Medical Cannabis
The use of cannabis is now legal when used as a medicine, in many countries worldwide like Canada, Germany, the Netherlands or Italy. But it also is legal in 14 states of the United States of America. It started in 1996 in California, and two years later, in 1998, the states of Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Michigan also made the use of cannabis legal. 9 other states followed the same example since then. 11 other states, including DC have pending legislation to legalize medical marijuana.
The therapeutic effects of cannabis are disputed. Even in the medical field, doctors cannot agree on whether yes or no, cannabis should be used as a medicine. There are pros and cons about all the possible subjects concerning medical cannabis.
The thing is : cannabis seems to have great virtues when it comes to ease certain conditions due to diseases. Diseases like cancer for example. When a patient needs to get chemotherapy to treat a cancer, marijuana can have a great effect for reducing nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. It also can relieve pain in certain conditions, but this “pain-relieve” effect is not consistent. What it does though is to reduce anxiety and nausea that sick people can feel, and as a result, it helps patients to feel better.
So, the discussion is on for several years now. Some studies show that the active ingredient in marijuana THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) prevents the formation of deposits in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. But what people omit to say about this molecule is that, a daily use of cannabis (marijuana) has shown negative side-effects. What cannabis does to a daily user’s brain can be difficult to treat. Among other effects, it alters memory-related brain function. There is also a correlation between cannabis use and increased cognitive function in schizophrenic patients. And many other effects.
Using cannabis because it is now legal in certain medical conditions, is like taking any other type of medication by only reading the virtues of this medicine, and forgetting about the negative effects’ list.