The
use of cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, for medical purposes is
still the subject of debate in the US. As of 2009, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) still holds that using the drug for any purpose
whatsoever is legally prohibited. Yet this hasn't stopped certain
states such as Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada, from permitting the
limited use of medical cannabis to treat certain disorders such as
chronic pain and clinical depression.
This
practice is not all new since pharmacists from Ancient China, Egypt,
and India prescribed cannabis to treat wounds, sores, nervous
disorders, and even falling hair. Some drugs, such as Marinol,
actually contain a synthetic version of the active ingredient found
in cannabis, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In the right doses, medical
cannabis can improve appetite among chemotherapy patients and thus
encourage healthier food consumption.
Perhaps
one of the most interesting medical benefits of cannabis is its
alleged ability to halt or reduce the risk of certain cancers. A
research institute in California has discovered that another
component of cannabis called Cannabidiol can actually help prevent
breast cancer cells from spreading throughout the body. Further
research is currently underway to determine whether or not cannabis
can serve as an alternative to chemotherapy.
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