credible research on marijuana as a medicine?
Yes. Reliable studies have been conducted to determine the efficacy of marijuana as a medicine. In the United States only a few institutions have been allowed to pursue research, because of the Schedule I status of the plant. The results of studies at one of these institutions, the Center for Medical Marijuana Research at the University of California San Diego, found it to be an effective treatment for pain and spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and other neurological afflictions. In Canada the McGill University Health Centre reported similar results in a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The study confirmed that people suffering from chronic neuropathic pain from nerve injury found relief by using controlled dosages of smoked marijuana. They also reported improved moods and better sleep. Both studies validated that low doses of the cannabinoid THC provided good results with minimal psychoactive side effects.
Over 6,500 peer reviewed reports in international medical journals confirm marijuana’s medicinal value. These publications addressed the various effects of marijuana use including its capacity to retard cancer cell growth, its ability to alleviate the pain and nausea of chemotherapy, and the effectiveness of different delivery methods. Some clinical studies have been disregarded as invalid because they were not sanctioned FDA-approved clinical studies. However, the U.S. federal government has long stifled any significant amounts of “approved” research in this field. One way the government impedes research is by controlling the supply of marijuana used in these studies.
It is virtually impossible to pursue research into marijuana because of the circular and nonsensical rules imposed by the U.S. government. To be allowed to do marijuana research, one must have a government grant; to get a government grant, one must do pilot research; to do pilot research, one must have marijuana; to get marijuana in the laboratory, one must have a government grant.
Researchers and institutions must have the proper Schedule I accreditations to be allowed even to possess such “dangerous compounds,” and the DEA regulates such licensure with an equally restrictive attitude. Researchers face one final challenge: The marijuana provided by the U.S. government for research is clearly of lesser quality and potency than the marijuana commonly available from public dispensaries for legal medicinal use. The consistency of the samples and the strains also affects the outcome of the research. These hurdles make the federal government’s position quite clear regarding its overall concern for legitimate medicinal marijuana research: It doesn’t want to discover or distribute the truth.
Still, a large body of peer-reviewed controlled studies indicate the great potential for medicinal marijuana. Only when the stranglehold on marijuana research is ended will researchers be free to explore all its potential medical benefits.
How do I know if marijuana is a good medicine for me?
Maybe you’ve tried marijuana in the past but never really considered its medicinal qualities. Or maybe you’ve never tried marijuana. The first issue to consider is medical need. Do you have a condition that use of marijuana might benefit? Chapter 3 considers specific conditions for which marijuana can be helpful.
It is your decision to make, and ultimately it is your health at stake.
Always discuss whether marijuana is a good choice with a trusted medical professional. Be aware of local laws and learn about the drug testing regimen used by employers. Because marijuana is reemerging into society as a legitimate medicine, it is less taboo than it once was, but there are still social and cultural factors that may affect your decision. Friends’ and family’s concerns and misunderstandings can be overcome with basic education, but you still may experience skepticism from people who have spent their lifetimes hearing that marijuana is a “dangerous,” “illicit” drug only used by felons and reprobates. It is your decision to make, and ultimately it is your health at stake.
Your decision may be influenced by the knowledge that many people find great relief from this natural and powerful plant. Don’t decide hastily or under pressure. If marijuana makes you feel better chances are it is a good choice for you. If it is does not contribute to your well being, however, or if you experience adverse effects when using it, it is obviously not a good option for you. If using marijuana will cause you to lose your job or alienate your loved ones, it’s obviously not a good alternative for you. Only you can answer these questions and make the best decision for your situation.
The Medical Effects of Marijuana and the Science Behind It
Why does marijuana make you feel better? Marijuana contains hundreds of natural chemical compounds, many of which possess psychoactive and therapeutic properties that work within your body to produce positive effects that support healing. Whether you inhale or ingest marijuana, its active ingredients make their way to your blood stream and interact with your body to produce beneficial effects. The chemical compounds that make marijuana an effective medication are called cannabinoids.
What is a cannabinoid?
You’ve heard the term THC in reference to marijuana. THC is short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the most prominent psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana. Cannabinoids are pharmacologically active compounds. THC is one of them. When you use marijuana, the cannabinoids find their way to their target, your body’s cannabinoid receptors. The cannabinoids bind to one of the receptors. This might make you feel euphoric and relieves the symptoms of your medical condition.
THE CANNABINOIDS
The major active chemical compounds found in marijuana are:
