Marijuana (Cannabis): The Issue of Legalizing the Forbidden

on Monday, January 20, 2014
               While Marijuana is allowed in some countries for medical purposes, it is still considered a prohibited drug here in the Philippines. There are groups in the Philippines advocating to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes; asking the government to manage the rules on this. According to them it has medicinal value that could be beneficial to patients. Moreover, it could be the last hope for some patients.
               
               Cannabis is one of the most powerful healing plants on the planet. Dozens of studies have made pseudoscientific attempts to indicate that young people who use cannabis tend to experience psychological, social problems and mental decline. However, there is no evidence that marijuana use is directly linked with such problems, according to the results of a study published in The Lancet.

Top Health Benefits
1. Cancer
          Cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana, inhibit tumor growth  in laboratory animals and also kill cancer cells. Western governments have known this for a long time yet they continued to suppress the information so that cannabis prohibition and the profits generated by the drug industry proliferated.
          THC that targets cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 is similar in function to endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids that are naturally produced in the body and activate these receptors. The researchers suggest that THC or other designer agents that activate these receptors might be used in a targeted fashion to treat lung cancer.
2. Tourette’s Syndrome
           Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by uncontrollable facial grimaces, tics, and involuntary grunts, snorts and shouts.
           Dr. Kirsten Mueller-Vahl of the Hanover Medical College in Germany led a team that investigated the effects of chemicals called cannabinols in 12 adult Tourette’s patients. A single dose of the cannabinol produced a significant reduction in symptoms  for several hours compared to placebo, the researchers reported.
3. Seizures
            Marijuana is a muscle relaxant and has “antispasmodic” qualities that have proven to be a very effective treatment for seizures. There are actually countless cases of people suffering from seizures that have only been able to function better through the use of marijuana.
4. Migraines 
            Since medicinal marijuana was legalized in California, doctors have reported that they have been able to treat more than 300,000 cases of migraines that conventional medicine couldn’t through marijuana.
5. Glaucoma 
            Marijuana’s treatment of glaucoma has been one of the best documented. There isn’t a single valid study that exists that disproves marijuana’s very powerful and popular effects on glaucoma patients.
6. Multiple Sclerosis 
              Marijuana’s effects on multiple sclerosis patients became better documented when former talk-show host, Montel Williams began to use pot to treat his MS. Marijuana works to stop the neurological effects and muscle spasms that come from the fatal disease.
7. ADD and ADHD 
              A well documented USC study done about a year ago showed that marijuana is not only a perfect alternative for Ritalin but treats the disorder without any of the negative side effects of the pharmaceutical.
8. IBS and Crohn’s 
            Marijuana has shown that it can help with symptoms of the chronic diseases as it stops nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
9. Alzheimer’s 
            Despite what you may have heard about marijuana’s effects on the brain, the Scripps Institute, in 2006, proved that the THC found in marijuana works to prevent Alzheimer’s by blocking the deposits in the brain that cause the disease.
10. Premenstrual Syndrome 
               Just like marijuana is used to treat IBS, it can be used to treat the cramps and discomfort that causes PMS symptoms. Using marijuana for PMS actually goes all the way back to Queen Victoria. (http://www.trueactivist.com/still-believe-nature-got-it-wrong-top-10-health-benefits-of-marijuana/)

                   Despite of  medical benefits and the emerging trends in other countries to decriminalize the personal use of marijuana, the Dangerous Drugs Board as well as the Department of Health are still not convinced of its benefits. They warned the public and they insisted that that those who will be using medical marijuana will be liable for criminal charges under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

                
                  But one thing is for sure I guess; many interested parties will be watching how things will develop on this complicated issue. But there are these people for sure, who are certainly observing the flow of this issue with a trace of excitement on their face while smoking, having a glass and of course their poison of choice- those who find pleasure in marijuana.

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