Marijuana is also acknowledged as pot, grass and weed but its official name is truly cannabis. It arrives from the leaves and flowers of the plant Hashish sativa. It is regarded an unlawful compound in the US and several nations and possession of marijuana is a crime punishable by law. The Food and drug administration classifies marijuana as Schedule I, substances which have a quite higher prospective for abuse and have no proven medical use. More than the several years several scientific studies declare that some substances found in marijuana have medicinal use, specifically in terminal ailments these kinds of as most cancers and AIDS. This started out a fierce discussion over the execs and disadvantages of the use of health-related marijuana. To settle this discussion, the Institute of Medication printed the well-known 1999 IOM report entitled Cannabis and Medicine: Examining the Science Foundation. The report was extensive but did not give a obvious reduce sure or no answer. The opposite camps of the healthcare marijuana concern frequently cite portion of the report in their advocacy arguments. Nonetheless, even though the report clarified many issues, it by no means settled the controversy as soon as and for all.

Let us seem at the troubles that assistance why healthcare marijuana should be legalized.

(one) Cannabis is a in a natural way happening herb and has been utilized from South America to Asia as an herbal medication for millennia. In this day and age when the all all-natural and organic are essential well being buzzwords, a normally taking place herb like cannabis may well be far more interesting to and safer for buyers than artificial drugs.

(2) Marijuana has powerful therapeutic prospective. Many studies, as summarized in the IOM report, have noticed that cannabis can be employed as analgesic, e.g. to take care of pain. A couple of scientific studies confirmed that THC, a marijuana ingredient is efficient in managing continual ache skilled by cancer clients. However, reports on acute discomfort these kinds of as those experienced for the duration of surgical procedure and trauma have inconclusive reviews. A couple of research, also summarized in the IOM report, have demonstrated that some cannabis parts have antiemetic properties and are, for that reason, efficient towards nausea and vomiting, which are widespread facet effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some scientists are certain that cannabis has some therapeutic likely from neurological ailments such as a number of sclerosis. Certain compounds extracted from marijuana have sturdy therapeutic likely. Cannobidiol (CBD), a key component of marijuana, has been demonstrated to have antipsychotic, anticancer and antioxidant homes. Other cannabinoids have been demonstrated to stop substantial intraocular stress (IOP), a main risk factor for glaucoma. Medicines that incorporate lively components present in cannabis but have been synthetically created in the laboratory have been accredited by the US Fda. A single instance is Marinol, an antiemetic agent indicated for nausea and vomiting associated with most cancers chemotherapy. Its energetic component is dronabinol, a synthetic delta-nine- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

(3) One particular of the key proponents of healthcare cannabis is the Marijuana Coverage Task (MPP), a US-primarily based firm. Several healthcare professional societies and businesses have expressed their support. As an case in point, The American Higher education of Doctors, advised a re-analysis of the Timetable I classification of cannabis in their 2008 situation paper. ACP also expresses Henderson Marijuana Dispensary for study into the therapeutic function of marijuana as properly as exemption from federal prison prosecution civil legal responsibility or skilled sanctioning for medical professionals who prescribe or dispense health care cannabis in accordance with state regulation. Similarly, safety from felony or civil penalties for clients who use health care cannabis as permitted below condition regulations.

(four) Healthcare cannabis is legally used in many produced international locations The argument of if they can do it, why not us? is an additional robust level. Some countries, like Canada, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, and Finland have legalized the therapeutic use of cannabis under strict prescription manage. Some states in the US are also permitting exemptions.

Now right here are the arguments towards health-related marijuana.

(1) Lack of information on safety and efficacy. Drug regulation is based on basic safety very first. The protection of marijuana and its parts nonetheless has to very first be proven. Efficacy only comes 2nd. Even if cannabis has some advantageous health results, the rewards ought to outweigh the risks for it to be deemed for healthcare use. Unless of course marijuana is established to be greater (safer and far more powerful) than drugs presently accessible in the market, its acceptance for health-related use could be a prolonged shot. According to the testimony of Robert J. Meyer of the Section of Health and Human Solutions getting accessibility to a drug or medical treatment, with out knowing how to use it or even if it is successful, does not reward any person. Simply obtaining accessibility, without having possessing protection, efficacy, and adequate use information does not support clients.

(two) Mysterious chemical elements. Health care cannabis can only be very easily accessible and reasonably priced in herbal sort. Like other herbs, marijuana falls below the classification of botanical merchandise. Unpurified botanical merchandise, even so, experience several problems including great deal-to-good deal consistency, dosage willpower, potency, shelf-lifestyle, and toxicity. According to the IOM report if there is any long term of cannabis as a medication, it lies in its isolated parts, the cannabinoids and their artificial derivatives. To completely characterize the distinct parts of marijuana would value so a lot time and cash that the expenses of the medicines that will come out of it would be as well large. At present, no pharmaceutical firm looks interested in investing cash to isolate a lot more therapeutic parts from cannabis beyond what is presently available in the industry.

(3) Possible for abuse. Marijuana or cannabis is addictive. It may possibly not be as addictive as challenging medication this kind of as cocaine nevertheless it can not be denied that there is a likely for substance abuse related with cannabis. This has been shown by a few reports as summarized in the IOM report.