Medical Marijuana: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning

Introduction 

Marijuana is one of the most popular recreational drugs that are used in the world currently, and it is estimated that it is consumed by 178 million in different parts of the world. It was included under one of the controlled drugs during the UN’s Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs that took place in 1961, and the use of illegal is illegal in many countries. However, a number of scientific studies on the drug have shown that it can be used to cure some of the diseases such as cancer. Consequently, at least 16 countries have legalized its use as a medicinal drug. At the same time, more than half of states in the US have legalized its use despite the fact that it is still illegal under the federal law on narcotics. Therefore, medical use of marijuana should be legalized for those in need of care for cancer due to the scientific information that proves that it can be used as a cure, as cannabis gives many patients a prolonged life because of its effects on cancer cells, including its ability to improve pain relief (Maule, 2015). 

Effects of Marijuana on Cancer Cells 

There should be no more doubt and confusion of whether marijuana can help in prolonging the life of patients suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer due to its effects on cancer cells. A number of scientific studies have proved that medical marijuana can be used as chemotherapy for all cancer patients (Mitchell, 2016). Studies have proved that cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most active components of marijuana, help in reducing tumor growth and tumor number. According to the recent medical research, CBD can significantly lower Id-1 expression in breast cancer cells (Pedersen & Sandberg, 2013). Consequently, it causes the down-regulation of the aggressiveness of the tumor. Therefore, CBD is effective in inhibiting the expression of Id-1, which is the main cause of breast cancer. Out of the most common cannabidiol that the researcher tested, it was found that CBD is the most effective when it comes to inhibiting the growth of cancer in the body. As a result, CBD, which is found in marijuana, can be used in the management of breast cancer (Maule, 2015). 

THC and CBD also have significant effects on cancer cells that cause other types of cancers such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer. THC help in reducing the growth of cancer cells that cause lung cancer. It induces ICAM-1 that significantly lowers lung cancer cell invasiveness (Borgelt et al ., 2013). In combination with CBD, THC, therefore, leads to a reduction on lung cancer invasion and metastasis. Scientific studies have shown that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main cause of cancer deaths globally. However, the use of CBD and THC assists in lung cancer management because they destroy Vitro chemotaxis and chemoinvasion that are contained in the breast cancer cells (Maule, 2015). In addition, CBD and THC can be used to inhibit the growth of cancer cells that cause pancreatic and prostate cancers. Besides, scientific studies that were aimed at examining human leukemia-lymphoma that CBD can act as potential targets for the induction of apoptosis. At the same time, CBD has the ability to act as novel anti-cancer agents, which kills tumor of immune origin. 

However, some of the studies have found that the use of medical marijuana to manage cancer patients can lead to some fatal effect due to its effects on cells. According to some of the researchers, high doses of THC and CBD, as much as they can kill cancer cells, they can also have significant effects on blood vessel cells (Kmietowicz, 2005). There are also some instances where they can encourage cancer cells to grow. At the same time, it is possible for a high dose of THC and CBD to interfere with the ability of immune system to identify and kill cancer tumor. Unfortunately, it has been found that low doses of CBD and HTC have insignificant effects on cancer cell in human bodies, and physicians always recommend high doses. Therefore, to reduce the side effects of the use of medical marijuana to treat and manage cancer patients, there is a need for researchers to conduct further studies in order to determine the right amount of medical marijuana that can be used to treat and manage cancer. 

Therefore, with inhibiting the growth of cancer cell, marijuana can be used to prolong lives of people suffering from various types of cancers. Its main components, THC, and CBD, help in triggering cancer cell deaths through a mechanism known as apoptosis. They also stop cancer cells from dividing and inhibit new blood cells from growing into a tumor. At the same time, they have the ability to prevent cancer cells from spreading to various parts of patient’s body. Besides, CBD and THC speeds up the autophagy, internal cells’ waste disposal process, leading to the massive death of cancer cells. With the availability of the above scientific evidence, the US federal government, including all state governments, should legalize the use of medical marijuana in the whole country (Nelson, 2015). 

Medical Marijuana and Cancer Cell Deterioration 

After several medical studies, it is now clear that marijuana can help in killing a variety of cancer cells. The new findings from various scientific researchers have even forced The US National Institute of Drug Abuse to admit the ability of marijuana to cause deterioration of cancer cells (Nelson, 2015). According to the report that was released by the institute, extracts from marijuana can help in killing certain cancer cells and reduce their sizes. The report further stated that evidence from animals proved that extract from whole-plant marijuana can significantly reduce the growth of cancer cells, including brain tumor, which is not possible through the use of chemotherapy and radiation therapies. 

At the same time, cannabinoids, particularly CBD and THC can significantly cause tumor shrinkage due to their ability to arrest cell cycles (Mitchell, 2016). Besides, the two cannabinoids can prevent cell survival mechanism and catalyzes apoptosis in the tumor cells leading to massive deaths of cancer cells. Both CBD and THC also have the ability to inhibit tumor angiogenesis and cell adhesion. Contrary to the conventional anti-cancer therapies, cannabinoids that are contained in marijuana are able to catalyze the actions without harming the normal cells (Frater, 2001). Based on the latest studies, THC, and CBD, when used together with conventional cancer therapies, are able to effectively treat high-grade glioma, which is the most killer type of brain cancer in the whole world (Grant et al., 2012). Radiotherapy alone cannot completely eradicate cancer from the body, but this can be achieved when it is used with medical marijuana. 

Marijuana as a Pain Reliever for Cancer Patients 

Apart from destroying cancer cells, another reason why medical marijuana should be legalized is because it relieves cancer patients from acute pain (“Harvard Medical School”, 2010). Pain is always the first symptoms that people use to show that something is not right with their bodies. A number of studies have been conducted to determine the pain-relieving properties of marijuana. According to the research that was conducted by Mark Ware of McGill University in 2010, people with chronic pain are able to feel less pain and sleep more comfortable when they use marijuana (Henry et al ., 2016). Ware found that about 15% of patients suffering from chronic pain use marijuana as their pain control strategy. His study that included 21 patients also proved that it can the drug can be used to relieve pain among patients. Another study that was conducted the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) also revealed that patients with chronic pain may experience significant relief if their health providers add cannabinoids to an opiate –only treatment. 

As a result, marijuana is highly effective in relieving neuropathic pain among people suffering from cancer (Mitchell, 2016). The two major cannabinoids found in marijuana, THC, and CBD, helps in activating cannabinoids such as CB1 and CB2 of endocannabinoid system within the human body. Both CB1 and CB2 assist in regulating the release of neurotransmitter, including the central nervous system to help in managing pain levels among cancer patients. In addition, researchers have found that the long-term use of medical marijuana to manage chronic pain is safe, as it does not have significant effects on patients suffering from cancer (Pedersen & Sandberg, 2013). 

Nevertheless, there is a controversial debate of whether medical marijuana should be used to relieve chronic pain for patients suffering from diseases such as cancer. One of the major concerns is that it makes patients feel sedated despite the fact that there is a reduction in pain (Maule, 2015). Based on the findings of some studies, patients who receive a high amount of CBD and HTC during pain management appear dreamy and immobile. At the same time, their thoughts become disorganized. Consequently, it is possible for medical marijuana used to control pain among cancer patients to cause some side effects, especially when high amount of CBD and THC is used 

However, the benefits of medical marijuana are more and there for everyone to see as compared to its demerits. Hence, it is important for the world, including the US to legalize the medical use of marijuana, as it helps in relieving patients from chronic pain. Chronic diseases such as cancer are associated with intense pain and the use of marijuana can bring a lot of relief to cancer patients. Apart from using other painkiller drugs, medical marijuana is a relatively cheaper alternative that can be used by patients who are not able to afford expensive drugs. Therefore, to help many patients, it is important to decriminalize the use of medical marijuana (Pedersen & Sandberg, 2013). 

Conclusion 

Despite some of the challenges associated with the use of medical marijuana to cure cancer, scientific studies have proved that it is one of the best ways that can be used to treat and eliminate some of the problems such as pain that are associated with cancer. Medical has the ability to kill and reduce the thriving of cancer cells, making it one of the popular drugs that can be used to manage cancer. Therefore, US federal government and all states that have allowed the use of medical marijuana should allow people to freely use it without any legal barrier. 

References 

Borgelt, L. M., Franson, K. L., Nussbaum, A. M., & Wang, G. S. (2013). The pharmacologic and clinical effects of medical cannabis. Pharmacotherapy, 33 (2), 195-209. doi:10.1002/phar.1187 

Frater, E. (2001). Medical marijuana: The smoldering debate. National Journal, 33 (11), 808. 

Grant, I., Atkinson, J. H., Gouaux, B., &Wilsey, B. (2012). Medical marijuana: Clearing away the smoke. The Open Neurology Journal, 6 (1), 18-25. Doi:10.2174/1874205X01206010018 

Harvard Medical School. (2010). Medical marijuana and the mind. More is known about the psychiatric risks than the benefits. The Harvard Mental Health Letter / from Harvard Medical School, 26 (10), 1. 

Henry, B., Bioethics, D., Agarwal, A., Chow, E., Omar, H. A., & Merrick, J. (2016). Medical cannabis: Miracle or myth? Journal of Pain Management, 9 (4), 341. 

Kmietowicz, Z. (2005). Cannabis has medical benefits but needs further investigation, says report. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 331 (7530), 1424-1424. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7530.1424. 

Maule, W. J. (2015). Medical uses of marijuana (cannabis Sativa): Fact or fallacy? British Journal of Biomedical Science, 72 (2), 85-91. doi:10.1080/09674845.2015.11666802 

Mitchell, I. (2016). Public health benefits from legalizing cannabis: Both sides of the coin. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal Del'Association Medicale Canadienne, 188 (1), 63. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1150076 

Nelson, B. (2015). Medical marijuana: Hints of headway? Despite a conflicted regulatory landscape, support for medical marijuana is growing amid increasing evidence of potential benefits. Cancer Cytopathology, 123 (2), 67-68. doi:10.1002/cncy.21524 

Pedersen, W., & Sandberg, S. (2013). The medicalisation of revolt: A sociological analysis of medical cannabis users. Sociology of Health & Illness, 35 (1), 17-32. doi:10.1111/j.14679566.2012.01476.x.