Can Medical Marijuana Really Help Your Health Ailments?

There has recently been a mouth spray made of marijuana approved for use in Great

Britain for those suffering from multiple sclerosis, and the maker, GW Pharmaceuticals, wants it to be available in the United States as well. They are also planning to do more extensive clinical trials to see if it can also be used to relieve the pain from cancer.

They will probably have a very hard time getting it approved in the U.S., the since Drug Enforcement Administration sees medical marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which means it is likely to be abused, like heroin or LSD.

However, medical marijuana use is growing in America, with fourteen states and the District of Columbia allowing patients to use, and sometimes grow, medical marijuana for certain medical conditions. Medical marijuana can be bought through shops in Colorado, California, and New Mexico. However, federal prosecutors still target distributors, growers, and users in these and other states where medical marijuana use is legal.

Due to the legal debate, research into the effectiveness of marijuana as a medical benefit has been squashed. Certain studies show how smoking pot relives pain in multiple sclerosis and HIV patients. There have also been tons of other studies that suggest it can be used to treat Alzheimer's, since it might stop the plaque from forming in the brain that leads to the loss of memory. In addition, certain compounds found in medical marijuana have been reported to work against MRSA infections as well.

There have only been a few clinical studies done, since there are many hurdles to cross to get human testing done. The DEA has to clear researchers, and then the U.S. Public Health Service has their own review to determine the study's design and merit. This process can take several years for researchers.

There is THC that has been synthesized, which is the chief psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, available in capsule form to people in the U.S. It has been shown to raise the appetite levels of those with HIV, when medical marijuana is smoked, or the capsule is given. There are drawbacks to each one, like the THC pill can take several hours to kick in, and smoking the plant may harm the respiratory system, and in young users that smoke a lot of marijuana, their brains could be damaged.

While many people believe there are certain benefits to using medical marijuana, there simply aren't enough studies done to prove it efficacy in treating pain in patients. The American Medical Association requested that the government review the status of marijuana as a Schedule I drug, so it can be downgraded to allow for more clinical trials to take place, and finally recognize it as having medical potential. Marijuana will likely stay as a Schedule I drug, since there isn't enough scientific evidence yet to support its safety and effectiveness in treating patients.

by: BrianGarvin

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