Marijuana has shown ever increasing promise as a treatment for cancer, dementia, epilepsy, glaucoma, obesity, diabetes… the list goes on and on. Scientists are currently searching for a synthetic alternative to the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, that will produce the same responses without all the hassle of any of the psychoactive negative side effects, such as hallucinations and paranoia. But while researchers hunt for their miracle drug, the general public isn’t quite so convinced. Though states such as Colorado have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, a national resistance to marijuana legalization still remains.
For the first time ever, a 2013 Gallup poll shows that a majority of Americans now favor legalizing marijuana, but just barely (http://www.gallup.com/poll/165539/first-time-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx). While the young adults of today’s society are all for cannabis use, the senior citizens of our society don’t quite agree. After designating the plant as an illegal drug for the past century, perhaps the stigma of the term “marijuana” proves to be just too much. Despite the stigma, medicinal marijuana could be a great alternative to the grim chemotherapy and radiation treatments we put our loved ones through to fight their cancer. Or an actual treatment for the Dementia that steals our grandparents, parents, friends, and family away.
Although we have yet to find the perfect drug blend that provides the benefits of marijuana without all the side effects, scientists are well are on their way. Researchers have discovered cannabidiol, another active ingredient in marijuana that produces many of the positive effects, without most of the negative side effects. And while we don’t quite understand all the pathways and receptors involved in our bodily system that THC or cannabidiol acts on, the most recent research is quite promising, as we make our way toward learning exactly how marijuana causes hallucinations, appetite stimulation, and cancer cell death, among other effects within our bodies. In addition, researchers are looking for other variants of THC and cannabidiol that may stimulate specific beneficial responses such as bone growth to fight osteoporosis, relieve muscle spasms for patients with MS, and eliminate inflammation for those with Crohn’s Disease.
So, before you write off legalizing medical marijuana, I encourage you to learn more about what the most recent research says and be open to its potential. Let’s not forget about the analogous drug morphine, the socially acceptable and commonly used pain killer, which is in fact just a variant of heroine. With more research and studies on marijuana we may be able to discover new, safer treatments and maybe even cures for even the most horrendous diseases. Don’t let the stigma marijuana carries prevent you from understanding the great healing benefits we might be able to unlock from the iconic seven-leafed plant.
Relax, Grandma. It's just a little weed.
