Marijuana: Myths

The movement for the freedom to use Marijuana has been a controversial global issue. Marijuana (Cannabis Savita) is derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the Cannabis plant and is the most common form of Cannabis. It has been used for thousands of years and is one  the three most widely used recreational substances alongside alcohol and cigarettes. It however has been treated as an ugly illegal drug for the last half century in many countries, including the USA, UK and New Zealand. Despite the fact that marijuana has been prohibited, surprisingly it has been the most in-demand illicit drug as well as resulting in many people being apprehended for using it. New Zealand is not an exception. Then why has it been illegal and why has the prejudice towards marijuana been formed.

The CBS News (2009) reported the reason cannabis became an illegal drug over a half century ago was simply because of prejudice against Mexican migrants who used the herb. There was no research done about it nor any evidence to support the prohibition of cannabis. Prohibiting such herb seems to make it even more popular. Although cannabis has been classified as an illegal substance, more than 100 million Americans have tried it. In fact, over 40% of its citizens support the notion that cannabis should be legalized like alcohol and tobacco.


There is an interesting video clip about a brief history of cannabis. 

Marijuana: Facts

It has been found that marijuana has many beneficial therapeutic effects:

First of all, tons of research proves its use as an effective pain relief. According to  BBC News (2009), some studies of cancer patients by Edinburgh University shows that cannabis-based spray reduces pain by 30%. It also found that the spray helps cannabinoid receptors which intervene pain neurotransmitters from the affected area to the brain. As professor Fallon from the Cancer Research Centre in the university claims, “…cannabis-based medicines may deliver effective treatment for people with severe pain. Prescription of these drugs can be very useful in combating debilitating pain.” It has been more effective and has less adverse outcomes than morphine, the news concluded.

Secondly, cannabis does not cause cancer. The study mentioned above ruled out that the herb can increase the risk of cancer. Kaufman, in 2006 Washington Post, Study finds no cancer-marijuana connection:  This supports that even regular and heavy marijuana smokers have no link to lung cancer. This study is highly reliable as a large number of candidates, over 2200, were examined. The reporter quotes Dr. Tashkin, a pulmonologist, said “…marijuana also contains the chemical THC (delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol), which…may kill aging cells and keep them from becoming cancerous.” In contrast to the myths of marijuana causing cancer, people who smoke more than two packs of tobacco a day are 20 times more likely to have lung cancer.

 

Marijuana is Medicine

In addition to the effectiveness as pain relief and no relation to cancer, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws NZ (NORML) supports the fact that cannabis is also effective as an antiemetic (anti-nausea) for cancer chemotherapy and AIDS drug therapy which often result in frequent nausea and vomiting. Cannabis also stimulates appetite, it helps patients with anorexic problems after such therapies to gain weight and live a better life.  

What is more, the herb helps neurological conditions to improve their motor sense. For example, the patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson and spinal cord injury can benefit from the substance. The active substituent THC of cannabis even reduces the chance of brain damage resulting from stroke.

Right to Make a Better Choice

There are some other common substances that can be reached easily such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, herbal tea and herbal medicine: No one would consider that all of these should be prohibited. Although the fatal adverse outcomes of excessive use of alcohol and tobacco have been informed, why haven’t they been categorized as illegal drugs ?! There is also no doubt that not all herbs that people consume on a daily basis have evidence-based information.

The Institute of Alcohol Studies website claims that Medix UK survey among medical profession: Alcohol and tobacco “worse than cannabis” shows that nearly 45% of them believe cannabis is the least serious health problem. They also reported cannabis as the least addictive. Not surprisingly the vast majority of the medical experts, 88%, wished to prescribe cannabis for their patients if it was legal.  

                                                                  

Is Cannabis Legal Yet !!!

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) website in the USA shows statistically, over 40% of all adults have experienced it. There were well over 800,000 people that were charged with using the substance in 2009.

Early 2009, 3News reported that a patient who had been paraplegic for a decade who had benefited from reduction of pain from cannabis was charged for using the substance. His prescribed pain relief simply did not work. There is another man who suffers from cancer, his wife has multiple sclerosis, and was helped by cannabis to minimize the pain. Cannabis is the only medicine that eases their pain and he now faces a charge with possession of an illegal drug. With the choice of either suffering from the disease or being sent to jail, he advocates using marijuana. Are there only two bitter options left for him? Who can protect those who seek solutions for their lives?

Recent NZ Herald news (2011, May) reports that the NZ Law Commission should review the outdated drug law, Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, regarding prosecution of low level drug offenses. Using cannabis for medical purposes should be considered as legalised, the reporter added. 

Let's Decide

In conclusion, many of the benefits of marijuana and it's use as a medication have been shown here. For instance, it is an effective pain relief, it may prevent cancer, and doesn't have the negative effects of addiction that smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol do. For those who are suffering with pain and disease there must be an alternative option for medication, especially where most modern medical drugs have failed to work. Therefore the governing bodies must take heed of the enormous amount of evidence supporting the medical benefits of marijuana and safety for its use. By doing so the government may actually find this is money well spent rather than spending taxpayers money on making it illegal.

References

BBC News. (2009, December 14). Cannabis spray found to help relieve cancer pain. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8411788.stm

Drug Policy Alliance. (n.d.). Marijuana. Retrieved May 9, 2011, from http://www.drugpolicy.org/facts/drug-facts/marijuana

Kaufman, M. (2006, May 26). Study finds no cancer-marijuana connection. Retrieved May 9, 2011 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html
 

Ministry of Health. (2007). National Drug Policy 2007-2012. Retrieved May 11, 2011, from http://www.ndp.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/685/$File/nationaldrugpolicy20072012.pdf

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (2003, March 5). What conditions can cannabis treat? Retrieved May 10, 2011 from http://www.norml.org.nz/page24.html