Nursing Advantages of Medical Marijuana Essay

AIDS -- it boosts appetite in patients who are experiencing severe weight loss.

Neurological disorders, including spinal cord injury and multiple scleroses -- it reduces pain and spasticity that results from nerve damage.

Inflammatory pain -- it has been found that Cannabinoids are more effective than opiates in treating long-term, chronic pain.

Autoimmune diseases like arthritis- it holds back the immune system thus resulting in less pain and inflammation (Cannabis in the Clinic?: The Medical Marijuana Debate, 2010).

More recent research has shown that there are additional benefits to the use of marijuana. A University of Saskatchewan study has suggested that the use of marijuana may encourage the growth of brain cells. This study also showed that a synthetic substance comparable to ones found in marijuana stimulates cell growth in regions of the brain that is linked with anxiety and depression. In addition, a study conducted by the Scripps Research institute showed that THC prevents the development of harmful plaque in the brain. This suggests that THC could be a very effective drug for treating Alzheimer's disease (Bushman, 2007).

There has also been some evidence that marijuana reduces intraocular pressure and thus would be useful in treating glaucoma. It has also been found to be useful in treating epilepsy, migraines and bipolar disorder. Different studies have shown that the use of marijuana can ease tics that occur in patients that suffer from OCD and Tourette syndrome. THC has also been shown to decrease arterial blockages in some patients. In the United States, it is thought that there are approximately 60 million people who have used legalized medical marijuana to some degree.There have been six additional states that have passed a decriminalization policy towards the drug. Yet, because the federal government does not acknowledge any medical uses for marijuana, there are still federal enforcements that ban this drug (McLelland, 2007).

It is difficult to figure out if the risks or benefits of marijuana use offset one another. Currently there does not appear to be any general health benefit that would support recreational use, and the risks appear great. On the other hand, the specific benefits that have been found to treat certain conditions or symptoms are evident, and may outweigh the risks under certain circumstances. Doctors and researchers are studying these benefits in an attempt to use the information to create safer and possibly risk-free treatments (Bushman, 2007).

References

Bushman, Melissa. (2007). The Health Risks and Benefits of Using Marijuana: Does One

Outweigh the Other? Retrieved June 20, 2010, from Associated Content Web site:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/148088/the_health_risks_and_benefits_of_using_pg2.html?cat=5

Cannabis in the Clinic?: The Medical Marijuana Debate. (2010). Retrieved June 20, 2010, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/issues/marijuana.html

McLelland, Jonathan. (2007). Marijuana: The History and Benefits Explored. Retrieved June 20,

2010, from Web site:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/187850/marijuana_the_history_and_benefits_pg3.html?cat=47

Parker, Jim. (2007). Marijuana: Medical Uses | Is Pot Medicine? Retrieved June 20, 2010, from Do it Now Web site: http://www.doitnow.org/pages/124.html.....