Just got this story Daily Health News
The Truth About Medical Marijuana
The times they are a-changin’ for medical marijuana. Currently 13 states (representing a quarter of the US population) allow patients to buy and use medical marijuana for treatment of a wide range of maladies -- the only caveat is, you need to find a sympathetic doctor to write your prescription. Patients are finding medical marijuana helpful for a range of problems, from soothing the nasty side effects of cancer chemotherapy to easing pain. While those involved with the legitimate medical use of marijuana had been vulnerable to Justice Department prosecution even in states where medical marijuana had been legalized, the Obama Administration announced early this year that those efforts would cease.
IS MARIJUANA A "WONDER DRUG"?
For insight, I spoke with Lester Grinspoon, MD, associate professor (emeritus) of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, author of Marijuana Reconsidered and coauthor of Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine. He told me that the marijuana plant (cannabis) has been used since ancient times to treat a variety of ailments -- only in the past century (and particularly in the US) has it been controversial and therefore difficult for patients to actually obtain. Now it seems that the "mountain of anecdotal evidence" that marijuana can be helpful for these conditions and others has finally spurred its gradual acceptance as a therapeutic with little toxicity.
"Marijuana will eventually be seen as a wonder drug, much like penicillin was in the 1940s," predicts Dr. Grinspoon, noting that marijuana is remarkably nontoxic and far safer than most medicines prescribed every day. It’s effective and versatile, bringing much needed relief to people suffering from the debilitating symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other medical conditions. Moreover, marijuana often has fewer side effects and appears to be more effective and less expensive than many of the approved drugs to treat these conditions. Specific proven uses of marijuana include:
Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite associated with chemotherapy.
Loss of appetite and wasting disease associated with AIDS/HIV.
Chronic neuropathic pain caused by damage to nerves that commonly afflicts people with HIV and diabetes.
Intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma (temporarily).
Muscle spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.
Marijuana has also been shown useful for people with epilepsy and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that marijuana may have beneficial effects in treating intestinal inflammation and colon cancer.
BIG PHARMA JOINS THE PARTY
Recognizing the medicinal value (and potential profits) of marijuana, the pharmaceutical industry has created two drug extract versions: Sativex, currently available in Canada and now in clinical trials in the US, which is an oral spray used to treat nerve pain associated with multiple sclerosis... and Marinol (dronabinol), an FDA-approved drug (capsule) taken before chemotherapy for nausea and vomiting. However, Dr. Grinspoon told me that anecdotal evidence indicates neither drug is as effective or acts as quickly to help patients feel better as does whole, smoked marijuana
Smoking hazards: According to Dr. Grinspoon there is no epidemiologic evidence of lung cancer or emphysema that can be attributed to smoking marijuana alone
Medical marijuana is now legal in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. However, as policy makers and the public gradually recognize the value of medical marijuana, more states are likely to follow suit.
Source(s):
Lester Grinspoon, MD, associate professor (emeritus) of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, and coauthor of Marijuana: The Forbidden Medicine (Yale University Press). www.rxmarijuana.com.
Let's hope they come to their senses and de-criminalize it
edited to be smaller and easier to read
Edited by Time Ed (08/17/09 04:44 PM)
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