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Running head: MEDICAL CANNABIS

Medical Cannabis: Social Implications and Physical Effects

Jorge Eduardo Gijosa Prez
The University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract
Medical cannabis is a very current topic of discussion. Through the length of this
document, various themes will be discussed about it, going from what cannabis is and how
its normally used, to its effects as a medical treatment, the possible effect of the legalization
of cannabis as a medicine on the usage of cannabis as a recreational drug and the ongoing
discussion of whether or not medical cannabis should be legalized taking into account the
risk and possible benefits it might bring to society. It seems clear by the end of this paper
that this is an issue that will keep being current in the next immediate period of years.
Further research on cannabis, its side effects physically and on the implications of its
presence on society need to be conducted in order to reach an appropriate verdict on what
policy society should adopt on such substance and its medical properties.

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Since ancient times, plants have been used as ingredients for medical concoctions
and ointments which were produced by the local shaman, medic, or priest. As society
advanced and the ancient ways of healing were slowly being forgotten, plants stopped
being the principal component of what was used to heal, and instead became where most of
it came from. Chemistry allowed us to extract whatever healed us from the plants and use it
in a more direct way onto ourselves. In recent times its less and less common to see
someone use a plant to heal oneself or others. Lately, discussions have aroused on whether
a certain plant whose recreational usage is not doubted could or could not be used as a
medicine. That plant is cannabis and in this report we will go through different opinions
about it, its medical usage, and its possible legalization as a medicine.
Cannabis per se
To understand what is about to be discussed first we need to know what cannabis is.
In the words of Dale Jacquette (2010, p.1), Cannabis is a psychoactive product of a
naturally occurring plant belonging to two main species, sativa and indica. Cannabis is
ingested primarily for the sake of the effects of the active THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) it
contains, liberated from the dried resin-bearing plant flower buds and leaves under
carbonizing heat for absorption into the bloodstream. [] This plant is often used for
recreational purposes; however, it has also been used as a medicine since ancient times. In
fact, cannabis has been used for medical purposes since 2731 B.C. and it was deemed a
legitimate medical compound by The United Sates Pharmacopeia in 1851; it wasnt until
1942 when it was removed from there even though it was criminalized in 1937 (Borgelt,

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2013, p.195). Thus, it is appreciable that cannabis was in fact recognized as a medicine in
the past and it wasnt until after it was criminalized that it was disregarded as such.
Cannabis as a medicine
Medical Cannabis is currently not approved in many countries around the world;
however, it is being used as alternative treatment for different conditions. Currently,
cannabis has been used as medicine as the base of cannabis derived substances like
dronabinol, nabilone and nabiximols; dronabinol and nabinol have been approved by the
FDA for the treatment of conditions such as nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy
and anorexia associated to weight loss in patients with AIDS, nabiximols have not been
approved but has been used as a treatment for muscle spasticity for patients with multiple
sclerosis (Borgelt, 2013, p.196). Even so, the use of cannabis is still not accepted and in
many countries it is still disregarded as a substance with no medical value. There are also
claims of a newly bred strain of cannabis highly composed by CBD (cannabidiol) and
almost no THC which reduces intractable epilepsy symptoms in children to almost zero
occurrences with constant usage (Stanley, 2013). The difference in this latter claim is that
instead of being based on THC it uses another component of the cannabis plant as its main
component. This could be a signal to researchers that maybe there is more to cannabis than
THC and its high.
As any medicine it is safe to assume that cannabis could have certain side effects
while being used in certain ways. Even though nabiximols have been used as an add on
therapy for muscle spasm with no significant effects, while using THC as an analgesic mild
to moderate side effects have been reported which include dizziness, hypotension, and

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difficulty with concentration and or memory (Borgelt, 2013, p.202,p.199). It is also
important to notice that the way of ingestion could have something to do with the side
effects or repercussions of the usage of this substance. Since the studies over medical
cannabis side effects have been made on a short term evaluation long term effects of its
usage have not been studied and depending on the method of ingestion could be similar to
those of recreational cannabis which include withdrawal symptoms, exacerbation of
bronchial asthma, pharyngitis and hoarseness (Kashyap, 2014). Thus, it seems necessary to
continue studies on the matter to reach an appropriate conclusion on whether the long term
effects and short term effects of cannabis are or are not what modern day speculations and
researchers make them to be.
Medical legalization and its effect on recreational usage
As of right now the legalization of medical cannabis is a topic that concerns most of
the community because one question is still in the open: What would happen to the
consumption of recreational cannabis if medical cannabis were to be legalized? Even
though cannabis could be of medical use, most people would be against an increase on
recreational cannabis consumption simply because society already has enough problems
with drugs that are already legal and a possible increment on the consumption of an illegal
substance would add a lot to that matter. Then, it is important to know whether or not
legalizing medical cannabis would have an effect that increments the consumption of
recreational cannabis.
Surprisingly enough, research is divided. A study comparing databases that took
sample from arrestees and emergency department patients in three states (California,

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Colorado and Oregon) found out that there were no significant variations in cannabis
consumption from before the medical legalization of cannabis in the state and after it
(Gorman, 2006). It is important to note that while this proves useful to get a general idea,
the study comes with certain limitations because instead of taking samples from the general
population it only does so from arrestees and emergency department patients. Despite this,
another study showed that states that had medical cannabis legalization laws had a
significantly higher rate of use, abuse, and dependence on the drug (Cerd, 2012).
However, this same study states that it cannot actually claim that medical cannabis
legalization is the cause for an increase on the consumption of the drug, even if it remains a
possibility; it further suggests studies on the consequences of increased usage of the drug to
be conducted (Cerd, 2012). The results from these studies might or might not contradict
each other; if further research on the topic may prove that legalization is an actual cause for
an increase in recreational usage, the study from Gorman would be disregarded as
incorrect. However, were the suppositions that a higher state usage abuse and dependence
leads to enactment of medical cannabis laws Gormans research could easily support that of
Cerd. Then, it is clear that further research is needed on the subject.
Decisions on legalization
At the end of the day, every tough situation calls for a decision. Should we or should
we not legalize medical Cannabis? The argument for not doing so is clear and strong.
Legalizing medical cannabis might increase the recreational usage of the substance and
send a wrong message to the general public about the safety of cannabis usage; there is also
speculation about it being a corner step for recreational legalization. In fact, a study made
on adolescents in substance abuse treatment in the Denver metropolitan area suggests that

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medical legalization provides for easier teenage access and a decreased perception of
cannabis as a risk (Salomonsen-Sautel, 2012). It is important to note the threat medical
cannabis legalization would mean to the next generations in terms of public health and
substance abuse. On the other hand, the opposition possesses a strong argument of itself.
Eric Barnes (2000) argues that people dont usually infer that just because a substance can
be used as a medicine that means it is safe to use, and even if medical cannabis legalization
lead to a greater usage of recreational cannabis use and abuse that is not a justification for
the withholding of medical legalization because the government has no right to deprive
individuals for attaining safe and effective medical treatment which does not violate the
rights of others (It is assumed that medical cannabis usage is a completely different matter
in regards to recreational usage, and as such, possess no threat to other individuals). This is
important because if CBD as proposed by Stanley (2013) were to be a cure or effective
treatment for intractable epilepsy, the withholding of legalization would be to override
those individuals rights of obtaining such medicine (those who suffer from such condition).
There are also those who argue that actual legalization of recreational usage might actually
come with significant benefits in terms of economy and criminal justice (Caulkins, 2012).
If this were to be true and change the current perspective on recreational usage, it would be
easier for legalization of medical usage to be implemented.
In conclusion, medical cannabis and its current legal status remain to be a debate
that might probably go on for the next 5 or 10 years if not more. Much more research is
needed in order to be able to come to an appropriate conclusion and weighing of the
benefits over the risks of using such substance as a medical treatment. However, the current
schedule of the drug does not allow for this to happen. Society has got to think whether or

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not it is prepared for a possible problem of public health like an increase of recreational
Figure 1: People should inform
themselves and evaluate the risk accordingly to
decide what action to take on medical cannabis.

cannabis consumption; it also has to consider whether or

not it has the right to deprive some of their needed
medication in order for public order and health to be
maintained. Society has got to make a decision and then
demand their correspondent representatives to act
accordingly.

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