Marijuana legalization: What does this mean for medicine in the US? |
Posted: February 25, 2019 |
There has been a long history of debates concerning the legal status of marijuana. These restrictions began as early as 1906 with outright prohibitions beginning in the 1920s and by the 1970’s, marijuana was officially outlawed for use (medical or recreational). Advocates for marijuana legalisation have argued that the negative economic and social impact of marijuana is negligent when compared to that of alcohol and tobacco use. Supporters of policies that would permit individual possession of trifling amounts of marijuana argue that it is a safe drug. They further emphasise that criminal punishment against personal use and possession represent at worst excessively harsh and at best unwarranted penalties.
States in the US where marijuana is legal According to medical marijuana news, as of 2018, cannabis has been legalised in 33 states of the US plus Washington DC. These states are as follows: Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Connecticut Colorado Delaware District of Columbia Florida Hawaii Illinois Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Maryland Michigan Minnesota Montana Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Utah Vermont Washington West Virginia. In the afore mentioned states, Doctors can prescribe medicinal cannabis in the treatment of patient conditions. Medical marijuana news is breaking ground in the country as other states are fighting to legalise marijuana for medicinal purposes. Cannabinoids The active chemical components derived from marijuana that are of any medical interest are called cannabinoids. The two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of medical use are THC (Tetra hydro cannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). The United states Food and drug administration (FDA) does not still recognise or authorised the use marijuana plant as medicine. Despite this, recent advancements in scientific research has led to the creation of two FDA approved drugs gotten from marijuana. Of these drugs, Dronabinol and Nabilone contain THC while Epidiolex is a CBD based fluid medication. Usefulness of Marijuana in Medicine Cannabinoids have been indicated in the treatment of diseases such as multiple sclerosis by improving the symptoms such as muscle stiffness, spasms, neuropathic pain and sleep and bladder disturbance. Animal studies have also shown the role of Non-psychoactive cannabinoid (CBD) in drug and alcohol addiction recovery. New research has also indicated the role of cannabinoids in elimination of infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses and some protozoa. It has been utilized to reduce the effects of nausea and emesis associated with chemotherapy of cancer patients. It has also been shown to be effective in minimizing symptoms of nausea and diminished appetite in HIV positive patients. There have been proposed utilization of cannabinoids in treatment of glaucoma by acting on the endocannabinoid system to reduce intra ocular pressure. Conclusion The legalisation of Cannabinoids will allow for better patient care and treatment of illnesses that may otherwise have been termed incurable. The current marijuana prohibition has thwarted research in the US to discover more effective uses of marijuana in medicine. The far-reaching effects of current strides in medical marijuana are simply a glimpse of the possibilities available with proper research and legalisation of marijuana.
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