Medical Marijuana Should Be Used in Medicine Essay

Marijuana has several names in different parts of the world, with cannabis, weed, and pot as the other commonly used names. It is extracted from the cannabis plant and often has psychoactive effects on its users. The drug can be taken in various forms like smoking for the cigarettes-like rolls and as an ingredient in tea or other drinks as well as the edibles such as cookies. Much research work on this drug that has resulted in the discovery of more than 500 chemical components in the marijuana plant. In the present times, the majority use various chemical components of this drug for either medical or recreational purposes, although such uses have been outlawed in many jurisdictions around the world due to the addiction and the psychiatric disorders it is associated with. This paper will support the use of marijuana in medicine by giving support from various research work, stating its importance in certain medical conditions.

From a historical perspective, marijuana has been in use for many centuries in the natural medicine world. It has served a significant purpose all along, specifically for the cannabidiol (CBD) that has been known for not having the 'high' effect. Of much interest is the fact that the related drugs do not have to be smoked to produce the desired medical effect. For instance, they can be used as oils or as ingredients in edibles and drinks. Research has also found out that even if smoked, the related drugs have very minimal chances of leading to respiratory disorders as compared to tobacco and other drugs (Bradford & Bradford, 2016). Generally, therefore, marijuana-related drugs are safer as compared to others and should be used medically.

Drawing from the research findings by the United State of America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA), several components of marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes. To begin with, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) components namely dronabinol with the registered trade name of Marinol and nabilone with the registered trade name of casamet have been used in the manufacture of pills that are usually prescribed for the treatment of queasiness in cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy (Mark, Hansen & Rees, 2015). Again they can be of help to the AIDS patients who are undergoing the wasting syndrome to arouse appetite. Secondly, CBD based fluid medication with trade name Epidiolex has been approved for the use in the treatment of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gaustaut syndrome, the two serious epilepsy types in children (Nelson, Van Ryzin, & Dishion, 2015).

Moreover, other related medications are still in trial phases, awaiting the completion of the tests and subsequent clearance by the relevant authorities. For instance, Nabiximols with the registered trade name of Sativex is undergoing tests in parts of Europe and Canada and has been earmarked to remarkably help in making a mouth spray suitable for treating neuropathic discomforts that are at times usually accompanied by sclerosis. At this point, marijuana is seen as medicinally beneficial (Kramer, 2015).

With particular attention given to THC and CBD that have been proven through scientific research to be less addictive, the drugs made from their extract chemicals can be used to replace others that are already in the market (Simons et al. 2015). Therefore, instead of drugs such as opioids that is very addictive, marijuana-based drugs can be fully cleared for long-lasting pain management applications. It currently helps patients, especially with the management of pain and chemotherapies for cancer patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if all the countries around the world can legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, the patients suffering from the mentioned illnesses and conditions that the marijuana-based drugs can manage will be given a big sense of relief. However, stringent control measures should be put in place to ensure that such uses are authorized by qualified personnel only and for the right medical reasons as well. Also, the manufacture of the medications should ensure that only purified versions of the chemicals are used since marijuana in itself contains a lot of active chemicals that can be of grave harm to the users in the long run. These can be ensured by continuous and objective research on the medicinal uses as well as the properties of marijuana in general.

References

Bradford, A. C., & Bradford, W. D. (2016). Medical marijuana laws reduce prescription medication use in Medicare Part D. Health Affairs, 35(7), 1230-1236.

Mark Anderson, D., Hansen, B., & Rees, D. I. (2015). Medical marijuana laws and teen marijuana use. American Law and Economics Review, 17(2), 495-528. Retrieved from https://www.nber.org/papers/w20332.pdf

Kramer, J. L., (2015). Medical marijuana for cancer. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 65(2), 109-122. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.3322/caac.21260

Nelson, S. E., Van Ryzin, M. J., & Dishion, T. J. (2015). Alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use trajectories from age 12 to 24 years: Demographic correlates and young adult substance use problems. Development and Psychopathology, 27(1), 253-277. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Ryzin/publication/263897232_Alcohol_marijuana_and_tobacco_use_trajectories_from_age_12_to_24_years_Demographic_correlates_and_young_adult_substance_use_problems/links/541c48a60cf203f155b3ee49.pdf