Advocacy for Medicinal Marijuana Over Other Drugs

Advocacy for Medicinal Marijuana Over Other Drugs

For a considerable period of time, the reliance for the betterment of the health of an individual has depended on herbal remedies, and in many part of the world and in many households even, these continue to take a preference over the more advanced medical drugs that have come to define modern medicine.

Cannabis or Medical Marijuana is one such example of an herb that today is surrounded by controversy as regards to its usage and benefits. Besides the more negative connotations that seem to be attached to Marijuana, the medical benefits of it seem to surpass its disadvantageous. It will be the purpose of this paper, therefore, to establish a case for the use of Medical Marijuana based on its advantages as compared to Medical Drugs.

History of Cannabis:

Marijuana has come to be known by many names usually being a result of the different regions in which they are found. Cannabis Indica, Indian Hemp, Marihuana (Lester Grinspoon, 1995) Charas, Cannabis Sativa (Lester Grinspoon, Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine, 1993) all are names that have been used to refer to Marijuana.

The historical importance of the this herb is indicative enough by the fact that it is one of the most oldest known drug known to humankind, whose origins is even hard to determine. However, some archaeological evidence does estimate that it must have been in use since 4000 BC. It was in the year 2737 BC that the therapeutic effects of the drugs were discovered by the Chinese Emperor and it was from this point forth that the medical benefits and usage of Cannabis were discovered (Amar, 2006). Some of the ailments for which it was being recommended for at that time included female disorders, malaria, constipation and even absentmindedness (Lester Grinspoon, Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine, 1993).

Since then many a research have many on this topic and the medical benefits of Marijuana have long been concluded by the likes of Sir William Osler who recommended it for migraine in 1913 (Lester Grinspoon, 1995) and William O'Shaughnessy, who discovered its effectiveness in ailments like analgesic, appetite stimulant, etc. (Amar, 2006).

Its medical use and importance has slowly been destroyed by the reputation that marijuana over the years received as a drug that was highly violated and was one of the main reasons that led to it being labeled as a Schedule 1 under the Controlled Substances Act (Lester Grinspoon, 1995).

Determining the potential of Medical Marijuana:

There have been enormous testing by various countries and their relevant medical departments regarding the benefits of the usage of Medical Marijuana, namely in UK, USA, Canada, along with many European States as well, in many of which the use of Medical Marijuana is regulated by law (Amar, 2006).

Many of these countries and their relevant medical boards have been able to determine that Medical Marijuana is indeed very useful a drug in regards to many ailments. Research has proven that it can greatly reduce and relieve Cancer patients of nausea and vomiting, a research that ultimately led The National Cancer Institute to contact the Drug Enforcement Administration to allow regulated use of the drug as it helped in greatly reducing nausea and vomiting in Cancer Patients undergoing chemotherapy (Drug Enforcement Administration, n.d.), (Amar, 2006).

The Anti-Argument:

One of the most solid grounds for the argument against the use of Marihuana for Medical Purposes has been that the research regarding the effects of the use of this drug have not provided with result that would guarantee the positive effects of its usage (Top 10 Pros and Cons: Should Marijuana be a medical option?, 2009). But this argument can be easily countered by the fact that the many researches on the benefits of Medical Marijuana have been sidetracked or impacted by the attitude of the concerned departments and in many cases even the Governments.

Another point that has become the foundation stone of the anti-argument is the message that the legalization of Medical Marijuana might send out. A relaxation in the laws, therefore, might mean that its use for recreational purposes would increase overpowering the medical purposes for legalizing it (Barnes, 2000). However this argument fails completely when one considers that many patients are out in the black market to get what they want, and many a times the lives of these very people are put at risk by the usage of low quality synthetic replicated drugs ( Manila Bulletin, 2011).

From a Medical point-of-view, the only negative effect of Marijuana, besides the abuse of the non-medical version, has been that the drug can damage the lung if inhaled in excess (Seteve Sussman, 1996). However, there is research underway trying to find alternate ways, and already progress has been made in this regard.

The Pro Argument:

The major argument in defense of this drug comes from the very users who have been using it, legally or illegally in many cases even, and have witnessed firsthand the many advantageous. The list of ailments for which it is being used today includes anything from AIDS, to the effects of chemotherapy, to phantom pain and even for muscle relaxant in many cases (Lester Grinspoon, 1995).

But besides these patients there have been many physicians and research boards as well that have adhered to the positive effects of Medical Marijuana, an argument that has even been presented in front of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Studies and Controlled usage has demonstrated that as a medical drug, it is much less addictive and much more safer as compared to other drugs that are being used currently for muscle relaxants, etc. (Lester Grinspoon, 1995). These same patients present a very strong case with regards to the positive and quick effectiveness of Marijuana as compared to other drugs that are prescribed by the doctors derived from their own personal experiences with the drug (Lester Grinspoon, Marihuana as Medicine: A plea for Reconsideration, 1995).