Medical marijuana is a term used to refer to unprocessed marijuana extracts or plant. It is a plant that can be used in treating either the symptoms of a disease or other conditions. In 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung writing states cannabis was first used as a psychoactive agent. In this writing, cannabis had power against, malaria, gout, rheumatism as well as absent mindedness. The medical value importance was centered more than its intoxication properties. Eventual the use of cannabis spread also to India then parts of North Africa and later in AD500 to Europe. From 1850 to 1942 medical marijuana has been listed among the Pharmacopeia in the U.S. it was used for various medical conditions such as nausea, rheumatism as well as labor pain (Pacula and Smart 66). This paper is entirely based on the medical marijuana benefits based on the scientific evidences and research done in various parts of the world and documented.
Medical Uses
From 1850 till 1930 cannabis began to be common for recreational reasons and purposes. While the use of this medical marijuana increased in the 1970 Control Substance Act, was categorized as a Scheduled I Drug. Later, the natural marijuana medical use controversy arouse. The THC active ingredient was synthesized in the laboratory in 1966 and the United States Food and Drug Administration approved it in early 1985 (Pacula and Smart 66).
The Institute of Medicine disclosed in the 1999 United States Government Sponsored study the medical marijuana benefits in some medical issues such as wasting resulting from, AIDs and nausea resulting from the chemotherapy drugs. Since 1999 numerous types of research have revealed that marijuana that is smoked has the pain-reducing properties. Numerous pieces of research and scientific studies have revealed many other medical benefits of marijuana (Pacula and Smart 66).
Marijuana Stops or Slows the Spread of Cancer Cells
In a study published in a Molecular Cancer Therapeutics journal, it explains that Cannabis has the capability of stopping cancer by turning off the Id-1 gene. In 2007, the California Pacific Medical Center found in San Francisco researchers, reported that cannabis can prevent the spreading of cancer cells. These researchers did a test on breast cancer that contained high Id-1 levels in the laboratory. They treated this breast with cannabidiol. The results were positive. They showed a decrease in the Id-1 expression in the cells and the spreading of these cancerous cells. The American Association for Cancer Research in fact found that marijuana has the ability to slow down the growth of cancer cells or tumors in the breast, lungs and brain considerately. Therefore, medical marijuana has the benefit and property of suppressing the Id-1 expression as well as preventing the spread of cancerous cells in the body (Abrams 66).
Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease
The active agent, THC, in medical marijuana slow Alzheimer’s disease progression in a study that was conducted by the research institute. In this research, it was found that THC slows amyloid plaques formation. It blocks the enzyme in the human brain which results in Alzheimer’s disease formation. The plaques are the ones that destroy the cells of the brain resulting in Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, medical marijuana has the ability to stop the development of this plaque (Collins and Workman 44).
Treats Glaucoma
Cannabis has the ability to treat any type of glaucoma. Glaucoma causes eyeball pressure to increase thus damaging nerves as well as resulting in vision loss. The National Eye Institute states that medical marijuana aids in lowering the pressure in the eyes (Gieringer, and Gregory 67). 1970s studies revealed that smoking medical marijuana resulted in decreases intraocular pressure (IOP) in both individuals with glaucoma as well as normal eye pressure. These impacts of the drugs prevent blindness.
Relieves Arthritis
Research conducted in 2011 indicated that marijuana reduces inflammation, and pain as well as promotes sleep. These properties of cannabis can aid in relieving discomfort and pain for individuals having rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, the rheumatology units researchers in many hospitals gave Sativex, a cannabinoid-based-pain- relieving drug to their patients. After fourteen days, patients on this drug had a considerable pain reduction effect as well as slept well more than the patients who were using the Placebo drug. Therefore, it is evident that medical marijuana has a medical benefit in reducing pain and promoting sleep in rheumatoid arthritis patients (Gieringer, and Gregory 67).
Controls Epileptic Seizures
A study that was done in 2003 indicated that medical marijuana had the ability to control epileptic seizures. For instance, Robert J. DeLorenzo from Virginia University injected epileptic rats with synthetic marijuana and marijuana extract. These drugs controlled epileptic for around ten hours. It was discovered that the active agent in marijuana, THC, controlled seizures through binding all cell of the brain that is in charge of regulating relaxation and controlling excitability. The Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics journal published these results indicating that medical marijuana has the potential of controlling epileptic seizures in patients (Hill 56).
Eases the Multiple Sclerosis Pain
Medical marijuana stops negative neurological impacts as well as muscle spasms resulting from multiple sclerosis. The Canadian Medical Association study reported that marijuana can ease multiple sclerosis’s painful symptoms. For example, a study was done on thirty patients suffering from multiple sclerosis having painful muscle contractions. The patient was not improving from this condition even after taking medication. However, after smirking this marijuana for some days, they said that the pain had decreased. Therefore, the marijuana active agent, THC, bonds the receptors in nerves as well as muscles to dismiss the pain.
Soothes Tremors for Parkinson’s Diseases Patients
In a research that was conducted in Israel, smoking marijuana pains. It extraordinarily reduces tremors and pain. Medical marijuana as well promotes sleep in patients with Parkinson’s disease. This research proved that medical marijuana improves motor skills within these patients. This made the government of Israel to legalized marijuana usage in medicine (Amar 67).
Helps in Crohn’s Disease
Cannabis has the ability to cure Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a disorder of the bowel characterized by inflammation that causes vomiting, pain, weight loss diarrhea among other symptoms. A current study that was conducted in Israel revealed that smoking a considerable amount of medical marijuana results in a reduction of the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in 10 out of 11 victims. At the same time, marijuana causes a complete termination of this disease In 5 of those victims. At the same time, the cannabinoids gotten from cannabis appear to aid in controlling the gut bacteria as well as intestinal functions.
Decreases the Dravet’s Syndrome Symptoms
Severe developmental, as well as seizure, are caused by Dravet’s Syndrome. For instance, a young girl with Dravet’s Syndrome was treated with marijuana. After some days of treatment, the seizures reduced from three hundred per week to one every week. Other 40 children as well used the drug and it aided them as well. The doctors say that cannabidiol in the marijuana plant interacts with the cell of the brain to silence the unnecessary activities in the human brain that result in seizures.
Lessons Side Impacts from Hepatitis C Treatment and Increases Effectiveness of Treatment
Hepatitis C treatment has several side effects that are very severe. This side effect makes many people to opt for withdrawal. These side effect ranges from muscle pains, nausea, appetite loss, depression as well as fatigue. This side effects last for many months. A study done in 2006 by Gastroenterology and Hepatology realized that 86 percent of the patients who were using marijuana finished the therapies successfully. On the other hand only 29 percent of the non-smoking patients finished the treatment (Hill 56). Similarly, 54 percent of those using marijuana got their levels of viral low as well as kept them low compared to the non-smokers who were only 8 percent with these characteristics. Therefore, marijuana helps in reducing the side effects of Hepatitis C treatment as well as improves the effectiveness of its treatment.
Decreases Anxiety
Harvard University researchers in 1010 suggested that medical marijuana can reduce anxiety. This property enables this drug to be used as a sedative when used in low doses. However, high doses of medical marijuana can lead to increased anxiety. Therefore the low doses aid in the medical field in sedating as well as reducing patient anxiety.
Helps Reverse the Tobacco Carcinogen Effect As Well As Improve the Health of the Lungs
The American Medical Association in January 2012 showed that medical marijuana has the ability to improve the functions of the lung as well as increase its capacity. For example, research that was done in search of the heart disease risks found coincidentally that children who were using marijuana had an increased lung capacity compared to the ones who were using tobacco. However, some researchers say that the increase in lung capacity is a result of deep breathing when inhaling and not the treatment properties of medical marijuana.
Reducing the Severe Pain As Well As Nausea from Chemotherapy and Stimulates Appetite
People undergoing chemotherapy are recommended to use marijuana. Patients undergoing chemotherapy experience severe pains, vomiting, and loss of appetite as well as painful nausea. The THC agent in marijuana can aid in counteracting this side effects of chemotherapy. It reduces pain, stirs up appetite and decreases nausea. Likewise, FDA has approved other cannabinoids medications that use THC for similar reasons.
Improves Lupus Symptoms, an Autoimmune Disorder
Systemic Lupus is treated by use of marijuana. Lupus is a disease whereby the body attacks its cells for reasons that are not known. The various chemicals present in marijuana aid in calming the immune system down. This property aids the body to deal with Lupus symptoms. Other benefits of marijuana on lupus symptoms result from its ability to reduce pain as well as nausea.
Protects the Brain after Stroke
The University of Nottingham research (that was done on mice, monkey, and rats) showed that marijuana may aid protect the brain from an injury that a stroke causes. Cannabis reduces the size of the region that is affected by a stroke. Other researchers have provided evidence of marijuana protecting the cell of the brain from even traumatic incidences such as concussions (Hill 56). Therefore, marijuana has the medical potential of protecting the cells of the brain from traumatic events or even a stroke.
Controls Varies Kinds of Muscle Spasm
Muscle spasms of different types as well respond to marijuana. For instance, a patient having Myoclonus Diaphragmatic Flutter or Leeuwenhoek’s Disease used marijuana that aided in calming the attacks. Leeuwenhoek’s disease causes a continuous spasm in the muscles of the abdomen. This spasm causes pain and interferes with speaking and talking. Various strong medications have no positive effect on these activities. Therefore, marijuana calms these attacks immediately causing the diaphragmatic muscles to relax.
Helps in Eliminating Nightmares
Marijuana has the ability to alter the sleep cycle. It interferes with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in later stages. This is helpful especially for nightmare victims or PTSD patients. Nightmares occur during this later stage of REM sleep. Active agencies such as THC have evidently reduced the frequency of nightmares in PTSD patients. Therefore, marijuana aids in preventing nightmares in various patients. However, it has also some negative effect when used for this purpose on patient and thus more research needs to be done (Hill 56).
Protects the Brain from Trauma and Concussion
A study in the Cerebral Cortex journal explains that marijuana can aid heal the brain cells after trauma or concussion. For example, an experiment that was done on rats marijuana reduced brain bruising. It also aided with the mechanism of healing after an injury that resulted from trauma. A psychology professor at Harvard wrote that the national football league should stop marijuana tests on the players since it aids in the traumatic injury healing process. Doctors believe that a dose of marijuana has very high neuro-protective properties and thus has medical benefit (Pacula and Smart 66).
Conclusion
In conclusion, medical marijuana has numerous benefits. It is medical benefits are the most amazing ones. It is a plant that has active agents that aid in treating various medical conditions. Marijuana has the ability to treat Alzheimer’s disease and protect the brain from concussion, nightmares and muscle spasms. Not only these conditions but also Lupus Symptoms, Dravet’s Syndrome, Glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis Pain, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s Diseases and Reducing the severe pain as well as nausea from chemotherapy and stimulates appetite. Even though the United States Food and Drugs Administration has neither recognized nor approved the use of marijuana plants as a drug in hospitals, it has medical benefits (Pacula and Smart 69). The scientific studies of a chemical component in marijuana known as cannabinoid have shown it is potential medicinal uses. The Food and Drugs Administration Food has approved the drugs containing the cannabinoid in form of pills. As many researchers have proved, marijuana has many other medical benefits.
References
Abrams, Donald I. “Using Medical Cannabis in an Oncology Practice.” Oncology, vol. 30, no. 5, 2016, pp. 397–397.
It explains on how cannabis can suppress the cancerous cells starting from breast cancer to other complex cancers like brain cancer.
Amar, Mohamed Ben. “Cannabinoids in Medicine: A Review of Their Therapeutic Potential.” Journal of Ethno pharmacology, vol. 105, no. 1–2, 2006, pp. 1–25.
It explains on the potential uses of medical marijuana in treatment.
Collins, Ian, and Paul Workman. “New Approaches to Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.” Nature Chemical Biology, vol. 2, no. 12, 2006, p. 689.
Gieringer, Dale H, Ed Rosenthal, and Gregory T. Carter. Marijuana Medical Handbook: Practical Guide to the Therapeutic Uses of Marijuana. Oakland, Calif: Quick American, 2008. Internet resource.
It explains on the potential uses of medical marijuana in treatment of conditions and symptoms.
Hill, Kevin P. “Medical Marijuana for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Other Medical and Psychiatric Problems: A Clinical Review.” Jama, vol. 313, no. 24, 2015, pp. 2474–2483.
It explains on the use of medical marijuana in treatment of conditions like brain trauma.
Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo, and Rosanna Smart. “Medical Marijuana and Marijuana Legalization.” Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, vol. 13, 2017, pp. 397–419.
It explains on the potential uses of medical marijuana in treatment and its benefits that support were it should be legalized.
