Marijuana: Abused Narcotic or Wonder Drug?

Marijuana: Abused Narcotic or Wonder Drug?

I. Introduction

A. History of marijuana

B. Pros

C. Cons

II. History of Marijuana

A. Scientific Information and various uses

B. History of use

III. Pros of Marijuana

A. Nausea and cancer patients

B. Usage for other medical conditions

IV. Cons of Marijuana

A. Immunosuppressant

B. Mind altering substance.

C. Gateway drug

V. Conclusion

Marijuana is one of the oldest known cultivated plants. It has been used for recreational and medicinal purposes during the past 5,000 years. The debate over its positive and negative medicinal uses has been heated mainly within the past several decades. Marijuana has been viewed as an abused, harmful narcotic as well as a miracle healer. There are many interesting facts that fuel this ongoing debate.

In China, Nearly five thousand years ago, marijuana was grown and used for its oil and fiber. Hindu's valued its medicine capability during rituals over 4,000 years ago. Marijuana's recreational use has only been noted within the past 2,500 years. Anglo-American medicine introduced marijuana for its medicinal use in the 19th century to treat rabies, rheumatism, epilepsy, and tetanus. The United States Dispensary of Medicine stated that marijuana contained healing powers for menstrual cramps, depression, and gout in 1854. Since the invention of more specific medications, the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes had declined in England and the United States (Hart, pg 1.). The United States enlisted the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937 which banned the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana. There have been several changes since that act was passed. Since the 1970's, there has been a great amount of support for the usage of medicinal marijuana. Several government sponsored commissions have done studies showing the drug's harmlessness and therapeutic potential. In 1996, California passed the Compassionate Use Act which allows sick and dying patients to use marijuana legally for medicinal purposes (www.lindesmith.org, pg 1 ). In the United States ten states have legalized medicinal marijuana use: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. According to the Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medicinal marijuana, it is viewed as with a variety of effects including harmful adverse effects when smoked (www.drugwarfacts.org, pg 1).

Marijuana, also known as Cannabis Sativa, consist of the dried flowers, stems, leaves, and seeds of the marijuana plant. Marijuana contains many compounds that produce mind altering effects as well as useful medicinal effects. The most common heard chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. THC produces marijuana's mind altering effect, it is also used to treat various signs and symptoms associated with chronic medical conditions. There are two ways consume marijuana, it can be smoked or digested. By smoking marijuana, your body reaches peak levels for the drug within minutes. When marijuana is digested and mixed with food, it takes longer to reach peak levels and the effects can last for hours rather than minutes (www.cnn.com, pg 1). Smoking marijuana has more associated health risks and generally isn't recommended for long-term medical use. Short-term use of smoked marijuana has been proven to provide relief for patients with debilitating conditions ( Joy, Stanley, Watson, Benson pg4).

There are several positive aspects of marijuana. Its therapeutic uses include relief or nausea and vomiting, cancer pain, and other medical conditions. One of marijuana's best supported uses is for the treatment of nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy. Most cancer patients aren't able to tolerate harsh pain medications to relieve nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy. Marijuana is used as a more mild nausea relieving medication as well as a pain medication for chemotherapy patients. Many advocates claim that marijuana alleviates symptoms of AIDS, cancer, and other illnesses. Marijuana has been shown to improve the severe weight loss experienced by AIDS patients during the wasting period of the disease. Studies performed at the University of California of San Francisco show that marijuana usage protects brain cells from the damage that occurs during a stroke. THC is a powerful anti-oxidant that prevents the brain cells from being exposed to toxic levels of the brain chemical glutomate which can be harmful during a stroke. Another positive use of marijuana is for patients with