Medical Arguments for the Use of Marijuana - Research Paper Example

?Health Sciences and Medicine: Medical Marijuana. Introduction. There is an on-going debate in many societies about the use of marijuana for medical purposes, because some people argue that marijuana has properties which are valuable in the treatment of certain chronic diseases, while others argue that any benefits are far outweighed by its risks. This paper outlines the medical arguments for its use, the risks involved, the legal issues for physicians and patients, and the US Government position on medical marijuana and argues in the light of this evidence that marijuana should be a medical option for certain categories of people in the United States. Medical arguments for the use of marijuana. The leaves and stem of the plant Cannabis sativa, otherwise known as grass, weed, pot, ganga or marijuana have been used both for medical purposes and as a recreational drug for as far back as human history leads us. It can be smoked like tobacco, or baked in food like any other spice, or in resin form it can be crumbled into liquids. Archaeologists have traced its usage as far back as ancient China and Bronze Age Europe around 2000 BC (Medicalmarijuana,procon website) and there are historical records of its use all the way through early and medieval Europe, to India and the Americas, right up to the present day, where the substance is banned in most developed countries because of its hallucinogenic and addictive qualities. The clinical effects of marijuana are both physical and mental. It induces relaxation in the muscles and a feeling of wellbeing. These effects are very positive for patients who suffer from illnesses such as multiple sclerosis which can cause cramping of the muscles, and for patients undergoing painful and stressful treatments for cancer. Users report that it helps young people and old (Belkin, 2009). Risks and arguments against the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The risks of marijuana use are similar to those of alcohol and tobacco, in that prolonged use can affect the lungs, and there is a tendency for users to become addicted. One argment that is often used against the use of marijuana for medical purposes is that there is very little research proving its effectiveness. One doctor wrote to the new York Times, for example, stating that he organized a conference and “At this conference, 51 papers presented failed to show that marijuana had any practical therapeutic value” (Pace, 2006) This demonstrates that large sections of the medical establishment are not convinced of the drug’s benefits. There are dangers also an unregulated supply system, such as allowing users to grow their own cannabis plants, or relying on sources which are of dubious legality. This underground business in the drug means that quality control is not very good, and customers cannot be sure of obtaining a consistently pure substance in accurately measured doses. Much medical cannabis is self-administered, and the potential here for errors is huge. Side effects such as hallucinations, a feeling of paranoia and a powerful urge to eat are unpredictable in their severity, and this can be a cause for concern, for example if people take cannabis and then drive a vehicle or walk in busy traffic. Legal issues for physicians and patients. Throughout the ages various legal and professional bodies have made rulings on the use of cannabis for medical purposes. In the period from 1842 until the 1890s, marijuana and hashish in various forms were the first, second or third most popular medicines in the United States. (Medicalmarijuana.procon website) As doctors and patients gained more experience of the drug and its application in diseases such as neuralgia, depression haemorrhage, pain relief and muscle spasm, however, there was a rising tide of concern about the side effects that the drugs brought with them. This was an age of medicalized addiction, and substances like opium and marijuana were often prescribed for medical purposes, but turned into a vice which people could not free themselves from. The first state to ban the drug was Utah, and then a series of local and national acts followed suit. In recent years there has been a gradual relaxing of the law in many states, allowing cannabis use in tightly defined medical instances. Despite this partial relaxation of the law, policing of those who use cannabis for medical purposes can be insensitive and it can be difficult for people to prove their status as bona fide medical users. There is also a grey area in terms of the way that people organize their supply of the drug. Most courts penalize any kind of mass production, even for one’s own use, and buying or selling the drug is equally hazardous. Up to six ounces is generally acknowledged as an acceptable amount for a person to own for medical use, but this is not guaranteed by any fixed laws. This legal situation is evolving daily, and it is very difficult for both patients and doctors to know exactly what their rights and responsibilities are. There are major issues of unfairness, when some citizens, depending on their geographical location within America, can access medical doses of marijuana to alleviate painful symptoms, while others cannot. A doctor who advises a patient to break the law would risk his or her professional status and right to practice. Patients who have tried other drugs and found them ineffective, and then inform themselves about the benefits and risks and decide that they would like to try a marijuana treatment may find that their only option is to break the law, or move to another state. These are difficult choices, and many argue that it is not fair to make people who suffer already through illness, suffer again through withholding treatment that might control their symptoms. The US government position on medical marijuana. It would be fair to say that the US government is divided on this issue. This can be seen in the frequent policy changes, and amendment requests, that are presented year by year to the lawmakers. There has been also some conflict between liberal state laws and more strict federal laws, so that for example in June 2005 the American Supreme Court ruled that “Federal authorities may prosecute sick people who smoke pot on doctors’ orders… concluding that state medical marijuana laws don’t protect users from a federal ban on the drug.” (Medicalmarijuana.procon website) As of May 13th 2011, a total of 16 American states have passed laws to legalize medical marijuana, but the rest have not, and as we have seen, even the passing of state laws does not guarantee freedom from prosecution. This is a paradoxical, and somewhat ridiculous government position, because it shows a country in disarray, unable to decide once and for all whether or not to legalize the use of marijuana for all the citizens. The rhetoric of the politicians has more to do with scaremongering about the dangers of marijuana on the one side, and emotional pleas on the part of sufferers on the other side. The argument often drifts into the moral area of recreational drug use, which is an unfortunate tendency, because connection with this domain confuses the issue. The main avenue for resolving this issue would be through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unfortunately, however, research into the effectiveness of medically used marijuana is difficult to organize, because agencies such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have blocked the supplying of marijuana for research purposes and this has “effectively paralyzed medical marijuana research” (MAPS website). This means that the evidence upon which laws are being made is suspect, and the prevention of more research will only make this situation worse. Conclusion: medical marijuana should be an option. The debate over the legalization of medical marijuana is rumbling on across the United States, and there are clearly valid arguments on both sides of this divide. One way to tease out the key issues is to insist that the debate be clearly separated from the debate on recreational drug usage. Legalizing medical marijuana should not be seen (by either side!) as a backdoor way to legalize use of the drug by the whole population. The key issue is whether it can help people who have crushing and painful illnesses to cope better. In spite of the reluctance of many doctors to admit it, there is clear evidence that many patients feel better when they smoke marijuana. When they feel better they are also able to undertake more active pursuits and enjoy their life more. This benefit is the sole argument for the legalization of medical marijuana. Worries about over quality of supply, the dangers of overuse, addiction or the drug coming into the hands of children can be addressed through good issuing and monitoring procedures and education for users. The worst decision of all is the one that the United States currently has: confusion over what is allowed and why, and an energy consuming debate that is argued on ideological rather than scientific grounds. It is time now to invest in some proper research, with trials involving the many people who want to try cannabis but have difficulty accessing it or who are afraid of being labelled criminals. Only when this is done, with the full co-operation of Federal Government and its agencies, state government, and the medical profession, will it be possible to regulate the industry and allow controlled access to the drug, making medical marijuana a real option for those who desperately need it. References Belkin, Lisa. “Medical Marijuana for Children.” New York Times Parenting Blog. October 20, 2009. Available at: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/medical-marijuana-for-children/ Drug Policy Alliance Website. Available at: http://www.drugpolicy.org/issue/medical-marijuana “Research>Medical Marijuana.” Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Website. Available at: http://www.maps.org/research/mmj/ Medical Marijuana ProCon Website. Available at: http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/ Messerli, Joe. “Should Marijuana be Legalized under any Circumstances?” balancedpolitics.org website. Last updated 05.05.2011. Available at: http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm Pace, Nicholas A. Letter to the Editor. New York Times. April 21, 2006. Available at: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E3DF133FF935A15757C0A9609C8B63 Read More