History of Medicinal Cannabis

The first evidence indicating the medical usage of cannabis dated back 5000 years ago to China during the reign of Emperor Chen Nung (Grinspoon 1). Since then, cannabis is used as herbal medicine in India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and South America. One reason cannabis is used today is to alleviate pain from childbirth in countries such as Africa. Cannabis was not popularized for its medicinal purposes until the mid-19^th century. Contemporary physicians were less educated about cannabis because they were not as experimental in exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabis.

The first Western physician to actually begin exploring the benefits of cannabis was WB O’Shaughnessy, a professor from the Medical College of Calcutta, whom was able to firsthand observe cannabis use in India. His studies even led the court physician to give cannabis as medication to Queen Victoria.

Use of cannabis started to decline after potency and consumption caused erratic and unpredictable effects. The first law put in place to stop unsupervised recreational use was the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 requiring any person using marijuana to pay a tax of $100/ounce. This made it difficult for doctors to study cannabis therapeutics. Cannabis was officially removed from pharmacies in 1941 via the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary.

Since then, cannabis in medical society has gradually been creeping back into pharmacology and is currently a big debate. Now, studying cannabis will be more effective and efficient with the use of improved technology and knowledge of past herbal benefits.

Major credits of historical compilations to:

Grinspoon, Lester. "History of Cannabis as Medicine." (2005): 1-31. Web. 01 Feb. 2010. .

Therapeutic Marijuana

Marijuana has been proven to be an effective source to alleviate medical disorders.

Here is a list of a few disorders and medical conditions marijuana can provide therapy for: (1) severe nausea and vomiting associated HIV infection and cancer, (3) spasticity secondary to neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, (4) pain syndromes and (5) glaucoma (Abu-Shraie, Fass, Maniscalco-Feichtl, and Seamon 1037). Further studies can provide detailed information on marijuana therapeutics and possibly enhance our current medical and scientific communities. Although usage also comes with adverse reactions, so does every prescribed medication because not everyone’s body is immune to the same thing. This is why there are medical personnel to monitor patients and divert to other medication if needed.

Personally, I think that marijuana has such implications that it creates a negative image of something that can actually be useful. (These implications are usually created by socio-political advocates and highly advertised in the media to create a negative view.) Pharmacists are medication experts and serve to ensure safe and appropriate medication use (Abu-Shraie, Fass, Maniscalco-Feichtl, and Seamon 1042). Counseling and screening for medical affects on other drugs should is provided for patient health and safety. Patients are advised on possible side effects and potential interactions. Their health information is also held in the highest of confidentiality.

In conclusion, patients should have availability to any type of therapy that can help their condition.

Seamon, Matthew J., Jennifer A. Fass, Maria Maniscalco-Feitchtl, and Nada A. Abu-Shrai. "Medical Marijuana and the Developing Role of the Pharmacist." American Society of Health-System Pharamacists 64 (2007): 1037-044. EBSCO. Web. 2 Feb. 2010

Why Marijuana Shouldn't Be Legal For All

Where do I stand? Yes, marijuana should be legal, but only for medicinal therapeutic purposes. Recreational use of marijuana will lead to abuse and dependence. The recreational usage of marijuana will actually cause more health issues in the future such as mental illness and chemical dependency. Medical marijuana regulators can control the purity of ingredients and establish dosages to ensure patient safety (Cramer 45). Recreational use without proper supervision can lead people to be in environments that are more hazardous and create decisions that do not benefit their safety. Medicinal marijuana is heavily supervised by pharmacists and medical providers to see that patients do not suffer from adverse symptoms; this will result in a more efficient legalization of marijuana.

Cramer, Deborah. "Medical Marijuana of Reefer Madness." Alive: Canadian Journal of Health & Nutrition 304 (2008): 43-45. Print.

Regulating Marijuana

Contrary to what Kevin stated, I think that the medicinal use of marijuana can be helpful in the advancement of our nation and regulated at the same time. California is the pilot state in allowing marijuana for medical use. One of the laws put in place to regulate the distribution and usage is the Medical Marijuana Program Act requiring counties to participate in a system that registers patients and caregivers (Dresser 7). Along with other good laws put in place like these, there are some laws that are rather broad and could use a little more work (as with any type of prescribed medication, i.e. oxycotin.) Now, California is working to strengthen laws regarding prescribed marijuana. The FDA is also attempting to develop better control programs to address widespread and harmful prescription drug abuse (Dresser 8). Under proper leadership and with correct protocol, state and federal government can create a strong system to regulate marijuana.

Dresser, Rebecca. "Irrational Basis: The Legal Status of Medical Marijuana." Hastings Center Report (2009): 7-8. EBSCO. Web. 06 Feb. 2010.

Legalizing Marijuana

I understand where Kevin is coming from when he says what is the point of making it legal and taxing when when most people would think it was cheaper to just buy it from a "dealer". We have to face the fact that Marijuana is either being shipped into the country secretly or being made directly in the United States, but if we do make it legal then part of the law should be that thier should be some sort of system where you need to have a license or something to sell it or even make it.
Alcohol is being made in the United States or being shipped in as well but it needs to go through custom checks if it is being shipped from out of the country and if people are making their own beers and selling it, they need licenses in order to even sell alcohol. I have not heard of anyone selling alcohol illegally after it was made legal after the 1930's and it is almost impossible to do that. So I think that if they do make Marijuana legal they need to become more strict on who is selling the product, they need to be just as strict like when they sell alcohol and cigarettes-- They need to card everyone, and the seller needs to have a license to sell the product just like we have licenses for people to sell alcohol and cigarettes like at a gas station and liquor stores. So selling on the streets would not exist anymore. Also why would anyone need a dealer if they can get marijuana at stores where they sell cigarettes and alcohol. So by doing that maybe dealing and the "underground drug world" might become a little bit smaller.

Medicinal Marijuana

I beleive that Medicinal Marijuna is a good idea, I agree to all the things that Rosanna stated. I have known and know people who are currently battling cancer and it is difficult to see some one you know go through all of that pain. I have had two aunts that have passed away from cancer and our family did everything we could to help them. It didnt matter how much money it took, we just wanted the best possible treatment for them.
I really do not understand what the big deal is for cancer patients to use medicinal marijuana. I'm sure when someone came up with the idea to start this chemo treatment to help cure cancer there were some questions about it as well. I'm not saying that we need to make marijuana legal right this second, but I think we should be open to the option that it could help cancer patients more comfortable living with an uncurable disease for now, but doctors would have to run tests to make sure it is safe for the patient that is requesting to use it of course.
If medicinal marijuana were available at the time my aunts were alive, I think that our family would have been open to the option as long as it was showing an improvement in their lives more comfortable during their treatment.

change in position, kevin dietz

Since my post regarding medicinal marijuana I had the chance to sit down and have a long discussion with a close friend of mine who is currently going through chemo therapy. He was the kind of person who was always avidly opposed to using drugs of any kind, marijuana included. I figured because of his strong opposition to the use of drugs that he would only further my conviction that medicinal marijuana should not be legalized. When I asked his position on the topic he was a little torn. He explained to me that for the first part of his treatment he was sure that he would be able to make it through without the use of any drugs, legal or illegal. He continued to tell me about the extreme nausea that was a symptom of his treatment. He said he did his best to deal with it at first but eventually asked his doctor for something to help because he was having trouble keeping food down. His doctor prescribed him something to help with nausea but after trying three separate medications, some with little effect and others that only made it worse, he new he had to try something else. He had of course heard of medicinal marijuana so he brought it up to his doctor. Being that we live in MN where medicinal marijuana is not legal his doctor could not really help him. He was forced to take action himself and started asking people that he knew used marijuana recreationally. He eventually got connected with a few distributers and quickly found that marijuana did wonders for his nausea and also helped with any pain he was experiencing. Being that he had never had to associate with people in this industry, he quickly learned the amount of shady activity that comes with the trade. He was being grossly overpriced for marijuana of inconsistent quality. He was even once fooled into buying an empty bag. In my research I had heard of these sorts of problems occurring to patients who lived in states that medical marijuana was not aloud, but the seriousness of the issue never really hit me until I was able to hear it first hand from a friend. It really doesn't seem fair that a patient is unable to easily and legally obtain the drug that works best for them just because of where they happen to live. As I stated in my first response to medical marijuana there would be many issues to legalizing medical marijuana but I now think that helping these patients outweighs any potential problems that could arise.

response to "legalizing marijuana" kevin dietz

I would like to respond to the post "legalizing marijuana." If your theory about teens using marijuana as a form of rebellion is true, I would have to wonder what would happen if marijuana was legalized. If teens no longer have this form of rebellion, what would they use to replace it. If this thought processes really is true and marijuana is not harmful like you say, why would you want to give teenagers a reason to use some more harmful chemicals or make other mistakes as their form of rebellion. While some of that may be true I personally don't believe that a rebellious stage is the only thing, or even the biggest thing, that makes teenagers use marijuana. As far as the proposed age of 18 for the legal age if it were to be legalized, i think that would be one of the most foolish decisions ever. If our goal was to limit the amount of drugs in our schools and limit the amount of teenagers who use marijuana why would you give the majority of the senor high school class the ability to legally purchase marijuana. It is hard enough to keep kids from distributing at school when it is illegal, imagine if students over the age of 18 had the right to buy and have marijuana, it would be next to impossible to prevent it from reaching students who were under 18.

just another thought kevin dietz

One of the major reasons I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana is the safety issue. People say that it is the safest drug and can not kill people, but it can impair peoples abilities to perform everyday tasks and basic judgment. An increase in driving accidents would be one of the things I would be worried about. Many marijuana users would like to think that they can drive just as well, or better, while under the influence but the facts say that this is not usually the case. A roadside study of reckless drivers, not under the influence of alcohol, showed that one in three tested positive for marijuana(fact). If people are driving under the influence when marijuana is illegal I think the number would only increase if it were legalized. Marijuana does impair peoples ability to drive and people do drive when they are under its influence. This might not be such a big problem, but there is no real way to tell indefinitely if a person is currently under the influence of marijuana. Unless they could make a devise similar to a breathalyzer that could detect marijuana intoxication there would be no way to stop people from driver under the influence. Driving is not he only daily task that can be hazardous. Anyone who uses power tools, heavy machinery, or even something as simple as a stove could be effected by marijuana use and cause themselves or others harm. If we give people the go ahead to smoke marijuana legally I think we would be asking for an increase in injuries and public hazards.

Fact, Office of National Drug Control Policy. Marijuana and Kids: Steer Clear of Pot Fact Sheet. Retrieved on November 25, 2003, from the World Wide Web: http://www.mediacampaign.org/steerclear/factsheet.html#go17

Legalizing Marijuana

Why should it be legalized?
There is always going to be a debate on whether or not marijuana should be legalized or not. In my opinion I think it should be legalized, but with limitations to it. Honestly, there are a lot of people in this country that can get a hold of the product but people refuse to see that “dealing” is happening every day, and it is starting to influence teenagers. A survey was recently taken that shows about twenty percent of 8th graders have at least tried marijana once, and by the time they have graduated high school about 50 percent of kids have tried it, while 22% of that 50 are still current users (1). I think the main reason why most teenagers today get into these bad habits like drinking and smoking marijuana at a young age is because it is illegal. Most teenagers go through a stage of rebellion and the fact that someone is telling them that it is illegal to smoke and drink, makes teenagers want to prove themselves to show “I can do this, and nothing bad is going to happen if I do it”. Although it’s great to declare your independence, it does come with risks if you do start these habits at a young age. That is why the government set up these age limits for when you can buy cigarettes and alcohol.
Marijuana is not a lethal drug. You are more likely to overdose on alcohol than overdose on using Marijuana which is almost impissible to do (2). Drinking alcohol is more dangerous than smoking Marijuana, according to the Eighteenth Ammendment of the Consititution, during 1920- 1933, alcohol was illegal. If the government can change their mind on making alcohol legal, then they should consider changing their minds when it comes to make Marijuana legal if it is less harmful than alcohol.
I believe the government should treat Marijuana just as they do cigarettes and alcohol to make sure it is not getting into the wrong hands. We should be able to set an age limit on the product, for example, maybe it should be the same age as the smoking age, which is 18. By making this product legal may take away the rebellion feeling go away in some teenagers because they know that it is not illegal anymore.

1. University of Michigan. News and Information Sevices. December 18, 1997. Drug use among American teens shows signs of leveling after a long rise. February 4, 2010.
2."Top Ten Reasons Marijuna Should Be Legal." AlterNet. Birocreative, 1 Sept. 2007. Web. 6 Feb. 2010. .

reply to "Medicinal Marijuana"

In reply to the post "medicinal marijuana" I would like to say a few things. To start off I would like to clarify that the use of medical marijuana is used only to treat symptoms of certain illnesses, not treat or cure the illnesses themselves in any way. It is mainly used for the relief of nausea, vomiting, and to alleviate curtain kinds of pain. This can be helpful for some people but there are alternative drugs that can be used to treat these symtoms that are legal in all states. Maxalt, Atarax, Metoclopramide, Transderm Scop, and Antivert are just a few medications I have found that are used to treat various kinds of nausea, and none of them are illegal or sold by shady characters on street corners. I'm sure everyone who has ever had a surgery knows that there are a wide variety of medications used to treat pain, many of these are also prescribed to treat chronic pain or pain caused as a side effect of another illness. Unfortunately these drugs also have a tendency to be used and sold for recreational use. I have several opionons about these drugs as well but that is not the purpose of this blog so I will not get into them. There are, on the other hand many non chemical alternatives for the relief of pain. Physical therapy, meditation, acupuncture, hypnoses, massage, hot and cold pack treatments, water therapy and many others have been proven to be just as, if not more, effective for the relief of chronic pain.

first post kevin dietz

When it comes to the legalization of marijuana, my initial response is no. Whether it is for medicinal use or recreation, I don’t think it makes a difference. I have heard many sides of this argument before and nothing from the standpoint of legalization makes me think that the benefits would outweigh the negative consequences. I understand that medical marijuana can be helpful to increase apatite in patients undergoing chemo therapy and other cancer treatments that make it difficult to eat, but it seems counterproductive to prescribe a chemical that can actually cause cancer to a cancer patient (safety). The other problem with legalizing just medical marijuana is that it would make it extremely hard to regulate and prevent it from being used for recreational purposes. One of the major arguments for legalizing marijuana for all uses is that we could tax it as we do cigarettes and alcohol and make quite a bit of money for our government. I have a hard time believing that people would pay this high tax when they have been obtaining marijuana illegally for cheaper. If people have the option of saving money and purchasing or selling marijuana illegally why would they opt to buy or sell it legally and pay the extra tax?

(safety)"California rules that marijuana smoke can cause cancer" Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. 22 june 2009

Medicinal Marijuana

Since the legalization of medicinal marijuana in several states, it has created an inconsistency amongst the nation. Along with this legalization, there have not been many guidelines or laws put in place to monitor the distribution and consumption of medicinal marijuana. This can eventually lead to a negative outcome if laws are not put in place.
Where do I stand on this topic? Medicinal marijuana, nationally, should either be legal or illegal nationally. Recreational marijuana should not be legalized. If I were a sick person in a state that did not administer marijuana as a drug and it could potentially help me, I would be upset that someone else in another state is getting more help because their state legalized marijuana. By creating a more uniform and national legalization, we can better contain and create boundaries on usage and distribution, along with being able to help everyone, not just residents of certain states. If marijuana is to maintain illegal, then I suppose it wouldn’t be any different than it is now.
Medicinal marijuana has proven to be a very successful treatment through several studies and trials. With the legalization of medicinal marijuana, we could be able to treat a variety of conditions and potentially further study the drug for any other benefits. This is a potential opportunity for advancement in the United States medical and scientific fields.
Overall, being uniform and consistent about medicinal marijuana laws is very important. Its benefits would not only for the United States to develop national standards, but also to monitor states. By having these national standards, we can create data and research on how effective it is as a drug across the nation, how much is being distributed and what conditions it helps. Also with medicinal marijuana being backed by the federal government, states can obtain federal grants to create studies and further explore marijuana usage.