How Medical Marijuana Benefits Different Patients

Marijuana—also known as cannabis and Mary Jane—has been used by various cultures since 2727 B.C. It has a long history of use as a recreational, religious, and medicinal drug, and in the form of medical marijuana, is used to treat various conditions. Though still illegal in many countries, the use of medical marijuana is now permitted by the U.S. Federal Government for the treatment of various disorders.

California was the first state in the United States to legalize the use of marijuana in 1996 through Prop 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. According to this Act, authorized patients and caregivers were given the right to possess and grow a legal amount of marijuana for personal medicinal use. Medical marijuana, when administered in prescribed dosages, can be consumed by vaporizing or smoking the dried buds, drinking and eating the extracts, or consuming capsules.

Medical marijuana has been used to treat patients suffering from chronic pain, migraines, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, Tourette’s syndrome, and those undergoing chemotherapy. Moreover, the consumption of medical marijuana has become big business in the United States, and numerous dispensaries, co-operatives, and wellness clinics can be found in different states. Medical dispensaries, however, have restrictions placed on them to promote safety. These dispensaries can only be found in restricted areas and the products are not directly accessible to the patients. By documenting every transaction and enforcing legal guidelines, patients are assured that the medical marijuana they receive is safe.  

The Various Health Benefits of Medical Marijuana

According to ProCon.org, eighteen states have enacted laws that legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Dr. Lester Grinspoon, professor at Harvard Medical School, states that there have been no deaths directly linked to cannabis use. Although the legalization of marijuana is a point of contention in the country, it has been reported that medical cannabis actually offers several health benefits.

Marijuana reportedly stops the progression of Alzheimer's plaques and protein clumps that inhibit a person's memory and cognitive functions. Cannabis also helps control epileptic seizures and eases the pain caused by MS (multiple sclerosis). Perhaps the biggest health benefit of medical marijuana is the fact that it is arguably one of the most effective substances in the treatment for glaucoma. Taking cannabis can relieve the pressure that causes optic nerve damage, which causes total vision loss in some cases.

Even though a good number of states have allowed cannabis for medical purposes, Colorado is the only state, so far, that has legalized it for recreational purposes. Patients who require cannabis for treatment must go to an authorized dispensary for their required doses. These dispensaries also need to make sure that they comply with all regulations pertaining to the sale of this medicinal herb.

A Look Back at the Legalization of Medical Marijuana in the United States

In ancient China, people reportedly consumed cannabis (popularly known as marijuana) to achieve “a feeling of great happiness and well-being”. The United States was not so welcoming of the use of this substance, however. In fact, President Franklin Roosevelt made the ban official on August 2, 1937 when he signed into law federal legislation that prohibited the use, production, and sales of marijuana.

Things changed in 1988 when Francis Young of the Drug Enforcement Administration granted a request from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws to permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes, such as pain relief. Ten years later, the states of Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona allowed the use of medical marijuana. After that, 15 more states followed suit, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

While medical marijuana is legal in the aforementioned states, patients still need to acquire a prescription from a qualified medical practitioner before they can access this substance. Patients need to buy from a dispensary that demonstrates full compliance with all laws pertaining to medical cannabis. In addition, only personnel who are trained to provide information and advice are authorized to dispense medical marijuana.

Medical Marijuana: From Flower Power to Medical Power

At the height of the Vietnam War during the 1960s, many U.S. campuses became restless grounds of student activism. They all had one message in common: to put an end to the conflict that has wasted so many American lives and resources. Amid all this turmoil, there appeared a countercultural movement known as the hippies who whore flowers in their hair and adopted cannabis or marijuana as one of their symbols.

The hippies became a largely anti-establishment youth revolution that blossomed in the U.S. and soon spread to rest of the world. The Beatles, Britain's iconic rock and roll group, even became associated with the movement at one point. While the hippies mainly used marijuana as a recreational drug, it has in fact been recognized for its medicinal benefits for thousands of years, and advocates of medical cannabis have since pushed for its inclusion in treatment for pain, nausea, insomnia, lack of appetite, and even alcohol abuse.

Today, California and 17 other states (including the District of Columbia) have legalized the regulated medical use of marijuana. Scientific research has since proven its efficacy in treating health issues ranging from migraine to AIDS. Responsible and regulated use of cannabis can go a long way in ensuring the success of various treatments.