You may have heard the words "Medical Marijuana" somewhere. Maybe on the internet, in a movie, or from a friend. There is a lot of talk about this in many countries of the world. So what exactly is this medical marijuana? Can it cure diseases? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Today, we will talk about all this, without hiding anything, in simple Sinhala that you can understand.
Simply put, what is medical marijuana?
Medical cannabis is the use of the cannabis plant or its
chemical compounds to treat certain symptoms or conditions. The whole plant or chemicals isolated from it are used in this. There are more than 100 chemical compounds in the cannabis plant, called
cannabinoids . Each of these chemicals can affect our bodies in different ways. Of these, two main compounds that have received the most medical attention are: 1.
THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): This compound is mainly responsible for the "high" or "intoxication" that occurs when using cannabis. 2.
CBD (Cannabidiol): This compound does not cause the "intoxication" that is mentioned. However, it can also have certain effects on the body.
Most importantly, while medical cannabis is legal in some countries around the world, the possession, use and sale of cannabis is illegal in Sri Lanka. You must remember that although it is used in limited quantities in some medicines prepared under very strict regulations in Ayurvedic medicine, it is completely illegal for an ordinary person to use it.
What medical conditions is medical cannabis recommended for?
In countries around the world where it has been legalized, it is used for a variety of medical conditions. But there is one important thing to know when we talk about this. That is,
there is still no very strong scientific evidence for many of these uses. Research is still ongoing. However, these are a few of the conditions where there is some evidence and where it has been suggested.
| Medical condition/symptom | Description |
|---|
| Severe and chronic pain | To relieve long-term pain caused by conditions such as nerve damage and cancer. |
| Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatment | To control severe nausea caused by chemotherapy treatments. |
| Epilepsy and seizures | Medications containing CBD, especially for some rare types of epilepsy. |
| Multiple Sclerosis | To control muscle spasms that occur in this disease. |
| Loss of appetite and weight loss | To reduce the loss of appetite and gain weight due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS. |
| Other situations | There are also research-based uses for things like glaucoma, Crohn's disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). |
Think about it, this isn't really a cure, it's more of a symptom control thing. That is, for example, instead of curing HIV , it's something that reduces the appetite that comes with it.
What are the real benefits and side effects?
Like any other, this one has its pros and cons. Let's look at both in a balanced way.
Main Benefits
Here are some benefits for which there is strong evidence:
- Controlling vomiting during cancer treatment: Drugs made using synthetic forms of THC (approved by the FDA) have been used successfully for this purpose.
- Pain relief: Neurological disordersThere is evidence that it can reduce pain caused by conditions such as cancer and multiple sclerosis to some extent.
- Reducing muscle spasms: Helps reduce muscle spasms, especially in multiple sclerosis patients.
Some other benefits that have some evidence:
- To improve sleep in the short term for some people with insomnia (e.g. chronic pain, fibromyalgia).
- To increase appetite and control weight loss in HIV/AIDS patients.
- To reduce anxiety in situations such as social anxiety .
Serious Side Effects & Risks
We must be aware of this aspect as well, because these cannot be taken lightly.
Short-Term Side EffectsLong-Term Side Effects
| Type of side effect | Examples |
|---|
| Psychological effects | Confusion, memory loss, altered perception of time and space, and feelings of euphoria or panic attacks. |
| Physical effects | Increased heart rate, dizziness, difficulty controlling muscles, decreased reaction time (very dangerous when driving), dry mouth. |
| Overdose | Seeing things that are not there (Hallucinations) or believing things that are not true (Delusions). |
| Effect on the brain | Especially if used in children during the age of brain development (adolescence), it can cause permanent damage to attention, learning, and memory . |
| Harms associated with smoking | Like anything else, smoking can damage the lungs and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. |
| Risk of mental illness | It can cause the disease to develop in people who have a hereditary risk for severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. |
| Addiction | There is a risk of developing cannabis use disorder. This risk is higher among young children than adults. |
Who should not use these?
For some people, the use of medical marijuana can be very dangerous. Therefore, these people should not use marijuana
for any reason .
- Pregnant mothers: THC can pass from the mother's bloodstream to the baby's brain and can negatively affect the baby's development, especially memory and attention. It can also increase the risk of low birth weight and premature birth.
- Nursing mothers: THC passes to the baby through breast milk and can harm the baby's brain development.
- People with a history of severe mental illness: Symptoms may be exacerbated, especially in those with psychosis- like conditions.
- People with heart disease: Research has shown that smoking marijuana immediately increases the risk of heart attack.
Methods used and their risks
Medical cannabis is administered in a variety of ways, each with its own benefits and risks.
- Smoking: The quickest way to feel the effects, but it is extremely harmful to the lungs.
- Vaping: Although it is believed to be less harmful than smoking, there are warnings that this method can also damage the lungs.
- Edibles: Mixed into foods like brownies and lollipops, it is not harmful to the lungs. However, since it takes hours for the effects to kick in, some people overdose and experience severe side effects such as excessive drowsiness, confusion, and vomiting.
- Other methods: There is still limited research information on methods such as creams, oils, and liquids that are applied to the skin.
The most important thing is, you shouldn't try any of these things on your own. If you have any concerns about anything, you should talk to your doctor about it.Only with. Trusting what you find on the internet or what your friends say and making decisions is putting your life at risk.
Take-Home Message
- Medical marijuana is something that has the potential to control certain symptoms, but it is not a 'magic bullet'.
- Along with its benefits, it has serious side effects and long-term risks. It is especially dangerous for young people, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions.
- According to Sri Lankan law, the use and possession of cannabis is prohibited. When discussing this, we must respect the laws of our country.
- If you have a medical condition, you should only discuss the best and safest treatment with your doctor. Don't rely on what others say or information on the Internet.
- Never turn to drugs for fun or even just to 'try it out.' It will only make your future bleak.
Medical marijuana, medical marijuana, cannabis, THC, CBD, cannabis side effects
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