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With medical marijuana legal in 22 states and the District of Columbia — in addition to the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington state — more people may turn to marijuana as a treatment option for many ailments. However, the medicinal use of cannabis is not new; it can be traced back to ancient physicians who prescribed marijuana for pain relief, digestive problems and psychological disorders, among other conditions. As early as 2737 B.C., the Emperor Shen Neng of China touted marijuana tea as a treatment for gout, rheumatism, malaria and even poor memory. The drug's popularity as a medicine spread throughout Asia, the Middle East and then to Africa and India, where Hindu sects used it for pain and stress relief. By the late 18th century, early editions of American medical journals recommend hemp seeds and roots for the treatment for a variety of conditions, including inflamed skin, incontinence and venereal disease. William O'Shaughnessy, an Irish doctor, popularized medical use of cannabis in England and America. There was a dramatic shift in attitude toward medicinal uses of marijuana and other drugs by the 19th century. By that time, as much as 5 percent of the U.S. population became addicted to morphine, an unknown ingredient in treatments touted by traveling medicine men. As a result, the Food and Drug Administration was formed in 1906. While marijuana wasn’t specifically mentioned in the original FDA guidelines, the move to control chemical substances curtailed its use as treatment. By 1937, marijuana use, medical or otherwise, has been banned in 37 states. Also in 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act [sic] imposed such high taxes on physicians prescribing cannabis, retail pharmacists selling cannabis, and those cultivating medical cannabis that it essentially fell out of favor as a treatment. Health benefits Several active ingredients in marijuana are thought to have medical purposes. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of marijuana that has therapeutic benefits without the feeling of being stoned. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which offers that feeling of euphoria and “floating,” provides pain-relieving properties. Medical marijuana is available in several different forms. It can be smoked, ingested in a pill form or an edible version can be added to foods such as brownies, cookies and chocolate bars. The pill form is known as dronabinol or nabilone. Medical marijuana may be used to treat a number of ailments, including chronic pain, nausea from chemotherapy and the effects of progressive diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and glaucoma. It may also be effective in treating some psychological disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the most common uses for medical marijuana is to ease the symptoms of nausea from chemotherapy. Two FDA-approved cannabis-based drugs, dronabinol and nabilone, have been shown to reduce chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Medical marijuana has also been used to treat glaucoma, which is an elevated pressure in the eyeball that can lead to blindness. While smoking marijuana may reduce intraocular pressure, some debate the effectiveness of marijuana use because it must be consumed numerous times during the day to have the desired effect, which can have mood-altering implications and impact the patient’s ability to function. A well-known effect of marijuana use is the “munchies,” so it has also been used to stimulate appetite among HIV/AIDS patients and others who have a suppressed appetite due to a medical condition or treatment. Another effect of cannabis is the ability to relax tense muscles, so it can be an effective treatment for those with MS and other muscular disorders. In studies performed on severely disabled MS patients, THC decreased tremors and muscle stiffness. Medical cannabis had been thought to be an effective treatment for Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders, but recent studies question its effectiveness. To reduce psychological stress, medical marijuana is sometimes used to treat sleep disorders, mood disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. Health risks Marijuana does have side effects. The primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, one of more than 60 cannabinoids (chemicals unique to marijuana). THC binds to cannabinoid receptors, which are concentrated in areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception. The effects of marijuana can interfere with attention, judgment and balance. Marijuana also suppresses the immune system, which can be damaging to many people, but useful for others with certain health conditions. Although marijuana has been known to decrease pressure within the eyes, a symptom of the condition glaucoma, research has shown that other drugs may be more effective. Studies have produced conflicting results on whether smoking marijuana carries a significant cancer risk. According to the American Cancer Society, worldwide research into the benefits and side effects of compounds in marijuana is ongoing. The FDA has not approved marijuana in its plant form as a treatment. During a 2004 congressional testimony, a doctor speaking on behalf of the FDA said marijuana as a “botanical product” is difficult to test for efficacy and safety because the proportions of active chemicals can range greatly from plant to plant. This, he said, can also cause problems for patients trying to use marijuana. But he added that the FDA “will be receptive to sound, scientifically based research into the medicinal uses of botanical marijuana and other cannabinoids.” Medical marijuana availability: State by state Medical marijuana "prescriptions" are termed "recommendations" or "referrals" because of federal laws prohibiting the prescribing of cannabis. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, California became the first state to allow the medical use of marijuana in 1996. Currently, 22 states and the District of Columbia have public medical marijuana and cannabis programs. The states with medical marijuana laws are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. All 22 states require a doctor’s approval and all but Washington state require an ID card to be shown at the dispensary or enrollment in a patient registry. Many of the states that allow medical marijuana have an online application process. In most states, patients need to fill out the application, pay a fee and provide identification information. To successfully receive an ID card in most states, patients need a signed statement from a doctor diagnosing the condition and a document stating that medical marijuana is the treatment recommended for the patient’s particular condition and situation. Most of the laws allow dispensaries and outline specific conditions for which medical marijuana can be prescribed. Thee restrictions also vary by state as to the format and amount of medical cannabis that can be obtained at each visit for personal use. Another seven states — Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin — have laws that provide limited access to medical marijuana with low THC/high CBD. Lauren Cox contributed to this article. Further reading: - State Medical Marijuana Laws - Federal Laws Pertaining to Marijuana - FDA & Marijuana: Questions and Answers - American Cancer Society
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SAD na pragu legalizacije marihuane? Nakon što je Obamina administracija odlučila ne kažnjavati uporabu marihuane u medicinske svrhe, zemlja je vjerojatno u procesu njene legalizacije Ne radi se samo o novoj politici Obamine administracije, nego i o proširenim definicijama medicinske upotrebe marihuane, pri čemu sve veći broj američkih država dopušta njeno uzgajanje, prodaju i uporabu u takve svrhe. Prošli je tjedan Obamina administracija objavila kako neće federalno procesuirati individualce koji koriste ili apoteke koje prodaju marihuanu kao lijek, sve dok poštuju državne zakone. Umjesto toga Ministarstvo pravosuđa naglasilo je kako će se fokusirati na dilere i raspačavače. Nova politika očiti je otklon od Busheve administracije koja je željela uvesti federalne anti-marihuana zakone, unatoč onim državnim. Korištenje i distribucija marihuane dozvoljeno je u 14 američkih država: Aljasci, Kaliforniji, Coloradu, Hawaii, Maine, Marylandu, Michiganu, Montani, Nevadi, New Mexicu, Oregonu, Rhode Islandu, Vermontu i Washingtonu. Legalizacija marihuane i dalje ostaje kontroverzna tema, no američka javnost je manje podijeljena oko dopuštanja njene uporabe u medicinske svrhe. Anketa provedena 2001. pokazala je da 75 posto ljudi podržava prepisivanje marihuane kao lijek i način terapije.