Abstract
The issue of whether Medical marijuana should be legalized has been contested for years. Certain people support the idea of the legalization of Medical marijuana owing to the established benefits of the plant from studies and research. However, those opposing the use of Medical marijuana argue that the drug does more harm than good, basing their argument on its negative implications. Therefore, in a bid to establish whether or not medical marijuana should be legalized, certain factors ought to be established, examined and discussed. For instance, it is important to establish the benefits of Medical marijuana, thus justifying the need to legalize it. Similarly, it is important to establish the ethical issues surrounding medical marijuana, hence refuting its legalization. Medical marijuana has numerous benefits even with the ethical issues surrounding it as well as the few downsides of using medical marijuana. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to discuss the ethical issues that surround the legalization of medical marijuana, as well as the benefits and the negative aspects of its use, thus answer the question of whether medical marijuana should be legalized.
Introduction
Medical marijuana also referred to as medical cannabis is cannabis or cannabinoids in its natural or extracted form that is used by doctors or physicians for medicinal value among certain patients. The reason why some doctors recommend the use of Medical marijuana is because of the numerous benefits that have been established over time through research and study findings. However, the debate on whether medical marijuana should be legalized has received both support and opposition. On the one hand, support for the legalization of medical marijuana is attributed to its numerous benefits including its ability to reduce the effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. On the other hand, those who oppose the use of medical marijuana argue that it has negative aspects such as addiction, as opposed to being beneficial. Overall, many concerns are surrounding the use of medical marijuana, including the ethical issues concerning the legalization of medical marijuana on a federal level within the United States. However, the benefits and negative aspects of the use medical marijuana should be explored in a bid to support or oppose its legalization. Medical marijuana has been proven to have many benefits since research and actual instances of conditions alleviated by its use exist.
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In 1996, California first passed a proposition regarding the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. The proposition was followed by a rise in both public and state support for the legalization of marijuana, hence it becoming a growing and prosperous industry. As at April 2017, Cannabis, commonly referred to as Marijuana, had been approved for medical use in 29 states in the United States. The reason for approve is attributed to its use in an attempt to treat symptoms associated with conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS among other conditions (Nawaz, 2017). Therefore, based on the establishment that medical marijuana has benefits as significant as contributing towards the well-being of cancer patients, then the same should be legalized. Regardless of the controversy surrounding the issue of legalization of medical marijuana in the past, increased recent evidence shows that medical marijuana’s benefits outweigh its negative aspects. Thus its legalization should be supported. As a result, small doses of the drug have been prescribed for medical use owing to its legalization in 29 states in the U.S as at April 2017. Certain people argue that the argument presented in opposition to the legalization of marijuana has been deemed unsubstantial based on the research findings that support the use of medical marijuana.
Benefits of Using Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana, when used in the right dosage and for the right reasons, has been established as having numerous benefits that extend beyond its use for medical purposes. The benefits of marijuana have been examined and been under scrutiny by various researchers, who have supported some of the claims that medical marijuana is beneficial and as a result, should be legalized. Among the proven benefits of medical marijuana is that it can help to relieve pain, hence can be used to alleviate discomfort attributed to pain (Nawaz, 2017). For instance, cancer patients, can from time-to-time experience pain spasms that make a living with the condition difficult and perhaps overwhelming.
However, with medical marijuana cancer patients who experience painful episodes can be helped to relive that pain, thus improving their quality of life despite their conditions. Another benefit of medical marijuana is that it relieves nausea, which can be of great help to cancer patients as well (Nawaz, 2017). Most cancer patients with advanced stages of the condition undergo treatment known as chemotherapy, which has associated adverse effects. Among the negative effects associated with the cancer treatment chemotherapy is experiencing nausea, which can be stressful and uncomfortable. However, with medical marijuana, an individual can get relief from nausea, thus making the life of a cancer patient more bearable even when they are undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy.
Medical marijuana can also be used to relieve muscle spasms whether it is short, a long crippling contraction or a tight pulse. Depending on the type of muscle spasm, medical marijuana can be used to relieve the condition in different forms. A clinical trial conducted in 2012 by the University of San Diego was conducted in a bid to establish the medicinal properties of medical marijuana. In the clinical trial were patients 30 patients with multiple sclerosis, who had a walking impairment and who depended on walking aids to cope with their conditions. The 30 patients were given either placebo or synthetic THC. Results of the clinical trial showed that among the patients that were given the synthetic THC decreased spasticity was evident when compared to those who were given the placebo, with up to one third decrease difference. In addition to that, the patients that were given synthesized THC reported a reduction in muscle related pain. Therefore, when compared to the placebo, synthesized THC, which is a component of medical marijuana, is better medicine for relieving muscle spasms, as well as for pain relief. There are various instances in which cannabis creams have been created to relieve muscles spasms, thus benefits of medical marijuana.
Another benefit of medical marijuana is that it reduces inflammation, hence is deemed a rather powerful anti-inflammatory (Nawaz, 2017). At the very instance when an individual gets a sprain or a cut, the body responds by causing immune cells to activate on the cut or sprain area or spot. Medical marijuana can help with the healing process at it has properties that can regulate an individual’s immune response. Recent studies and research have shown that the endocannabinoid system possibly helps in the modulation of certain aspects of a person’s immune system, among them being the inflammatory response. Endocannabinoids are compounds similar to CBD and THC, which are produced naturally by the human body (Chiurchiù, van der Stelt, Centonze, & Maccarrone, 2017). Therefore, if the body naturally produces compounds similar to the ones found in medical marijuana, then it means that medical marijuana compounds are useful for the body, thus are beneficial. The cannabinoids present in medical marijuana act as catalysts that cause the changing of the messages to cells controlling swelling at the spot of the injury, owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, thus a benefit of medical marijuana.
Another benefit of medical marijuana is that relieves both stress and anxiety. Among the most common mental health disorders is that of anxiety, which is characterized by worry, sometimes fear, as well as the excessive feeling of apprehension. Many people in the world suffer from anxiety, with Canada being among the most affected places in the world. Statistical data from research conducted in Canada has shown that over 12% of Canadians, an equivalent of 3.7 million people have been diagnosed with either a mood disorder or anxiety, thus the need for medication to help with the effects of anxiety. Similarly, in the United States, 18% of the population suffers from anxiety, which necessitates proper treatment for the condition.
Further studies have shown that many people who use medication from pharmaceuticals build up their tolerance, which can cause addiction from the need to take higher dosages. However, recent studies have shown that medical marijuana can be an effective form of treatment for some types of anxiety since it is a chronic condition which impairs many of the patients suffering from the condition (Hill, 2015). Therefore, in a bid to help patients with anxiety without all the undesirable effects of pharmaceutical medication, medical marijuana can be prescribed to patients with anxiety, thus a benefit of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana can also be used to relieve stress, thus depression, as stress can sometimes lead to depression since marijuana is a natural anti-depressant. Similar to anxiety, some of the pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of chronic stress can contribute to addicting owing to the need to take higher dosage in the event such patients build up a tolerance for the pharmaceuticals.
Negative Aspects of Using Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana as a treatment for medical conditions has seen many health care experts debate over its use with some arguing in favor and others against it. Those who argue against the use of marijuana have cited certain issues associated with medical marijuana. Among the negative aspects associated with the use of medical marijuana is the increased risk of psychosis. Medical experts have argued that medical marijuana increase the risk to both chronic mental illness, such as schizophrenia and acute psychosis. The reason why medical marijuana increases the risk of developing both psychosis and chronic mental illnesses is attributed to the fact that marijuana is a powerful psychoactive drug.
As a result, it has serious effects on both the body and mind, beyond its intended use as medical marijuana. Studies have mentioned hallucinations, memory loss, anxiety, confusion and anxiety as some of the psychoactive side effects connected with the use of medical marijuana, thus a negative aspect of its use (Volkow, Baler, RCompton, & Weiss, 2014). Studies have shown that there exists a relationship between marijuana and increased risk of developing psychosis, including suicidal tendencies, server anxiety, and depression, hence discouraging of the use of medical marijuana. Further studies show that marijuana contains two primary chemical agents namely tetrahydrocannabinol and endocannabinoids. These two chemical compounds are largely attributed to the induction of psychotic symptoms, thus a negative implication of the use of medical marijuana.
Another reason why certain medical experts are opposed to the idea of using medical marijuana among patients is that it has proven an inferior method of treatment for glaucoma. Since the 1970's, medical marijuana has been used in the treatment of the eye disease, glaucoma. According to studies, the smoke from marijuana lowers the internal pressure inside the eye that is attributed to glaucoma. During the 1970's interventions, medical marijuana proved beneficial in the treatment of glaucoma. However, recent studies have established that despite its ability to treat glaucoma, medical marijuana is an inferior method of treatment compared to new treatment methods such as laser surgery, as well as new medication (Volkow, Baler, RCompton, & Weiss, 2014). The reason why medical marijuana should be used in the treatment of glaucoma is that it increases the heart rate, as well as causing a decrease in blood pressure. Therefore, based on that argument, medical marijuana is not ideal for the treatment of glaucoma as previously expressed.
Arguments against the use of medical marijuana are attributed to the establishment that it increases the chances of contracting certain types of cancer including testicular and lung cancer. According to research marijuana smoke contains irritants and carcinogens, which can cause cancer of the respiratory tract. Studies further echo this concern by mentioning that marijuana smoke, when compared to tobacco smoke, contains about 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons. In addition to that, the studies argue that due to the component tetrahydrocannabinol, an active ingredient in medical marijuana, chances of developing tumor growth and respiratory infections increases (Volkow, Baler, RCompton, & Weiss, 2014). Similarly, in another study, the use of marijuana for medical purposes increased a person's chances, by about 70%, of developing testicular cancer, thus negative aspects of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana may cause cancer since it is linked to DNA damage, which facilitates tumor growth.
Various Diseases That Can Be Treated Using Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana has numerous benefits, which includes treatment or relief for certain conditions and diseases among patients. Some of the common medicinal values of medical marijuana include relief from pain, stress, anxiety, as well as nausea. There are elaborate ways in which the usefulness of medical marijuana can be described owing to the diseases it helps treat.
Medical Marijuana and the Treatment of Cancer
One of the fatal diseases that has seen the benefits of medical marijuana is cancer. Cancer is a collection of diseases, which is associated with abnormal body cell division that spreads from tissue to tissue often resulting in the formation of cancerous tumors. In the United States, among other nations, cancer is the second most common cause of death, thus the need for elaborate and effective treatment. Among the effective forms of treatment for cancer is medical cannabis since it helps with the many associated effects of cancer such as the neuropathic pain. In addition to that, medical marijuana is helpful in treating vomiting and nausea that develops as a result of chemotherapy, thus helping with the condition of cancer. More and more cancer patients can now eat without many complications associated with nausea and vomiting, which boosts their immunity, thus how medical marijuana is helping with cancer treatment (Kramer, 2015). Medical cannabis has been reported to have lowered the number of patients in need of pain medication associated with undergoing cancer treatment, thus its contribution to cancer treatment.
Medical Marijuana and the Treatment of HIV/AIDS
The infection of HIV/AIDS is one that attacks, as well as weakens the immune system by destroying infection-fighting cells. Patients that are infected with the virus HIV often experience neuropathic pain, which lowers their quality of life irrespective of their active management of opioid pain management. According to studies, cannabinoid receptors present in the peripheral and central nervous systems can relieve the perception of pain, thus can be used to treat neuropathic pain among HIV/AIDS patients (Belendiuk, Baldini, & Bonn-Miller, 2015). Similarly, people with the HIV/AIDS infection experience instances of nausea, muscle wasting, as well as lack of appetite, which weaken the immune system of such patients.
Therefore, to help patients with the treatment of HIV/AIDS-related symptoms, there is the need to use medication that can alleviate such symptoms and effects. Numerous clinical studies have established that HIV patients have reported a drastic reduction in nausea and increased appetite with the use of medical marijuana. Therefore, the cannabis therapy has been among the most effective means of alleviating the symptoms of nausea, which contributes to the maintenance of a healthy weight for HIV/AIDS patients. Improving the quality of life for HIV/AIDS patients through the use of medical marijuana has proven effective, thus helping in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and extending the lives of such patients since HIV/AIDS does not have a cure yet.
Medical Marijuana and the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis commonly abbreviated ALS is an extremely degenerative neurological disorder that causes loss of control of speech, muscle weakness, wasting, paralysis of the limbs, as well as breathing, which is attributed to the impact of the condition on the nerve cells in the spinal cord and the brain. More than twenty thousand Americans are affected by ALS, hence the need for effective treatment methods including the use of medical marijuana. Research has shown that the use of medical marijuana has been effective for a long period now. The reason why medical cannabis has been effective in the treatment of ASL is attributed to anti-inflammatory, as well as neuroprotective properties, which slow down the progression of the condition (Bedlack, Joyce, Carter Paganoni & Karam, 2015). This results in the prolonging of life among ALS patients since medical marijuana improves the quality of their lives. Therefore, with regards to helping in the treatment of ALS medical marijuana can be very advantageous to the thousands of Americans who have ALS.
Medical Marijuana and the Treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease refers to a disorder that affects movement owing to an affected nervous system. The condition is known to develop gradually over time, which can be barely noticeable at first in the forms of tremors in just one hand. However, with time, the disease further develops into stiffness, and increased tremors may characterize the slow loss of ability to move that. According to researchers, the components of medical marijuana, THC and CBD, when inhaled in the form of vapor, help in the alleviation of tremors and shakes associated with the Parkinson’s disease (Mainka, Stork, Hidding, & Buhmann, 2018). Therefore, in a bid to help patients with the Parkinson’s disease to mitigate the effects of the condition, since they affect their ability to the performance of day-to-day activities normally, the use of medical marijuana can be encouraged, thus justifying the need to legalize medical marijuana.
Medical Marijuana and the Treatment of Epilepsy
Epilepsy refers to a chronic disorder that is characterized by recurrent yet unprovoked seizures, which cause the life of the person suffering from the disease to be rather hard as the attacks can occur at any time. Many epileptic people incur damages and injuries during their epileptic episodes, which can become overwhelming of time owing to the nature of the condition, as being chronic. Close to 3 million Americans have epilepsy, which is a significant enough number to consider the use of effective treatment of the disorder. According to studies, as from 2016, 36.5% fewer seizures were recorded per month owing to the use of oral doses of about 2 to 5mg of CBD oil daily (Mathern, Nehlig & Sperling, 2014). Therefore, in a bid to help the 3 millions of Americans who have epilepsy. The issue of the legalization of medical marijuana ought to be supported.
Medical Marijuana and the Treatment of Huntington’s disease
The Huntington’s disease, commonly abbreviated HD is an incurable brain disorder that is hereditary and results in the degeneration of the brain. With the gradual progression of the disease, a person’s ability to reason, walk or even talk diminishes, which makes the life of a person with the disease rather difficult. In addition to losing the ability to reason, people with the Huntington’s disease may experience twitching as well as experience changes in personality causing them to come off as different from time to time, thus affecting their social and personal lives. New evidence has shown that cannabinoids can potentially act as neuroprotectants by improving the manner in which the mitochondria functions, as well as reducing cellular debris attributed to inflammation (Frank, 2014). This hence justifies the use of medical marijuana for the treatment of Huntington’s disease. Hence its legalization should be supported.
Ethical Issues Concerning the Legalization Medical Marijuana on a Federal Level in the United States
The debate on whether the legalization of marijuana should be supported has associated ethical issues at various levels including the federal level. For instance, with Massachusetts becoming the 18th state in the United States to adopt a medical marijuana statute, thus a demonstration of ethical implications of legalization on a federal level. The legalization of medical marijuana on a federal level has impacted certain sectors of the American economy including the health sector. Among the primary ethical issues concerning the legalization of medical marijuana is whether the benefits outweigh the associated risks, which would justify federal government’s legalization of medical cannabis (Hall & Lynskey, 2016). The evidence, despite numerous research and studies on the use of medical marijuana, is still not as efficient, which may cause reservation about how the subject is addressed at the federal level. Therefore, the federal government may want to examine the legalization of marijuana because not much ethical grounds exist justifying the use of medical marijuana. The federal government, in its move of legalizing medical marijuana, is dependent on the functioning of the healthcare sector, with particular regard to the patient-doctor relationships.
Since the Food and Drug Administration is the one that authorizes the administration and prescription of substances, legalization for medical marijuana at the federal level may be curtailed, hence causing tension between the federal government and doctors. This is because certain physicians may want to operate on a community-based treatment plan with patients who are willing to undergo treatment using medical marijuana. Similarly, certain physicians may claim to have the federal government’s approval to administer medical marijuana, which weakness the patient-doctor relationship once patience establish that the same is not true. Autonomy is also another ethical issue associated with the legalization of medical marijuana since there is the need to disclose all related information on the subject (Hall & Lynskey, 2016). Therefore, the federal government may need to provide guidelines surrounding the prescription of medical marijuana in a bid to ensure autonomy, such as a discussion of the pharmacological and non-pharmacological alternatives to medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana, as demonstrated in the paragraphs above, has benefits, treats numerous conditions and disease, but also raises ethical issues, as well as having negative aspects to its use. Therefore, support for medical marijuana can be based on its numerous benefits including the alleviation of chronic neurological pain, nausea, as well as increased appetite. Similarly, because studies have established that medical marijuana can help in the treatment of cancer, Huntington’s disease, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease among other conditions, the legalization of marijuana should be supported. However, due to the ethical issues surrounding its legalization such as the issue of autonomy, legalization of medical marijuana should be revisited and scrutinized. In addition to that, medical marijuana has some associated negative aspects that should be up for consideration in the event of its legalization. Overall, all the issues and benefits surrounding the legalization of medical marijuana have to be carefully established in a bid to establish whether or not it should be legalized.
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