Medical Marijuana: What Are The Benefits And Hazards Of Medical Marijuana?

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Medical Marijuana: What Are The Benefits And Hazards Of Medical Marijuana?

Introduction

Since the field of science is making progress by leaps and bounds, every field is experiencing great revolutions in it. Whether it is the area of engineering or geology, every filed is witnessing new dawns in it and the procedures to carry on multiple strategies have become much easier as compared to the past. Similar is the case for the field of medical science; it has made much progress comparatively from the previous times. And this is not only true for a single discipline, almost every discipline of medical science has seen many improvements, but still, there are some things that even science could not change.

In the previous days, there used to be quacks, who used to treat different diseases with the help of various plants, herbs, and weeds. These practices were adopted because the treatment methods were very basic and science had not made many advancements to have invented chemical drug treatment of diseases and wounds. Some of these practices are still carried on, even in the modern world. Medical practitioners, including qualified doctor, suggest using these practices and try using various herbs, weeds, and plants in the therapeutical procedure. These natural treatments are also highly recommended to the patients and to the general public by these doctors. One such treatment procedure is the use of marijuana in terms of medical procedures. Although medical marijuana or Cannabis is being used in the cure and treatment of many critical diseases, still its hazards outweigh its benefits, and it proves to be much harmful to human health rather than providing advantages to it on a longer term.

Discussion

The use of marijuana has become very common in the whole world not only as a soothing drug but also as a tool for medical procedures. Doctors have started using it in various therapeutical procedures to treat and cure multiple diseases and use as a healing compound in the treatment of wounds. But still, this notion holds a highly controversial status as many medical practitioners do not agree with this opinion. The use of marijuana, especially on a medical basis, is still a highly debated topic the circles of medical sciences. The doctors are divided when it comes to the usage of marijuana or more precisely, medical marijuana to cater to multiple diseases.

Marijuana or cannabis is a drug, psychoactive in nature, which is used for multiple medical and recreational purposes. It is mainly extracted from the Cannabis plant, and used to treat vomiting symptoms during chemotherapy, chronic pain, muscle spasms and elevate appetite in the patients of HIV/AIDS. It is inculcated in the body or the main bloodstream through various ways like it can be smoked, injected, or taken inside with some food item. Marijuana is also known as hemp.

Although medical marijuana holds many benefits and is used in the treatment of a number of medical ailments, still its position is very controversial both in social and medical fields. The doctors have divided opinion over this matter. Some of the medical practitioners are in favor of the use of marijuana only in terms of medical purposes whereas the others oppose it rigorously. They consider cannabis to be a much harmful drug than a useful one and consider the side effects to be much greater than the benefits.

The main chemicals found in Cannabis or marijuana is the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoids, however, the former one is the major psychoactive element. It takes almost 30 minutes to 1 hour of THC to kick in start affecting the mental and nervous system. Usage of marijuana, either consumed for medical purposes or for recreation, leaves both short term and long term effects over a human body. It leaves an impact over the mental as well as the physical health of a person.

When a person intakes marijuana, it hits those parts of the brain that are connected with the proper functioning and the development of the brain. It hits those certain receptors that control the overall function of the brain, and over activate them. This causes immediate changes in the physical and mental functioning of the body. The short-term effects that are immediately felt by the consumer are an altered sense of time, altered senses, changes in the mood, fast heartbeat rate, slurred speech, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, hallucinations (if taken in high doses) and psychosis (also if taken in high doses). The long term effects of this drug include permanent alteration in the mental structure and the development of the brain (Wright). Continued use of marijuana, even if used for medical purposes, affects the development of the nerves and the brain in a deteriorating way, by impacting the vital functions like proper thinking, learning, and memory. It also starts affecting the way the human brain builds connections between these important functions. Studies conducted over this area have provided very specific and significant results regarding its subjects. The patients, who started taking marijuana at an early age like in their teens could not get rid of it even in their adult age and became permanently addicted to it. It caused a decline in the IQ and general knowledge in them and they found it difficult as compared the other people of their age to concentrate and exhibit intelligence. Moreover, continued usage of the drug also affects learning and verbal abilities.

Apart from affecting a persona physically and mentally, it also has deep societal effects as well. Studies have proven that legalizing marijuana in the country would cause a significant increase in the crime and people would be more drawn towards illegal activities. Experts have argued that the use of Cannabis is directly linked to the crime rate (Cheon). These results have been drawn on the basis of a number of studies and multiple interviews carried on the criminal aspect of drugs and marijuana has proved to hold a prominent position in all of them. Criminals, interviewed during this process, have confessed that most of the criminal activities they have committed were done under the influence of drugs, specifically marijuana. Marijuana or Cannabis has been made legal in some states of the United States and the remaining states, in which it is still illegal, are considering it to be made legal. The drug is highly under debate and is a center of attention not only in the United States but the whole world, only due to its usage in medical sector.

Another prominent harmful effect of legalizing marijuana is its easy availability to teenagers. Researchers argue over the fact that making cannabis easily available will not solve the physical or societal issues at all. Although the drug will be made available for medical purposes and only patients would be supposed to taking it but many other people, who are not even suffering from some serious medical issue, will take advantage of this permission. Many teenagers will start using the drug, taking advantage of its easy availability (Lankenou). This will further complicate the problem and the country will find an increase in the number of case drug addicts. Moreover, some of the experts are even of the view that cannabis is just an overrated drug; it does not hold that much effective in terms of medical benefits as some scientists have popularized it for (Ciccone).

Although these reasons are enough to prove that marijuana in any form, whether used in medical terms or for recreational purposes, is harmful to human health. Scientist are showing deep interest in this subject and many studies are already being carried out in this respect recently, but it is not an easy task. The research on hemp or marijuana is difficult because is very hard to find substance. The Department of Health and Public Safety still categorizes Marijuana as Category I drug, just like heroin and alcohol. This limitation in the availability of the drug creates a hindrance in the study and research process of the cannabis and deprives the general public of much available information about the drug.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, it can be concluded that although marijuana may have proved to be much helpful in the treatment of various medical issues like chronic diseases and muscle spasms, still it is a drug. It holds many side effects and health hazards for human health, as compared to its beneficial aspects. Despite the favor of many medical practitioners and researchers, there are still many studies opposing the notion that Cannabis or Marijuana should be allowed to treat the patients. These medical practitioners suggest using alternative methods to treat and cure diseases instead of going towards an "illegal" drug. The status of marijuana may be legal in many states of the United States of America, it does not decrease the harmful effects associated with it. Hence, the researchers in medical science should strive to find some better alternatives that carry fewer side effects, to treat the ailments that they are currently curing with the use of Marijuana.

Works Cited

Cheon, Hyunjung; Decker, Scott H.; Katz, Charles M. "Medical Marijuana and Crime: Substance use and criminal behaviors in a sample of Arrestees." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal of Drug Issues, April 2018, Vol. 48(2), p. 182(23).

Ciccone, Charles D. "Medical Marijuana: Just the Beginning of a Long, Strange Trip" Physical Therapy, February 2017, Vol.97 (2) p.239-248 

Lankenou, Stephen E.; and Ataiants, Janna. "Health Conditions and Motivations for Marijuana use among Young Adults medical Marijuana Patients and Non-patient Marijuana Users." Drug and Alcohol Review, February. 2018, Vol. 37(2) p. 237-246.

Wright, Steven, and Julius Metts. "Recreational cannabinoid use: the hazards behind the 'high': marijuana use can cause concerning physical, psychomotor, cognitive, and psychiatric effects, not to mention a near-doubling of car accidents." Journal of Family Practice, Nov. 2016, p. 770+. Health & Wellness Resource