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Dawa Sherpa
Mrs. Briggs
English 2010-11:30
April 10, 2014
Cannabis: panacea or poison?
As stated by Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his documentary “Weed”, “just decades ago, Marijuana
(Cannabis) was a legitimate medicine prescribed by doctors and dispensed by pharmacies”. But by 1970, the federal government had classified it as being one of the most dangerous drugs alongside heroin and made its usage illegal as a Schedule I controlled substance (Gupta).This alone has been a logical reason for many to avoid using the substance, but researches showing its negative effects on the brain and claims that it's a addictive gateway drug have further demonized the drug. In recent years, advocates of marijuana have challenged the classification of the drug as a Schedule I controlled substance arguing its medicinal benefits. In her article Blazing New Trails, author Kimberly
Taylor states "Long known for its calming properties, marijuana has of late been experiencing a surge in public acceptance as a healing herb" (Taylor, 131).While those against marijuana claim that the evidence is too weak to support its legalization even for medical purposes, advocates of the drug believe it should be classified at a lower level because trails have shown cannabis based medicines to help relieve chronic pain, treat seizures, multiple sclerosis and help ease symptoms of different illnesses.

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According to its classification, marijuana is a substance with NO medicinal value. But, what about the thousands of people who are claiming that marijuana helps them with their illnesses?
People such as Charlotte Figi, who at three months old had her first seizure and was later diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. After receiving the first dose of cannabis oil (substance high in CBD and low in THC), her 300 seizures a week reduced to 1 or 2 a week. Once the results of her success with marijuana spread, families such as the Wilsons, Johnsons and Bentons looking to their cure child’s seizures began pushing for the legalization of marijuana in their home state or moving to a state where marijuana is legal, “even though there is little science assuring them that marijuana could be the cure” (Steinmetz pp. 1).
Another major illness that medical marijuana has shown to help is Multiple Sclerosis. In
1999, Montel Williams, an Emmy winning talk show host was diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system that is the most common cause of neurological disability. The man who was once told by his doctor that he would end up in a wheel chair is still able to walk and have a quality of life; he believes it’s all because of medical marijuana. Montell has openly stated that he uses cannabis to help ease the neuropathic pain caused by Multiple
Sclerosis. He strongly believes marijuana has helped alleviate his symptoms of MS and has since been supporting the efforts to legalize it. Although the usage of the substance for medical purpose is controversial; a study involving MS patients who used medical marijuana might support Montell’s belief. According to Linda Searing, the study “involved 30 adults with MS

Sherpa 3 who had spasticity (tight, difficult to control muscles) that had not responded well to treatment.
To get around, nearly half used a cane or walker, and 20 percent needed a wheelchair. Under supervision, they smoked either a marijuana cigarette or a placebo cigarette once a day for three days, averaging for puffs per cigarette” (Searing pars. 2). After being tested, “ participants had about 30 percent less spasticity after smoking marijuana than after using the placebo, and they reported 50 percent less pain”(Searing pars. 2).
Although interest in the potential medical value of Cannabis has increased in recent years, many people are still skeptical of the intention behind the attempt to legalize it. There is no ignoring that marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug and there is a high possibility of it being abused, but our views on the recreational use of marijuana might be clouding our judgments and making people reach the wrong conclusion about marijuana for medical use. "In a rational world, the Introduction of such medicines (Cannabis-based) would not be influenced by attitudes towards the recreational use of cannabis, Sadly, however, the two tend to become confused in the public mind, and there is a danger that useful medicines might not be licensed because of rising concerns about the recreational use of cannabis"(Murray et al 891-892). But, even though there are people opposing the legalization of marijuana, and the federal government says otherwise, there is no denying that marijuana has medicinal properties and it has been gaining acceptance as possible medicine for different illnesses.

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As mentioned above, Interest in the potential value of Cannabis based medicine had been increasing, but much more evidence is needed to convince people of its benefits and persuade them to consider legalizing it for medical purposes. There are FDA approved medicines far more dangerous than marijuana, but they are legal because they have proven to have medical benefits and the public knows the risks for using them. But, the same cannot be said for marijuana. Of the researches done on marijuana, the majority of it focuses on the harmful effects while few focus on its benefits and because cannabis is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, doing research on such drug is very difficult. In order to perform the necessary study, the drug needs to be classified at a lower level. People need to stop viewing the drug as a harmful substance and instead consider it as being a possible medication in order to help those in need of it. With researches conducted showing the effects of using marijuana as a medicine, I believe more people will accept its usage as a medicine or if the research concludes the risks of the drug outweigh the benefits, then patients will have a legitimate reason to avoid the drug. In the future, if cannabis is to be legalized for medical purposes, precautions need to be taken to minimize the chances of it being abused and there is also the challenge of integrating the medicine into
"traditional hospital and managed care setting" (Hodge, 1).
In his article "Medicinal cannabis presents unique issues in managed care", Arthur D.
Hodge explores several challenges marijuana presents in managed care. He argues that "If medical cannabis is to be responsibly administered in a hospital or managed care setting, attention must be made to the strain and potency and adjusted according to a patient's needs, and testing of cannabis for strength and mold/pesticides by third-party laboratories should be used to ensure safe and accurate dispensation” (pars. 3). Apart from the variables present in the different strains of Cannabis, there is also the challenge of figuring out the correct dosage in terms of the

Sherpa 5 patient's age and its effectiveness. Doctors need to find the right dose according to the needs of their patients and avoid getting them high. Hodge also declares that although different methods of ingestion are available, “the most common method which is smoking is not tolerated inside a hospital” (Pars.4). In order for patients to use the medicine at hospitals, the decision on whether to allow that particular method or try to find a different one has to be made. Another challenge presented by Hodge in his article is to figure out who gets to use the medicine. If medical marijuana is legalized, there is a fear that it might find its way to non patients. Many states have passed laws allowing medical use of cannabis if they can prove to be a qualified patient and have a prescription for use from physicians. But, laws need to be put in place to make sure cannabis grown for medical purposes are secure, that the right people get it and avoid non patients from abusing it.
The reason most cannabis patients are having problems today, is because of the inconsistency between state and federal laws. Although cannabis is legal in some states, in other states, any person using marijuana even for medicinal purposes is in violation of federal laws. This forces patients in need of the medicine to either become prisoners of their state or they are forced to “uproot their lives elsewhere so they can get the medical marijuana in a state where it is abundant and legal” (Steinmetz, 1). In order to make sure patients are not deprived of their only medicine, a common law needs to be put in place so legal restrictions don’t come between patients and their medicine.
Although Cannabis has shown to have some adverse effects, it has also shown to have medical properties. More research on the benefits of cannabis needs to be conducted so that one

Sherpa 6 day, doctors won’t hesitate to give their patients the drug that could save their lives. Although marijuana should not be legalized for recreational purposes, the government needs to consider its medical benefits and to establish clear boundaries so people in need of the medicine aren't deprived of it but at the same time make sure it doesn't get misused.
Works Cited
Hodge, Arthur D. "Medicinal Cannabis Presents Unique Issues In Managed Care."
Formulary 48.7 (2013): 241-242. Business Source Premier. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.
Linda, Searing. "Smoking marijuana can help ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis, study suggests Smoking marijuana can help ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis, study suggests." Washington Post, The 5: Regional Business News. Web. 1 May 2014.
Murray, Robin M., et al. "Cannabis, The Mind And Society: The Harsh Realities." Nature
Reviews Neuroscience 8.11 (2007): 885-895. Academic Search Premier. Web. 07 Apr.
2014.
Information received from a documentary, “Weed” by CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr.
Sanjay Gupta. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3IMfIQ_K6U
Steinmetz, Katy. "'Cannabis Madness' Revives Debate Over Medical Marijuana and
Epilepsy." Time. Time, 12 Mar. 2014. Web.
Taylor, Kimberly Hayes. "Blazing new trails." Ebony 2014: 128. Academic OneFile. Web.
09 Apr. 2014.