Monday, November 06, 2006

Medical marijuana

Happy Birthday Prop 215! Don’t know what this is? This was the first medical marijuana law in the United States. It was passed in California a decade ago. (Mercury News)

Call me old fashioned, but I don’t think that marijuana should be used in the medical setting whatsoever. However, I have read and reviewed some of the medical studies which state that there could be a benefit in conditions such as cancer, anorexia, and AIDS.

The legal controversy is a little more interesting. The California law states that marijuana can be used not only for the above conditions but also "where medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person's health would benefit."

What does that mean? Potentially, you could get a “prescription” for marijuana for just about any reason. For example, that bunion would feel so much better if you had some pot, wouldn’t it?

The California Medical Board has tried to set up guidelines, but these will undoubtedly make their way through the courts. It may be another ten years until all that is sorted out.

Finally, did you know that there is a state funded research center at the University of California, San Diego, doing clinical trials for marijuana use?
Igor Grant, director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, said the results have been promising, in reducing inflammation and muscle spasms and treating conditions such as high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis. By studying the brain receptors that stimulate appetite when exposed to the chemicals in marijuana, scientists even are looking into possible treatments for obesity.
I think I’m having second thoughts on this. At least in California, I can’t get sued for improper use of marijuana, right? Maybe I’ll move there. NAH!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

thank you for adding me to your blogroll too!
i agree that its not a good idea to marijuana as medicinal. i dont believe it has all that potential they are saying it does. it just makes you not care.

Anonymous said...

yeah, not care and eat cookies....

Mother Jones RN said...

I think that there is a place for marijuana in the old medicine chest. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't believe that everyone should be allowed to carry blunts, nor do I believe that there should be a bong in every home. However, if marijuana can help patients with certain medical problems, they should be allowed to use it without fear of going to jail.

I hope the drug companies hop on the hemp wagon and start finding useful ways of using pot.

MJ

GaffLady said...

i agree with mother jones. i have seen marijuana only help some of my chemo patients, it has only proven positive for them on their appetites and with no nausea. a + for a cancer patient. but i can see where this may be abused in other areas of medicine where it is not needed.