Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized for the Medical Benefit/Purpose - Research Paper Example

Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized For The Medical Benefit/Purpose. Introduction Marijuana should not be legalized for medical purposes. Hall & Donnelly state that, “To date, cannabis sativa, otherwise known as marijuana is the most solicited and consumed drug in the world. This is especially so in the developing countries” (14).The active chemical ingredient in the drug is known by its organic chemical formula, THC, acronym for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Research has shown that this ingredient is capable of providing medical benefits and relief in ailing individuals from their conditions. Debate on its legalization has been primarily focused on these benefits and their substantiality to warrant its use proactively within the medical field for this purpose. Since its use is majorly recreation within the general population, considerations have to be made to examine its suitability and/or its harmful effects thereof. In addition, controversy regarding its moral and ethical implications has been widely debated in religious circles. This paper will explore marijuana as a recreational and prescription drug. Studies conducted on its potency as a prescription drug and its benefits will be analyzed. The paper will eventually draw a conclusion from the cited texts and research on the suitability of its legalization by states. Discussion The legalization of Marijuana has, in the recent past, been a topic of controversy and sharp debate for the past century since its use was illegalized in many countries in the 1950’s. These laws illegalized its use, sale, possession and cultivation (Deem 2011). Currently, these laws are still in full force in most countries though alterations and modifications have been made to restrict its use in some. However, an estimated 10 countries have been recorded as decriminalizing or allowing its restricted and limited cultivation, use and trade in small controlled quantities. Western countries such as the Czech Republic, Holland, Canada and 16 states in the US have acknowledged its medicinal use and thus legalized its use for medicinal purposes (Hall & Donnelly 32). As a cannabinoid compound, THC actively binds to receptors found in the barain of CB1 cannabinoid nature. These bonds result in the cannabinoids mimicking the effects of the endocannabinoids that occur in the human brain naturally. These effects are however more pronounced and powerful than would be natural without the active ingredient. McQuiston notes that, “In the brain, CB1 receptors are found in several regions including; basal ganglia, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex and anterior cingulated cortex” (53). Studies conducted by scientists have concluded that THC inhibits the release and production of neuro-transmitters. Despite the action of the enzyme known as amide hydrolase, which is a fatty acid which deactivates endocannabinoids rapidly, the effects of THC persist for long durations of time since it is an exogenous. It is this persistence of THC that causes the occurrence of physiological effects (Hall & Donnelly 42). The medical benefits of Marijuana are varied as the symptoms and ailments it has been proven to relieve. Since the first evidence of its positive effects, many studies have been conducted to examine its beneficial properties. In several instances, it has been compared to existing pharmaceutical drugs and treatments. Matsuda & Michael explain that, “The main areas of research on its treatment have revolved around medical conditions such as glaucoma, lack of appetite, terminal illnesses and multiple sclerosis and in addition, research relating to antiemetic properties has been conducted and documented” (563). Consroe & Musty state that, “Studies indicate that marijuana can relieve, ease muscle pain and muscle spasms in individuals with multiple sclerosis” (44). The drug has also been found to control tremors in animals suffering from multiple sclerosis. However, research conducted in spastic patients showed that the smoking of cannabis resulted in further impairment of balance and posture of the patients the tests were carried out on. Furthermore, multiple sclerosis patients consuming cannabis received psychiatric diagnosis in greater numbers and had a lower than average performance time mean on neurological exams. In some cases, individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis have shown increased aggressive tendencies and paranoiac behavior as a direct result of marijuana use in similar psychological tests. Overall studies related to use of marijuana to relieve multiple sclerosis in patients indicate that majority of patients receive little or no relief from the drug and its extracts and a significant number of these patients suffer undesirable and adverse effects from its use (Consroe & Musty 46). Elsohly & Charles assert that, “the use of THC and extracts of marijuana in studies conducted show that THC reduces or relieves intraocular pressure in humans and animals suffering from glaucoma” (406). Researchers however found out that the reduction of intraocular pressure only occurred if the patients remained continually under the effects of the drug. Medications such as prostaglandins and 13 blockers have been identified by research to accord similar relief without the requirement of a patient to be under the effects of these drugs continuously without the side effects related to marijuana. These drugs are therefore more preferable. For the case of appetite, laboratory studies have verified that THC actively increases an individual’s appetite, a condition referred to as “munchies.” Consequently, for individuals suffering from body wasting related illnesses such as AIDs and cancer, THC effectively maintains body weight by aiding the body’s quantity of nutrients uptake and absorption (Sallan & Morris 136) Analgesia or pain relief has been achieved through the use of THC in clinical studies. This property or effect is beneficial to patients with cancer. Administration of THC to such patients should be precise as there is a time window for its administration to guarantee effective and useful pain relief between doses. This window is coupled with another that through wrong or untimely administration of doses produces undesirable effects to the central nervous system. Studies on the same have shown inconclusive results. Some indicate an improvement of pain relief with higher doses while others show no effect with elevated doses (Hall & Donnelly 56). THC has been tested for use as an antiemetic or anti nausea. In early days, THC was determined to be an effective agent in relieving nausea. Nausea resulting from chemotherapy cancer treatments was also relieved. A similar window such as that of pain relief between doses of the anti-emetic made the administration of these doses highly impractical and difficult to administer with the risk of unwanted psychological effects. Goldschmidt & John state that, “Negative effects/ side effects from THC use were tallied in a study to reach 81 percent and that using smoked marijuana, 22 percent of the sample population reported no relief and another 20 percent left the study prematurely” (44). The use of THC in treatment of antiemetic has reduced with the use of serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. This drug is more powerful in the treatment of nausea with the advantage of undesirable psychological effects. THC use has become less attractive with the advent of this drug. Recent studies in the use of marijuana focusing its effects of the brain uses various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have been conducted. Goldschmidt & John observe that, “A study found that the structural integrity of tracts of fiber had been compromised in areas surrounding the corpus callosum” (44). These brain abnormalities were suggestively attributed to the heavy and long term cannabis use affecting behavioral and cognitive competencies of users. Another study showed that the hippocampus region of their brains was substantially reduced in size among other regions such as the amygadala. Psychotic experiences were common in these studies, subjects suffering from social withdrawal, memory lapses comparable to ageing for fifteen years and beliefs of persecution. Stimulus and conditional responses were found to be impaired and comparable to patients with lateral cortex lesions in the prefrontal area within minutes of intoxication (Goldschmidt & John 46). The effects of use of cannabis during pregnancy have been evaluated by medical researchers because THC has been identified as crossing the placenta and additionally being secreted in breast milk. THC is therefore induced into the fetus during its development stages in the womb from pregnant mothers using marijuana and to infants through suckling from mothers using the drug. Goldschmidt & John assert that, “A study conducted to examine effects of the use of marijuana by pregnant women discovered that children exposed during the first trimester developed lower than average verbal reasoning marks and the test was conducted to children at the age of six” (52). Increase in depressive symptoms, impulsivity, and memory deficits and inattention symptoms in children were also traced back to prenatal exposure to THC. Other effects of marijuana use include affection of postnatal development of opioid neurons in adolescents, contraction of smoke inhalation cancers such as lung and oral cancers, the catalytic triggering of cardiovascular occurrences that are adverse such as tachyarrhythmias and vascular complications (Hall & Donnelly 96). . Conclusion The cases and studies on effects of marijuana use in humans clearly exhibit its nature and suitability as both a recreational and prescription drug. The effects encountered are mostly inclined towards adverse and undesirable effects in our bodies. The side effects and mental health issues cited are unwanted and in my assessment lead to worse medical conditions. Furthermore, more suitable drugs with less or no side effects have been identified for the treatment of these medical conditions. Its legalization would expose more individuals, and especially children and minors, to its destructive attributes. It is therefore not justifiable to advocate for its legalization due to its more detrimental than beneficial effects on the human body. Works Cited Consroe, Lawrence and Musty, Rein. “The Perceived Effects of Smoked Cannabis on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.” Eur Neurol 38.1(1997): 44-48 Deem, Rich. The Medical "Benefits" of Smoking Marijuana (Cannabis): A Review of the Current Scientific Literature. 13 July, 2011. 16 April 2012 Elsohly, Wirth, and Charles Waller. “Cannabinoids in Glaucoma: A Primary Screening Procedure.” Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 21 (2002): 400-415 Goldschmidt, Richardson, and John, Willford. Prenatal Marijuana Exposure and Intelligence Test Performance at Age 6. New York: Vintage, 2003. Print. Hall, Johnston, and Donnelly, Neill. The Epidemiology of Cannabis Use and Its Consequences: The Health Effects of Cannabis. Addiction Research Foundation, 2005. Print Matsuda, Lolait and Michael Brownstein. “Structure of a Cannabinoid Receptor and Functional Expression of the Cloned Cdna.” Nature 346 (2003): 561-564. McQuiston, Dean. ”Review of Cannabinoids and Their Antiemetic Effectiveness.” Drugs 1(2001): 52-62 Sallan, Cronin and Morris Zelen. “Antiemetics in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer: A Randomized Comparison of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Prochlorperazine.” The New England Journal of Medicine 302 (2000): 135-138 Read More