Marijuana is dried leaves and buds of various species of the cannabis sativa plant which is cultivated commercially in countries experiencing warm, tropical climate. It has acquired different kinds of names across the globe including weed, cannabis, hemp, ganja, marihuana, and hash among others. For centuries, the drug has been used for herbal remedies as scientists and pharmacologists have identified some active components with therapeutic value. Such compounds are referred to as cannabinoids examples including cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Other chemical compounds in the marijuana are being studies. Bowles et al . (2012) pointed out that the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has listed marijuana and its compounds as what is referred to as ‘’schedule 1 controlled substances’’ meaning that they cannot be processed, prescribed, and sold and the law. The Food and Drug Administration also has not yet approved the use of marijuana for any medical intervention. However, some state laws allow for the use of marijuana to treat certain medical conditions. The use of marijuana has been postulated to relive and alleviate adverse conditions in cancer patients. Because of the numerous benefits these patients receive from the use, I would recommend that marijuana be fully legalized in this regard.
Cancer is a deadly disease that is highly prevalent in the population of the United States with 30% of the population suffering from the disease at any given time. It has also been postulated that two-thirds of the patients will die of the disease. Therefore researchers are keen not only to seek medications that prevent the disease but also to acquire drugs that can make life comfortable for people suffering from the disease. The first reason why I would advocate for the use of marijuana in cancer treatment patients is that it reduced the chemotherapy-induced vomiting and nausea. The chemotherapy treatment given to the cancer patients cause nausea and vomiting when sensory centers located in the brain and the digestive tract are stimulated. Several commercially manufactured antiemetics have been used in a bid to stop these devastating conditions once the chemotherapy treatment is started in the cancer patients with minimal success. According to Russo, (2013), several cannabinoids have been tested in clinical trials especially different forms of THC to determine if they can be used as antiemetics. Other compounds that have the same effects as THC include nabilone and levonantradol. Research has shown that all these compounds have a mild effect in preventing incidences of vomiting after a cancer therapy has been started. Another research has also proven that smoking marihuana is important in stopping the chemically-induced emesis. Such a reason is, therefore, enough to warrant the use the use of marijuana in hospitals to ensure that cancer patients have minimal effects from the chemotherapy treatment.
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Malnutrition is another problem that faces cancer patients due to the lack of appetite. The wasting that results from lack of eating reduces the quality of life and sometimes leads to death. Patients have a likelihood of developing cachexia, which is the uneven loss of body tissue. Patients experiencing cachexia are usually given food using a tube or intravenous feeding and treatment with megestrol acetate which stimulates appetite. However, these interventions are not entirely safe as the patient only gains fat and not lean tissue. Over the years, marijuana has been known to a stimulant of appetite due to the action of the THC. Therefore when effectively used on a patient experiencing cachexia, it can increase their appetite hence ensuring that they regain their lean body weight. The use of marijuana in such patients also has minimal side effects on the patient as opposed to the conventional drugs that have troublesome side effects including hypertension, hyperglycemia, and the intake of bad fats. Therefore, given its value in patients suffering from end-stage effects of cancer such as cachexia, it is important for marijuana to be legalized in this regard.
Another vital aspect of marijuana treatment of cancer patient is that it has been shown to be involved in the direct treatment of the patients. It does so through three main ways including blocking cell growth, fighting viruses, and relieving pain. The National cancer Unit has researched to prove the extent of truth to these assertions. Adler and Colbert (2013) asserted that experiments that were carried out in mice and rats showed that the cannabinoids prevent the growth of cells and also inhibit the development of blood vessels that are required for new tumors to grow. The compounds in marijuana can also cause cell death hence inhibiting the growth of tumors. Also, further research from the laboratory animals has shown that the cannabinoids kill the cancer cells while sparing the healthier cells. The cannabinoids can effectively treat nerve problems and pains that result from chemotherapy. Specific types of cancers that can be treated by marijuana include liver cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer amongst others. It can also be used as an anti-inflammatory agent in cancer patients suffering from inflammation.
In conclusion, the use of marijuana in the medical field should be allowed especially for cancer patients due to the three important benefits it has on the patient. First, it helps in mitigating the effects of chemotherapy that include nausea and vomiting. Secondly, it increases appetite hence preventing the patient from cancer cachexia. Thirdly, it can be involved in the direct treatment by killing viruses, preventing inflammation, and cell growth. However, it is vital to note that the method of intake will influence how it acts on the body. Methods of intake may include vaporizing, smoking, and eating.
References
Adler, J. N., & Colbert, J. A. (2013). Medicinal use of marijuana—polling results. New England Journal of Medicine , 368 (22), 866-868.
Bowles, D. W., O’Bryant, C. L., Camidge, D. R., & Jimeno, A. (2012). The intersection between cannabis and cancer in the United States. Critical reviews in oncology/hematology , 83 (1), 1-10.
Russo, E. B. (2013). Cannabis and cannabinoids: pharmacology, toxicology, and therapeutic potential . Routledge.
