The Benefits of Using Marijuana for Medical Purposes - Research Paper Example

 Medical Marijuana Introduction In 1997, there was a campaign started by the British newspaper The Independent aimed at decriminalizing marijuana use, portraying it as a relatively harmless drug, ultimately leading to the downgrading of the legal status of the drug by the British Government. Ten years down the line, the same newspaper, wrote yet another article invalidating its campaign for marijuana decriminalization due to the increasing evidence that the use of marijuana is far from harmless. Marijuana, otherwise known as cannabis, happens to be the most extensively used illegal drug in a number of developed countries. Reports from medical studies indicate that the active ingredient present in marijuana i.e. delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tends to provide some medical gains in some patients. Having the impression that these gains were significant, voters in California, as well as Arizona endorse initiatives permitting the use of medical marijuana by those patients under specific circumstances. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to represent a recent review of the medical literature concerning the benefits of using marijuana for medical purposes (Chism, 2012). THC happens to be a cannabinoid compound binding to CB1 cannabinoid receptors within the human brain. These cannabinoids tend to mimic endocannabinoids produced in the brain that occur naturally, though they do it with effects that are much more powerful. CB1 receptors are within the cerebral cortex mainly the frontal sections, the basal ganglia, the hippocampus, the cerebellum, the anterior cingulate cortex and the hypothalamus. There are experimental illustrations of the outcomes of THC by the use of animal studies, as well as in vitro human studies. The performance of THC is through inhibiting the discharge of neurotransmitters, comprising of L-glutamate, acetylcholine, GABA, 5-HT, noradrenaline and dopamine. Though endocannabinoids tend to be rapidly inactivated through the enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase, there are exogenous cannabinoids like, which persist for longer periods of time, leading to the noted physiological effects (Masson, Leavitt & Chaffee, 2011). Benefits of Medical marijuana It is impossible to list all the medicinal, as well as medical benefits of marijuana since they are so many; people all over the world is standing up for their rights for the incorporation of holistic, natural medicines so as to remedy their ailments. With the help of modern technologies, the numerous medicinal benefits associated with marijuana are ever-increasingly turning out to be integrated into the same fabric of worldwide societies all over the world. Marijuana helps in the treatment of conditions, which in most cases are side effects of certain diseases including reduction of stress, thwarting depression and battling the effects of an astounding number of diseases, as well as other adverse health conditions. Below are some of the most remarkable, medicinal marijuana that are clinically-proven. In order to understand these benefits, it is appropriate to analyze some of the diseases leading to these side effects (Gerber, 2004). a) AIDS: Studies show that a quarter of all AIDS patients is using cannabis as a way of pain or anxiety relief, in curbing nausea, and in helping in the improvement of their appetites since medical marijuana has anti-emetic, as well as analgesic properties, which tend to be beneficial in treating HIV and AIDS-related symptoms. Therefore, cannabinoid drugs are a viable treatment for HIV/AIDS patients who are making an attempt to stay healthy in the face of appetite loss and wasting syndrome considering that they do not adversely affect other mandatory medications. b) Anorexia: This is a psychiatric illness, which causes an eating disorder discernible by poor perception of body image, forced vomiting, low body weight, voluntary starvation, excessive exercise or the use of diuretics, along with diet pills. Therefore, cannabis, along with cannabinoid drugs tend to be effective in treating an acute loss of appetite, which is in most cases associated with psychological factors of this condition. c) Arthritis: This disease has an association with causing pain, swelling, as well as limited movements to the joints. It is also manifesting itself as chronic joint inflammation as a result of injuries. Research shows that cannabis, along with cannabinoid drugs tends to be effective for arthritis, together with other degenerative joint, hip, as well as connective tissue disorders. Considering that all of these conditions include frequent bouts of tremendous pain, the ability of cannabis to assist in fighting chronic pain makes it extremely useful on its own or in conjunction with other opiate painkillers. There are documentation of marijuana as a musclo-skeletal pain treatment in some parts of western medicine since the 1700s. Cannabis also contains strong anti-inflammatory, as well as immune-modulation properties, meaning it might be a suitable form of direct treatment for any chronic inflammatory disease arthritis included. d) Autism: This is not a specific disease rather it includes conditions as Asperger's Syndrome. Parents of afflicted children assert that using cannabis assists the symptoms such as calming anxiety and easing tensed muscles. Though there is a fear that this child might get addiction to marijuana, there are ongoing studies on the effects of medical marijuana on the autism spectrum disorders with some children similar conditions showing improvement. e) Brain tumors: Marijuana has an active compound called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is not helpful in preventing brain tumors from forming, but also it is capable of curing them. In this medical wonder works by the THC inducing a process referred to as autophagy, the cancerous brain cells start consuming themselves. Instead of growing in size by feeding at other healthy brain cells, these cancer cells tend to feed on themselves until they are all finished. All this come without the risky side effects brought about by most synthetic drugs, used for this purpose. f) Cancer: Both cancer itself, as well as the various treatments for it, trigger a number of side effects comprising of anorexia and cachexia, along with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. On top of that, other patients experience severe pain, together with difficulty when sleeping. Marijuana prescriptions for the majority of these patients help them in getting through these side effects. g) Diabetes: Marijuana works well as a treatment for anti-inflammatory without the derivative of steroids. The latter tends to be beneficial since these are assumptions that diabetics avoid steroids. Apart from that, cannabis does not cause liver or kidney issues, something associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Tylenol and Aleve. Considering that diabetes patients are prone to arterial inflammation, this characteristic of cannabinoids tends to be of considerable interest. Relevance to Nursing Marijuana happens to be a safe, as well as effective medication; therefore, it is essential for nurses to support legal access. Therefore, patients are in need of professional guidance concerning the safe administration of cannabis, while, at the same time, they need access to a legal, as well as unadulterated supply. According to patients' reports concerning the benefits of cannabis or observations to patients' responses to it, it is clear that this medication had its therapeutic value (Chism, 2012). A review of the drug's history shows that there is wide use of marijuana therapeutically all over the world, though there is a prohibition in the United States it is due to political reasons, and not medical reasons. In the recent past, the nursing community has turned out to be more open to it. Ever since 1994, the state nursing associations of Alaska, North Carolina, California, Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, Hawaii, New York, Mississippi and New Mexico have all approved resolutions supporting the legalization of patient access to medical marijuana. Conclusion Extensive studies concerning the use of marijuana or cannabis extracts in medical treatment for more than twenty years. Initial enthusiasm concerning THC as an antiemetic or for reducing intraocular pressure has diminished with the advent of latest medications providing superior medical benefits that have fewer adverse effects. The key success of THC is in cases whereby patients suffering from AIDS-related wasting syndrome, as well as in some cases whereby patients are suffering from the pain that is intractable. Nonetheless, almost all of these studies has a connection with the use of managed doses of purified cannabinoids, bypassing the negative effects linked to smoking marijuana. The majority of opponents of the medical use of smoked marijuana is not unreceptive to the medical use of THC, whereas the majority of supporters of smoked marijuana tend to be unreceptive to the use of purified chemicals found in marijuana, asserting that only smoked marijuana leaves be utilized as medicine, disclosing clearly that their drive is not scientific medicine; rather, it is the back door legalization of marijuana (Chism, 2012). References: Chism, L. (2012). The Doctor of Nursing Practice. Sudbury, Massachusetts: ones & Bartlett Publishers. Mason, J.D., Leavitt, J.L. & Chaffee, M.J. (2011). Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care. New York: Elsevier Health Sciences. Gerber, R. J. (2004). Legalizing Marijuana: Drug Policy Reform and Prohibition Politics. Arizona: Greenwood Publishing Group. Read More