Legalization of marijuana in the U.S
Marijuana is a drug smoked or ingested for a euphoric effect. It is scientifically known as cannabis sativa. Over 65 million Americans smoke marijuana occasionally (Cohn, Amy 2). In marijuana, there are two chemicals that scientists have shown that contribute to the medicinal importance of marijuana. These are cannabidiol (CBD) which has an impact on the brain and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which acts as a pain reliever.
Marijuana decreases the symptoms of a severe seizure disorder known as Dravet’s. Figi’s
Family from the U.S was interviewed by Gupta who apparently treat their 5 year old daughter
who has Dravet’s syndrome with marijuana. Her seizures decreased from three hundred a week to one a week. Other sufferers started using it and it seems to be efficient. Scientists and doctors researched and found that the cannabidiol chemical in marijuana affects the brain cells reducing the activity in the brain that causes the seizures. Also helps in the treatment of epilepsy.
Tetrahydrocannabinol chemical (THC) in marijuana slows down the spread of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder involving loss of mental functions resulting from brain tissue changes. A journal, Molecular pharmaceutics, published in 2006 stated that THC slows down the development of amyloid plaques (which kill brain cells causing Alzheimer’s) by blocking specific enzymes in the brain (Saaty and Thomas 8)
Cancer patients go through chemotherapy which can cause appetite loss, nausea and even vomiting. Marijuana helps reduce these health complications. Marijuana can be used to treat glaucoma, an eye disease of the optic nerve which increases the eyeball pressure that can lead vision impairment. Cannabis sativa reduces the pressure inside the eye by lowering the intraocular pressure.
For cancer patients, it is used to prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body .the chemical cannabidiol inhibits Id-1 gene from developing. Id-1 gene is multiplied more by cancerous cells. This was practically done in the laboratory where breast cancer cells were treated with cannabidiol and results taken showed that the Id-1 gene in the cells had decreased hence proved to be an efficient remedy.
Sclerosis, an abnormal hardening of body tissues, causes pain to the sufferer. Marijuana can ease the painful symptoms of marijuana. THC binds with the contractions in the muscles lessening the pain. THC also helps control spasms, a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle, and marijuana calms down the specific muscle paining calming the pain.
Marijuana reduces the pain of arthritis by reducing inflammation and promoting sleep. (Cohn, Amy 5) Patients with arthritis are given cannabinoid-medicine called sativex which relieves the patient from pain. Sativex also improves quality of sleep in patients especially for the rheumatoid arthritis.
After war, most veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Marijuana helps them to recover. In New Mexico, marijuana has been allowed for the veterans who suffer from PTSD by giving them license. THC and cannabinoids chemicals regulate the body from fear and anxiety caused by the war memories of a soldier eliminating nightmares.
Parkinson’s disease, a chronic neurological disorder resulting in lack of control over movement whereby someone has poor balance and coordination causes pain to the patient and tremors. Israelites showed that marijuana reduces the effects of Parkinson’s disease which is now used for treatment (Banys, Peter, and Cermak 64)
Stroke causes damage to the brain which is harmful. Marijuana reduces the amount of damage after someone has been attacked by stroke. Also protects the brain from trauma.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that can involve any part of the digestive tract. It causes pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Israelites did a research on marijuana and showed that it reduces the effect of crohn’s disease by the cannabinoids tablets which make the gut regulate bacteria and intestinal activities.
Marijuana has been proved to increase creativity. People tend to come up with new ideas when they have used marijuana and new words. It also improves one’s speech; one is more verbally fluent when stoned. Usually, a person is more creative when relaxed (Pearson, Matthew 85). Dopamine causes relaxation of the brain and it is released in large amounts when using marijuana.
Another medicinal value of marijuana is it treats Lupus Ertyhematosus, an autoimmune disease, its cause is not known. The immune system is just attacked randomly causing this autoinfection. Marijuana helps in treating of Lupus by calming the immune system reducing its pain and nausea.
Hepatitis C has effects such as nausea, fatigue, appetite loss, depression and muscle aches. These side effects can be reduced by smoking of marijuana. A journal published in 2006, European journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology stated that some patients who were used for research; 86& of them subjected to marijuana completed their Hepatitis c therapy while only 29% of patients who were non-smokers completed their therapy.
Marijuana has medicinal importance that if legalized in different U.S states with a certain controlled limit, it will benefit the citizens.
Works cited
Saaty, Thomas L. “A Marijuana Legalization Model Using Benefits, Opportunities, Costs and Risks (BOCR) Analysis.” International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences (IJSDS) 6.2 (2015): 1-11.
Pearson, Matthew R., et al. “College student marijuana involvement: perceptions, use, and consequences across 11 college campuses.” Addictive behaviors 66 (2017): 83-89.
Banys, Peter, and Timmen L. Cermak. “Marijuana Legalization in California: Rational Implementation of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA).” Journal of psychoactive drugs 48.1 (2016): 63-65
Cohn, Amy M., et al. “Support for marijuana legalization and predictors of intentions to use marijuana more often in response to legalization among US young adults.” Substance Use & Misuse (2016): 1-11.
