijuana helps eliminate nausea associated with chemotherapy. NORML.org reviews a number of medical studies that summarize the evidence that cannabis can be used as a treatment of cancer. Marijuana can act directly on tumors to reduce tumor size, particularly in an aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma. NORML also lists more than 20 research articles showing that cannabis similarly reduces growth of tumor cells from other major types of cancers. Many cancer patients prefer to ingest marijuana in food or to use a vaporizer to avoid complications from smoking marijuana. Cancer patients interested in marijuana therapies should be cautious before beginning marijuana use as not much is known about how cannabis interacts with other drugs that are prescribed to treat cancer. ARTHRITIS Cannabis has a number of beneficial effects on the immune system and can help to reduce pain and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when an individual's immune system attacks the tissue in their own joints, leading to pain and inflammation. Americans for Safe Access (ASA) reviews a number of studies that show marijuana can be used to relieve pain and reduce symptoms of arthritis. Most importantly, perhaps, ASA explains that marijuana has far fewer and less dangerous side effects than prescription pain killers typically used to treat arthritis. Source: Stone, Chad. May 2011. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012 from http://www.livestrong.com/article/98476-medical-reasons-marijuana/
Medical Use of Marijuana Marijuana, or cannabis, as it is more appropriately called, has been part of humanity's medicine chest for almost as long as history has been recorded. Of all the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition, none is as tragic as the denial of medicinal cannabis to the tens of thousands of patients who could benefit from its therapeutic use. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief -- particularly of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage) -- nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia. Emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective. Currently, more than 60 U.S. and international health organizations support granting patients immediate legal access to medicinal marijuana under a physician's supervision. Source: Unkown author, 2011. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012, from http://norml.org/marijuana/medical
Medical Marijuana Pros and Cons: Expert Opinions SOME CONS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA Marijuana can be addictive and have short-term side effects like memory loss and trouble thinking. It may have harmful long-term effects, like lung cancer, a weakened immune system, and increased heart-attack risk in the hour after smoking it. SOME PROS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA Marijuana also may have good health effects, like treating glaucoma, nausea, appetite loss and seizures. Proponents say it’s helpful for people experiencing side effects from AIDS and cancer medications and may help treat multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. OFFICIAL POSITIONS Medical marijuana is illegal at the federal level. But it's legal in certain states. Those states won’t come after providers, but the federal government can. Confused? Don't blame ya. In its policy statement, the American Medical Association recommends that for now, marijuana remain classified as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. The government deems drugs in this category to have a high abuse potential, no accepted medical use and a lack of acceptable safety. Then again, the AMA sees enough promise to recommend more studies on the drug and urges the National Institutes of Health “to implement administrative procedures to facilitate grant applications and the conduct of well-designed clinical research into the medical utility of marijuana.” Source: Wallick, Mitch. 2009. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012, from http://familydoctormag.com/alternative-medicine/300-medical-marijuana-pros-and-consdoctors-debate-opinions.html
The Health Risks and Benefits of Using Marijuana: Does One Outweigh the Other? The use of marijuana is often a hotly debated topic. The recreational use of marijuana is illegal in the United States, and there has been much deliberation over the legality of medical marijuana use. Research has shown that there are both risks and benefits to using marijuana. The question is, does one outweigh the other? RISKS "The major active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the mind-altering effects of marijuana intoxication" (Marijuana Abuse). THC enters the brain by passing through the lungs into the bloodstream, and then affects various centers in the brain, causing several health risks outlined below. Health risks include: impaired thinking and memory; diminished balance and coordination; increased chance of heart attack; increased risk of respiratory infection; increased risk of lung cancer, mouth cancer, and cancer of the respiratory tract; and possible hallucinations (Marijuana as Medicine). There is also a link between marijuana use and fatal accidents. "Studies show that 6 to 11 percent of fatal accident victims test positive for THC" (Marijuana Abuse). Marijuana use may also hamper the ability of the immune system to fight off infections. In addition, marijuana may be addictive. Research has shown that "people trying to quit report irritability, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. They also display increased aggression on psychological tests, peaking approximately 1 week after they stopped using the drug" (Marijuana Abuse). BENEFITS Medical benefits to marijuana use have been acknowledged throughout the medical community. These benefits primarily treat symptoms of various diseases, including: treatment of nausea often associated with cancer chemotherapy treatment; reduction of pressure in the eyes benefiting individuals with glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.; relief of pain often associated with cancer; and possible protection of nerves from the damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), thus reducing tremors and muscle spasms associated with the disease (Marijuana as Medicine). More recent research has discovered additional benefits to marijuana use. A University of Saskatchewan study suggests that the use of marijuana may stimulate the growth of brain cells. The study has shown that "a synthetic substance similar to ones found in marijuana stimulates cell growth in regions of the brain associated with anxiety and depression, pointing the way for new treatments for these diseases" (U of S Research). In addition, a study conducted by the Scripps Research institute shows that THC prevents the formation of harmful plaque in the brain, which suggests that THC "may be the most
effective drug for treating the declining effects of Alzheimer's disease" (Marijuana's Benefits Explored). CONCLUSION It is difficult to say whether the risks or benefits of marijuana use outweigh one another. There does not appear to be any general health benefit that would endorse recreational use, and the risks appear great. However, specific benefits to treat certain conditions or symptoms are evident, and may outweigh the risks in certain circumstances. Doctors and researchers are studying these benefits in an attempt to use the information to create safer and possibly risk-free treatments (Marijuana as Medicine). Source: Bushman, Melissa. Feb 2007. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2012, from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-health-risks-benefits-using-marijuana-does-203856.html
