Thoughts and Perspective Favoring the Legalization of Medical Marijuana

Thoughts and Perspective Favoring the Legalization of Medical Marijuana

        I would like to convey to the listener how that the legalization of medical marijuana is a compassionate thing to do for mankind.  Perhaps this paper can provide some clarity.

        The topic of medical marijuana is one of much current debate in the medical, legal, and political arenas.  Naturally, one may be inclined to ask themselves, “What is all of this controversy about?”.  So it would seem appropriate to first define exactly what is meant by the term medical marijuana. In the 2013 Book entitled Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential, the marijuana plant comprises of 483 substances (Note 3)  Bear in mind, that these 483 separate and distinct chemical compounds can potentially be administered individually and any use medically or otherwise is currently illegal according to federal law short of any FDA sponsored research.  So when I use the term medical marijuana, it is NOT solely of the smoked variety.

        In the legal arena, 45 Years ago Congress classified cannabis and THC as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act (Note 9).  Schedule I drugs are defined by Congress as having no medicinal value.  Congress had the foresight back then to create an exception which allows marijuana use in FDA-approved research programs.  It goes to reason that Congress and the FDA had evidence back in 1970 that marijuana does have potential for medical use.  This FDA-approved research suggests that there are conditions for which medical marijuana may be an effective treatment as follows: For Cancer, medical marijuana may be of use during chemotherapy for nausea relief and testing for limiting the spread of some cancers. For Neurological disorders (including spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis), Medical marijuana may help pain and spasticity resulting from nerve damage. For autoimmune diseases (such as arthritis), medical marijuana may be of use to suppress the immune system, decreasing pain and inflammation.

        There are far too many patients needlessly suffering from chronic pain and terminal afflictions when all other useful medically supervised means have been exhausted.  Those suffering from AIDS, glaucoma, epilepsy, cancer, and chemotherapy already have benefited from prescribed medical marijuana.

        For example, in a study published in the journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics (Note 6), they found that Cannabidiol, a component found in marijuana, stops some breast cancers by turning off a gene called Id-1.  According to Cancer Research UK (Note 1), In 2012 alone, there were 8.2M victims of cancer.  Perhaps legalized medical marijuana could have helped some of these unfortunate breast cancer victims?

        In Alzheimer’s disease or AD - a 2006 study led by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute published in the journal of Molecular Pharmaceutics (Note 10) suggested that the primary compound in marijuana, THC, slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease. She found that THC slows the formation of the destructive plaques by actually BLOCKING the enzyme in the brain that makes them. These plaques are what kills brain cells and causes Alzheimer's Disease. According to Alzheimer’s.org, AD is the ONLY cause of death in the top 10 causes that cannot be prevented or cured. Perhaps a possible answer lies with medical marijuana?

        If one could only place themselves in the shoes of any of these unfortunate individuals whose chronic pain and suffering are only treatable by medical marijuana, perhaps then one can arrive to the conclusion that medical marijuana is a viable option?  Patients using medical marijuana as a last resort right now are placing themselves at legal risk under federal law.  If arrested, their medical marijuana treatment will end and then even more pain and needless suffering ensues.  In a Rolling Stone Magazine interview (Note 5),  President Obama clarified his request for prosecutors to “ " … Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage." As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes.”  One should caution that there is no protection from selective enforcement.  It would then go to reason that the only legal protection available is the legalization of medical marijuana at the federal level.