You've probably heard the term 'Medical Marijuana'. Some say it's good for diseases, others say it's dangerous. What exactly is medical marijuana? Today, we'll talk about it simply, in a way that you can understand.
What is medical cannabis?
Simply put, 'medical marijuana' refers to the use of cannabis to help manage the symptoms of certain medical conditions. This is completely different from using cannabis for recreational purposes. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies cannabis as a 'Schedule I substance'. This means that it has no currently accepted medical benefits and is highly addictive. As a result, doctors cannot 'prescribe' cannabis directly. However, in some countries/states where it is legally permitted, doctors can 'certify' that a person has a medical condition and symptoms that can be relieved by cannabis.
However, even in legal places, not all hospitals and doctors certify medical cannabis. The main reason for this is that there has not yet been enough research and clinical trials on the medical benefits of cannabis.
Are there really approved medicines made from cannabis?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved the use of the cannabis plant for any medical condition. However, several drugs made from purified substances derived from marijuana (or "analogs") have received FDA approval.
These are the FDA-approved drugs:
- Cannabidiol (brand name Epidiolex®): This helps prevent and control seizures in people with two rare types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome . This is a prescription medication. It is different from the CBD products you buy over-the-counter.
- Dronabinol (brand name Marinol®) and Nabilone (brand name Cesamet®): These drugs help prevent and control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Dronabinol can help control appetite and weight loss in people with HIV or AIDS, and reduce agitation in people with severe dementia.
What symptoms is medical cannabis used for?
In every country/state that has legalized medical marijuana, there is a list of specific medical conditions (`qualifying medical conditions`) for which doctors can prescribe medical marijuana. In these cases, people use medical marijuana primarily to help manage symptoms. It does not directly cure a disease.
For example, the state of Ohio in the United States allows for the following medical conditions:
- AIDS or HIV infection
- ``Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)''
- Alzheimer's disease
- Cachexia (muscle wasting, with or without fat loss)
- Cancer
- ``Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)''
- `Crohn's disease`
- Epilepsy or other seizure disorders
- `Fibromyalgia`
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- `Huntington's disease`
- ``Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)'' and ``Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)''
- `Multiple sclerosis (MS)`
- Chronic and severe pain or intractable pain
- Parkinson's disease
- ``Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)''
- `Sickle cell anemia`
- Muscle stiffness (`Spasticity`)
- Spinal cord injury or disease
- Terminal illness
- `Tourette syndrome`
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Ulcerative colitis
But remember, these conditions vary from country to country and state to state. Research is still ongoing into the effectiveness of cannabis in managing various symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to talk to your doctor about the risks and potential benefits of using cannabis for medical purposes. You should also discuss immediate and long-term side effects, possible drug interactions, and alternative treatments.
Is medical marijuana safe to use? This is a bit complicated, isn't it?
The answer to this question is actually a bit complicated. As things stand, researchers can't say for sure. Researchers have studied and understood the effects of the chemical in marijuana called `THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). However, it is still unclear why people respond differently to `THC` and what the effects of the other chemicals in marijuana (`cannabinoids`) are.
Imagine you are reading a book, but some pages are missing. While you may be able to answer some questions about the book's content, you may not be able to answer some questions, or you may not be able to give a complete answer. The situation is somewhat similar with medical marijuana.
Consider these points when thinking about the safety of medical cannabis.
Lack of FDA approval
To date, the FDA has not approved the sale of cannabis for the treatment of any disease or condition. In other words, medical cannabis products do not meet the standards the FDA uses to approve drugs. When a drug is approved by the FDA, it means:
- Information about the effects of that drug has been reviewed by the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
- Research has shown that for those who use the drug, the benefits outweigh the known and unknown risks it may pose.
Using cannabis products that are not FDA-approved can have unintended and unintended consequences, and can even pose serious safety risks. Also, while people have used these products for various medical purposes, they have not been subjected to rigorous clinical trials to confirm that they are safe and effective.
Instead of FDA approval, each state in the United States has its own requirements and regulations for the use of medical marijuana. For example, in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Commerce licenses and regulates medical marijuana cultivation, processing, and testing laboratories. The State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy licenses and regulates medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. Each state has different requirements for the quality and safety of these products when they are manufactured and distributed.
Labeling issues
States also have different rules about how medical marijuana is labeled. Many states have laws that require the amount of `THC` and `CBD (cannabidiol)` in the product to be listed on the label. However, some states have different requirements.
Additionally, the concentrations of cannabinoids such as `THC` and `CBD` stated on product labels are sometimes incorrect.
Although medical marijuana product labels look like prescription medications, they are not prescription or FDA-approved medications.
Drug interaction risks
Researchers are still studying how the chemicals in cannabis affect the way your body absorbs (`metabolizes`) certain drugs. For example, studies have shown that using `CBD` and/or marijuana/`THC` can increase the levels of the following drugs in your blood:
- Clobazam (an anticonvulsant and a type of benzodiazepine)
- Warfarin (anticoagulant)
- `Diclofenac` (an NSAID type painkiller)
In addition, CBD may increase the blood levels of some antipsychotic medications and antidepressants. THC may reduce the concentration of the antipsychotic drug Risperidone in the brain.
These are just a few examples. Researchers are still learning about other possible drug interactions. Because the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa) contains more than 500 chemicals, it's hard to say exactly how medical marijuana will interact with other medications you take (prescription or over-the-counter medications). There are many unknowns.
What are the possible side effects of using medical cannabis?
Any type of cannabis, including medical cannabis, does not affect everyone in the same way. This can be due to a number of factors, for example:
- Your genes (`genetics`)
- your age
- Your gender
- The amount of cannabis used and its `strength`
- How you ingest cannabis/THC (smoking, vaping, or ingesting)
- How long you have been using cannabis and how often you use it
- Whether you are using other medications and/or other substances
The effects you experience from medical marijuana may be different from what someone else experiences. And even the same person may experience different effects at different times when using marijuana.
Research has shown that cannabis use has some short-term and long-term effects, but researchers are still learning about this, especially the long-term effects.
Some short-term effects are:
- Euphoria and mood changes
- Difficulty thinking and problem solving
- Impaired memory
- Disorientation and confusion
- Relaxation and/or sedation
- Dizziness
- Issues with coordination
- Slowed reaction time
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Hallucinations
- Delusions (strong belief in something that is not true - `Delusions`)
- Psychosis – This risk is higher if you regularly use high-potency marijuana (high THC levels).
So are there really any benefits to medical cannabis?
Scientists and doctors can't say for sure about the general benefits of medical marijuana. This is because there hasn't been enough research on the medical benefits of these products, especially the long-term effects. In addition, marijuana affects different people in different ways.
Although individuals report some personal benefits, all of these factors make it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
Despite the word "medical" in the name, there is currently not enough information to know whether the potential benefits of medical cannabis outweigh the potential risks when used for health conditions.
The best thing you can do is research the laws in your area and talk to your doctor about the short-term and long-term effects of cannabis, and whether it's right for you.
What is the most important thing we want to take home from this story?
Okay, so, from what we've talked about medical marijuana, here are some of the most important things you need to remember:
- Medical marijuana is not something that is used for recreational purposes. It is used legally in some places to help relieve certain symptoms.
- The cannabis plant has not been approved by agencies like the FDA for its direct use. However, there are several approved medications that contain certain chemicals extracted from cannabis.
- There is still not enough research on the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis, so it is difficult to say exactly about the risks and benefits.
- Cannabis does not affect everyone the same way. It can cause side effects and can also interact with other medications.
- If you're considering using medical marijuana, be sure to talk openly with your doctor about it. Also, be aware of the laws in your area.
Remember, being informed is the most important thing when making decisions about your health. If in doubt, always seek medical advice.
` Medical marijuana, medical marijuana, hemp use, THC, CBD, cannabis side effects, drug interactions
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