Uses of Medical Marijuana

Uses of Medical Marijuana

Marijuana is no stranger to the medical world. The uses of medical marijuana have been known for thousands of years (Schmidt, 2005.) In recent years the support of medical marijuana has been gaining favor among those using it to receive relief from various diseases. The following story is just one of the millions of positive stories from those who use marijuana to relieve themselves from the critical illnesses that they may suffer from. “I spoke with a friend of mine today, who has a 82 year old grandfather that is dying of cancer. He has been so sick, and now only one of his kidneys is working because of medication and he is afraid if he keeps taking the medication his other kidney will fail. His daughter talked him into smoking a marijuana cig. At first he was terrified that it would lead him to using heaver drugs. I guess he was in so much pain, he just tried it anyway. He was amazed at the relief it gave him. His wife even smokes with him at night to help her to sleep. The last time she talked to her grandmother, she said, "We are going to have a whole one about 8:00." These people were dead set against marijuana in any form. They have believed this all their lives, preached it to their kids, and grandkids. They have a whole new attitude now that they have had to use it themselves. I just thought you would like to know, surely someone wants to know. Jan 2005.” (Arkansas Alliance for Medical Marijuana, 2005.) Marijuana has been proven to have many uses in aiding those who suffer nausea from chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients, glaucoma, and HIV-wasting.

The patients who under go chemotherapy treatment, as a way to treat their cancer, will tell you that the side effects are not pleasant. After undergoing chemotherapy treatment patients generally suffer from nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Use of marijuana as a means to help with the nausea and vomiting caused by the chemo has been reported since the late 1970’s early 1980’s (Medical Marijuana, 2001). Although during those times the standard of efficiency was much weaker than the criteria used today (Medical Marijuana, 2001). Many patients who used marijuana, after using other prescribed drugs, during chemo treatment said it was much more effective than any of the drugs they had currently been prescribed. Current studies show that when marijuana was smoked it effectively reduced the number of times a person vomited, and the amount and volume of vomit after chemotherapy treatment. These results were mostly found in people around the age of twenty-four, but for people over the age of forty-one, who never smoked marijuana before, said it was not very effective (Medical Marijuana, 2001). Recently people who are inflicted with cancer use marijuana as a means to help gain an appetite. When smoked, marijuana helps calms a person’s stomach so they feel less nauseous and thus vomit less. They then gradually accumulate a strong appetite and this helps them maintain a healthy weight. These are some of the strong facts that support the medical use of marijuana that help treat cancer patients who under go chemotherapy. Hopefully further research will go into discovering the full range of benefits marijuana has to offer to the medical world.

Glaucoma is an eye disease which puts pressure on the eyeball and can lead to headaches, vision loss, and blindness (Schmid, 2005). Today there are many treatments available to those who suffer from glaucoma. Some of the current medications used for treatment are beta-adrenergic agonists, cholinergic agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (Medical Marijuana, 2001). These medications are mainly the most prescribed and used forms of treatment by those who suffer from glaucoma. Due to the success of these pills marijuana is not being used as much as it once was a few years ago. Although marijuana is still used by patients who may not be able to keep the pills down, or who simply prefer marijuana over the current manufactured pills. The recent findings show that people who do smoke marijuana say it successfully helps relieve pressure in theirs eyes and has been know to help restore eye sight (Medical Marijuana, 2001). Even though marijuana is not the most popular way to treat glaucoma, it is still effective and useful to those who use it. Because of this further research should be given to see if there are any more uses marijuana can offer glaucoma patients.

A common draw back with the HIV virus is the loss of appetite which leads to significant weight loss. The HIV infection causes gastrointestinal problems which causes chronic diarrhea, weakness, fever, and weight loss (Medical Marijuana, 2001).