When we speak about the recent focus many states and politicians have directed toward the issue of medical marijuana, there seems to be a diverse continuum of opinion.
On the one hand we have those who oppose the use of any substance, even if it comes from the earth naturally, for the sake of dissonance. Others use the term “medical” to justify open use and consumption of the plant. The question is whether or not there is a legitimate use for marijuana from a medical and scientific perspective as well as whether it is more dangerous than alcohol and tobacco (already legal substances sold over the counter) to warrant its ban.
Even physicians are split. Findings of researchers at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I., that were presented at the 2001 annual meeting of the American Society of Addiction Medicine noted that 36 percent agreed that doctors should be able to legally prescribe marijuana as medical therapy, while 38 percent disagreed and 26 percent were neutral. Some argue that the active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be isolated and sold as a prescription drug. This debate is supported by pharmaceutical companies.
In fact the chemistry of cannabis is quite complex which makes it very hard to isolate and extract the active ingredients — THC or cannabidiol. THC is a cyclic alcohol and diols are any of a class of alcohols having two hydroxyl groups in each molecule. Many current drugs used today are either alcohols or diols.
Historically, marijuana has been used in many cultures as a means to treat a host of diseases including multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, severe arthritis, glaucoma and even cancer. Many of these ailments have no current pharmaceutical drug treatment available. Still some argue other issues, including that a parent under the influence cannot provide proper parental guidance. In Michigan and Maine, two of the 14 states with medical marijuana laws, patients won’t lose custody or visitation rights unless their actions endanger the child.
The simple truth is that the science is available that documents legitimate medical use for marijuana. The issue may be one of taxation and a revisitation of the the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which made possession or transfer of cannabis illegal throughout the United States under federal law, meaning the issue is really one of legalization. The bottom line is that physicians and scientists know no more than clergy and public officials with respect to treatment efficacy. –torrance stephens, ph.d.
For more with Dr. Stephens, visit twitter.com/rawdawgbuffalo and rawdawgb.blogspot.com.
