Laws, rules, regulations, and public perception currently inhibit the exploration of marijuana as a medical treatment for a wide variety of illnesses. Marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning the DEA feels it has no medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Schedule 1 drugs are what the Drug Enforcement Agency says are the most dangerous drugs, capable of causing extreme addictions. Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD, ecstasy and ‘Ludes.’
States are decriminalizing the use of marijuana
Currently 19 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws decriminalizing some possession of marijuana offenses. Of these states:
- Three states (Alaska, Colorado, and Oregon) and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation that allows the adult use and personal cultivation of marijuana.
- Five of these states (Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio) still consider possession of marijuana a misdemeanor offense, but do not give jail time for it.
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Research into medical uses for marijuana
Unfortunately due to the DEA’s classification of marijuana and the prohibitions against its use for so many years, there has been little definitive research done into the medical uses for marijuana.
There is so much red tape to wade through that most of the researchers have given up their intent to study the medically beneficial properties of the plant. However, with the decriminalization of marijuana, things may be changing in the research community.
The University of California in San Diego has established the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. This facility plans to conduct high quality research into the medicinal uses for cannabis (marijuana).
The research that has been done has brought forth some amazing properties of the plant:
- Nausea relief and appetite stimulant
In the late 80’s the FDA approved synthetic THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana for use in treating nausea. This has been found to aid in controlling nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemo, and it serves as an appetite stimulant for AIDS patients.
Unfortunately, even though inhaled via smoking or vaporized marijuana is better absorbed into the bloodstream, due to the DEA’s designation of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, little research has been done on this method of administering it.
- Nerve pain relief
There is a lot of nerve pain associated with diabetes, spinal cord injuries, AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, and amputations. Studies have shown that marijuana controls nerve pain as well as and in some cases better than the drugs prescribed for nerve pain.
- Multiple Sclerosis
In addition to nerve pain, there are muscle spasms and stiffness associated with Multiple Sclerosis that interfere with daily activities like sleeping and walking. Treatment with an oral spray containing THC and CBD (cannabidiol) has been very effective in helping with these symptoms for patients in Europe and is in clinical trials in the United States.
There is a lot of potential for marijuana’s compounds to also be effective in patients with the types of epilepsy that are not well-controlled by current epilepsy medications. More studies are required.
Crohn’s Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease are additional areas of potential use, as initial studies have been promising. Exciting new research studies have recently shown that THC and CBD have the capacity to slow or stop the growth of tumor cells.
Marijuana’s medical potential will hopefully one day be realized, and it will be as available to everyone who needs it as over the counter drugs are today. If you want to become one of those medical marijuana patients, the medical marijuana doctors St. Petersburg are here to help you
