Marijuana: The Benefits and Disadvantages

Definition of Marijuana and Its Mechanism in the Body

There have been plenty of debates and conflicting views on marijuana, whether it is beneficial or
detrimental to health, safe or dangerous to one, if it should be legalized or prohibited, allowed for
medical purposes or barred. But before all the discussion on whether it should be legalized or not, a
clear, good definition of marijuana and its effects to a normal, healthy person and a diseased person
should first be examined.

Marijuana is the second most illegally used drug in the Philippines, next only to Methamphetamine
Hydrochloride, or more commonly known as shabu (Dangerous Drugs Board, 2008). Marijuana is a
greenish-gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant. It is also
commonly called weed, pot, grass, or Mary Jane. The smell is often described as pungent and distinctive,
a mix of sweet and sour odor. Marijuana is most commonly smoked in joints (hand-rolled cigarettes), or
bongs (water pipes), or even blunts (marijuana cigars). Sometimes, marijuana is used to brew tea or is
mixed into foods such as brownies or cookies using hash oil, which is the concentrated resin of the plant.
Hash oil, waxy budder, and shatter, which contain high doses of active ingredients of marijuana
are increasing its popularity among both recreational and medical users (National Institute on Drug
Abuse, 2014).

Cannabis contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive chemical. It contains 70 other

cannabinoids, which the body naturally produces to modulate pain (Zimmermann, 2015). Once it is
inhaled in the body, THC is rapidly passed from the lungs to the bloodstream and then carried to the
brain and the other organ systems. As previously mentioned, the second route of entry is through
digestion, which is the slower route. Once ingested, the THC acts on the cannabinoid receptors found on
the brain cells, which are part of the endocannabinoid system. These receptors are normally activated
by a structurally similar chemical called anandamide. A high amount of the cannabinoid receptors are
found in the areas of the brain that affect pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time
perception, and coordinated movement. It is because of these affected areas in the brain that leads to
marijuana being addictive. The receptors are also found in the liver, kidney and lungs. Once the
cannabinoid receptor is activated, it releases chemicals to alleviate pain and other noxious chemicals
(Zimmermann, 2015). Marijuana leads to the overactivation of the endocannabinoid system, leading to
the high feeling that users experience (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014).

Benefits of Using Marijuana

The argument of the people who are for the legalization of marijuana, regardless if medical or not, is
that helps treat a variety of diseases. According to Earleywine (2005), the earliest trace of marijuana use
dated as far back as 2737 B.C., when Chinas emperor, Shen Neng, used cannabis tea to treat gout,
rheumatism, malaria and even poor memory. The following are some of the most notable conditions
and diseases that have been proven to be modulated by marijuana:
Cancer, HIV/ AIDS and chemotherapy. As previously mentioned, marijuana contains the biologically
active components called cannabinoids. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a few
drugs containing cannabinoid to relieve of nausea and vomiting in lung cancer patients (Ahmedzai et al,
1983) and increase appetite in cancer and AIDS patients (Beal, et al, 1997). Moreover, it is also said to be
effective at reducing neuropathic pain in HIV patients (Abrams, et al, 2007)

Alzheimers Disease. According to Scripps Research Institute (2006), THC, the primary active component
in marijuana, inhibits amyloid plaque formation, the principal pathological marker for Alzheimers
disease. It is described as a superior inhibitor of amyloid plaque formation by preventing the activity of
acetylcholinesterase.

Multiple Sclerosis. Medical marijuana, in the form of oral sprays and pills, appear to decrease stiffness
and muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, pain related to spasms, painful burning,
numbness and an overactive bladder, which are also symptoms of MS, are also alleviated (American
Academy of Neurology, 2014)

Epilepsy. THC and other cannabinoid components of marijuana are suggested to have anticonvulsant
properties. According to the study done by DeLorenzo, et al. (2003), marijuana plays a key role in
controlling spontaneous seizures caused by epilepsy. Aside from having advantages in treating seizures
in contrast to prescribed anticonvulsants, marijuana also limits the duration of the seizure.

Arthritis. Marijuana aids in reducing joint inflammation in arthritis. Dai, et al. (2013), confirmed in his
study that certain components of marijuana can up-regulate the expression of a type of cannabinoid
receptors, CB2R, which in turn, reduces production of proinflammatory mediators.

Glaucoma. When administered by smoking, orally, or intravenously, marijuana decreases intraocular

pressure in 60% to 65% (Green, 1998).

Depression. According to a study done by Denson and Earleywine (2005), users who used once a week
or less reported less depressed mood, more positive affect and lesser somatic complaints than non
users. Moreover, daily users also had less depressed mood and a more positive affect than non-users.

Schizophrenia. Cannabidiol increases anandamide levels, which results to hindrance of anandamide

deactivation. This results to the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol, which can aid in the treatment of
acute schizophrenia (Leweke, et al, 2012)

Morning Sickness. Ninety-two percent of the 40 pregnant women who used marijuana to treat nausea
and vomiting evaluated it to be effective or extremely effective (Westfall, et al. 2006).

Hepatitis C. Moderate use of marijuana may have some symptomatic and virological benefit to patients
with hepatitis C virus. Marijuana is said to aid in promoting effectivity of drug therapy. Furthermore, a
patient who smoked at least once a day or every other day helped complete therapy for HCV (Sylvestre,
et al. 2006)

Disadvantages of Using Marijuana

Those who are anti the legalization of marijuana would argue that the risks of using marijuana outweigh
the possible gains. Most of them, although would agree that marijuana can potentially have some
benefits, these are benefits that can also be found in other medications that have less side effects.
Using marijuana leads to an impaired coordination, along with altered mood and perception and
difficulty with thinking and problem solving. It also leads to disrupted learning and memory (National
Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). Impaired coordination may lead to doubling the risk of injury or death
while driving a car. Moreover, according to Seal, et al. (2012), long term users of marijuana may
potentially lead to permanent detrimental effects on thinking and memory. It was also noted that the
younger the cannabis habit begins, the worse the damage to the brain. Aside from the reduced white
matter volume, disruptions to the white matter fibers of the brain were also observed. Furthermore, in
another study done by Meier, et al. (2012) found that teenagers who routinely smoke marijuana could
suffer from a long-term drop in IQ. Mental decline was only observed in subjects who started routinely
smoking marijuana before the age of 18. Cognitive abilities lost were not completely restored to adults
who stopped smoking marijuana.

Marijuana is considered a lung irritant. The same respiratory problems can arise from smokers of
marijuana and tobacco. These respiratory problems include wheezing, phlegm production on most days,
bronchitis and a higher risk of lung infection. Similar to tobacco, tar is also deposited into the lungs
when marijuana is smoked, but four times as much tar into the lungs. More importantly, marijuana also
contains 33 carcinogens; however, it is not associated with an increased risk for lung cancer for light to
moderate users (American Lung Association, ND). Marijuana smoking also leads to injury to the large
airways of the respiratory system and damages the alveolar macrophages. Conversely, graver
pulmonary consequences arise from tobacco smoking compared to regular heavy marijuana smokers
(Tashkin 2013).

It was previously mentioned in Greens (1998) study that marijuana use is found to decrease intraocular
pressure. However, he also noted that these effects are also present in other drugs, which are legal and
do not have the adverse side effects that marijuana has. Thus, he concludes that use of marijuana to
treat glaucoma is not advisable.

Also, although recreational marijuana users were reported to have a less depressed and more positive
mood (Denson and Earleywine, 2005), it was also reported in the same study that medical users had a
reported a more depressed mood and more somatic complaints than the recreational users.

The sperm is also damaged for marijuana smokers. Regular smokers were found to have a significantly
decreased amount of seminal fluid and a reduced sperm count. Sperm was also found to swim too fast
too early, making it more difficult for fertilization to occur. The exact mechanism of how marijuana use
results to abnormalities in the sperm are still undetermined, but it is thought to be caused by THC
(Burkman, 2002; Whan, 2006)

According to George Mason University (ND), marijuana use also has an effect on females. Aside from
menstrual cycle interruption, marijuana, specifically THC, can lead to irreversible damage to the eggs in
the ovaries. In a study done by Lamy, et al. (2014), marijuana use, along with tobacco and other drug
use, resulted to higher chances of miscarriages and shorter gestation length, increased chances of
uterine apoplexy and placenta previa, increased number of premature births. In addition, children with
mothers who smoked during pregnancy were observed to have increased chances of growth disorders,
learning or motor disorders, language disorders, cognitive disorders, ADHD and memory disorders.
 1. Physician Perspectives on Marijuana's Medical Use

PRO: "There is now promising research into the use of marijuana that could impact tens of thousands of
children and adults, including treatment for cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer's, to name a few. With
regard to pain alone, marijuana could greatly reduce the demand for narcotics and simultaneously
decrease the number of accidental painkiller overdoses, which are the greatest cause of preventable
death in this country... Marijuana is a medicine, that should be studied and treated like any other
medicine."

CON: "[T]here really is no such thing as medical marijuana... The dangers and risks of marijuana use are
well-known by the scientific community, even if they are downplayed by corporate interests wishing to
get rich off of legalization. Apathy, lost productivity, addictive disease, deterioration in intellectual
function, motor vehicle accidents, and psychosis are all among the negative outcomes. All from a
product that has no demonstrated benefit. For nearly all conditions for which marijuana has purported
benefits, we already have existing medications - safe medications - demonstrated to have value."

2. Medical Organizations' Opinions on Medical Marijuana

PRO: "ACP urges review of marijuana's status as a schedule I controlled substance and its reclassification
into a more appropriate schedule, given the scientific evidence regarding marijuana's safety and efficacy
in some clinical conditions...
ACP strongly supports exemption from federal criminal prosecution; civil liability; or professional
sanctioning, such as loss of licensure or credentialing, for physicians who prescribe or dispense medical
marijuana in accordance with state law. Similarly, ACP strongly urges protection from criminal or civil
penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws."

CON:
"The American Academy of Ophthalmology - the world's largest association of eye physicians and
surgeons - is reminding the public that it does not recommend marijuana or other cannabis products for
the treatment of glaucoma. Based on analysis by the National Eye Institute and the Institute of
Medicine, the Academy finds no scientific evidence that marijuana is an effective long-term treatment
for glaucoma, particularly when compared to the wide variety of prescription medication and surgical
treatments available. Ophthalmologists also caution that marijuana has side effects which could further
endanger the user's eye health."

3. US Government Officials' Views on Medical Marijuana

PRO: "I'm on record saying that not only do I think carefully prescribed medical use of marijuana may in
fact be appropriate and we should follow the science as opposed to ideology on this issue, but I'm also
on record as saying that the more we treat some of these issues related to drug abuse from a public
health model and not just from an incarceration model, the better off we're going to be."

CON: "[T]here is currently sound evidence that smoked marijuana is harmful. A past evaluation by
several Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies, including the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and
National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), concluded that no sound scientific studies supported the
safety or efficacy of marijuana for general medical use. There are alternative FDA-approved medications
in existence for treatment of many of the proposed uses of smoked marijuana...
Accordingly, FDA, as the Federal agency responsible for reviewing the safety and efficacy of drugs, DEA
as the Federal agency charged with enforcing the CSA, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, as
the federal coordinator of drug control policy, do not support the use of smoked marijuana for medical
purposes."

4. Health Risks of Smoked Marijuana

PRO: "[T]here is very little evidence that smoking marijuana as a means of taking it represents a
significant health risk.
Although cannabis has been smoked widely in Western countries for more than four decades, there
have been no reported cases of lung cancer or emphysema attributed to marijuana.
I suspect that a day's breathing in any city with poor air quality poses more of a threat than inhaling a
day's dose -- which for many ailments is just a portion of a joint -- of marijuana."

CON: "Marijuana smoke, like tobacco smoke, is an irritant to the throat and lungs and can cause a heavy
cough during use. It also contains toxic gases and particles that can damage the lungs. Marijuana
smoking is associated with large airway inflammation, increased airway resistance, and lung
hyperinflation, and regular marijuana smokers report more symptoms of chronic bronchitis than
nonsmokers. Smoking marijuana may also reduce the respiratory system's immune response, increasing
the likelihood of the user acquiring respiratory infections, including pneumonia. One study found that
frequent marijuana smokers used more sick days that other people often because of respiratory
illnesses."

5. More Physician Perspectives on Medical Marijuana

PRO: "A day doesn't go by where I don't see a cancer patient who has nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite,
pain, depression and insomnia. [Marijuana] is the only anti-nausea medicine that increases appetite. I
could write six different prescriptions, all of which may interact with each other or the chemotherapy
that the patient has been prescribed. Or I could just recommend trying one medicine."

CON: "Although I understand many believe marijuana is the most effective drug in combating their
medical ailments, I would caution against this assumption due to the lack of consistent, repeatable
scientific data available to prove marijuana's medical benefits.

Based on current evidence, I believe that marijuana is a dangerous drug and that there are less
dangerous medicines offering the same relief from pain and other medical symptoms."

6. Marijuana and Pain

PRO: "[R]esearch further documents the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis for chronic pain.
Cannabis has no known lethal dose, minimal drug interactions, is easily dosed via orally ingestion,
vaporization, or topical absorption, thereby avoiding the potential risks associated with smoking
completely...
Natural cannabis contains 5-15% THC but also includes multiple other therapeutic cannabinoids, all
working in concert to produce analgesia..."

CON: "There is no scientific evidence that the effect of marijuana in diminishing pain is related to any
specifically identified analgesic effect. That it unequivocally does produce short-term CNS [central
nervous system] euphoria, which alleviates some pain centrally, best explains its mechanism for both
reducing pain short-term during the period of influence as well as causing the euphoria associated with
addictive drugs of abuse. Additionally, there is no scientific evidence that long-term use of medicinal
marijuana is either effective or safe for the treatment of chronic pain... [T]here are many analgesic
medications available to patients and physicians that have been proven and established in the practice
of medicine, through sound scientific clinical research, to be more effective and safer for the treatment
of chronic pain than medical marijuana."

7. Marijuana vs. Marinol

PRO: "Opponents of medical marijuana often point to dronabinol, the synthetic version of one of
marijuana's active ingredients that is available in pill form. The use of only one active ingredient makes
dronabinol less effective than medical marijuana. Many ailments respond better to a combination of
marijuana's active ingredients rather than just one. In addition, because dronabinol is a pill, it is difficult
for people with nausea and vomiting to swallow. Finally, like any medication that's swallowed,
dronabinol takes a long time to digest and have its effects. Inhaled marijuana vapors can work markedly
faster."

CON: "Marinol differs from the crude plant marijuana because it consists of one pure, well-studied, FDA-
approved pharmaceutical in stable known dosages. Marijuana is an unstable mixture of over 400
chemicals including many toxic psychoactive chemicals which are largely unstudied and appear in
uncontrolled strengths."

8. Addictiveness of Marijuana

PRO: "For some users, perhaps as many as 10 per cent, cannabis leads to psychological dependence, but
there is scant evidence that it carries a risk of true addiction. Unlike cigarette smokers, most users do
not take the drug on a daily basis, and usually abandon it in their twenties or thirties.
Unlike for nicotine, alcohol and hard drugs, there is no clearly defined withdrawal syndrome, the
hallmark of true addiction, when use is stopped."

CON: "[T]he evidence clearly indicates that long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction. Indeed,
approximately 9% of those who experiment with marijuana will become addicted (according to the
criteria for dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition [DSM-
IV]. The number goes up to about 1 in 6 among those who start using marijuana as teenagers and to 25
to 50% among those who smoke marijuana daily. According to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, an estimated 2.7 million people 12 years of age and older met the DSM-IV criteria for
dependence on marijuana... There is also recognition of a bona fide cannabis withdrawal syndrome
(with symptoms that include irritability, sleeping difficulties, dysphoria, craving, and anxiety), which
makes cessation difficult and contributes to relapse... [E]arly and regular marijuana use predicts an
increased risk of marijuana addiction, which in turn predicts an increased risk of the use of other illicit
drugs. As compared with persons who begin to use marijuana in adulthood, those who begin in
adolescence are approximately 2 to 4 times as likely to have symptoms of cannabis dependence within
the 2 years after first use."

9. "Gateway" Effect

PRO: "[T]he vast majority of people who use marijuana never progress to using other illicit drugs, or
even to becoming regular marijuana consumers... The principal connection between marijuana and
other illicit drugs mostly involves the nature of the market, not the nature of the high. In the
Netherlands, where the marijuana market has been quasi-legal and regulated for decades, marijuana
use is less prevalent than in the United States, and those who do consume marijuana are less likely to
use other illicit drugs... Perhaps most important, new evidence now indicates that the proliferation of
medical marijuana laws and dispensaries around the United States is strongly associated with fewer
people dying from overdoses involving heroin and pharmaceutical opioids. The most likely reason is that
people are finding marijuana more helpful than opioids in managing different types of pain."

CON: "Marijuana use is positively correlated with alcohol use and cigarette use, as well as illegal drugs
like cocaine and methamphetamine. This does not mean that everyone who uses marijuana will
transition to using heroin or other drugs, but it does mean that people who use marijuana consume
more, not less, legal and illegal drugs than do people who do not use marijuana.

People who are addicted to marijuana are three times more likely to be addicted to heroin.

The legalization of marijuana increases availability of the drug and acceptability of its use. This is bad for
public health and safety not only because marijuana use increases the risk of heroin use."

10. Medical Marijuana Use by Kids

PRO: "The average number of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) tried before using cannabidiol-enriched
cannabis was 12. Sixteen (84%) of the 19 parents reported a reduction in their child's seizure frequency
while taking cannabidiol-enriched cannabis. Of these, two (11%) reported complete seizure freedom,
eight (42%) reported a greater than 80% reduction in seizure frequency, and six (32%) reported 25-60%
seizure reduction. Other beneficial effects included increased alertness, better mood and improved
sleep. Side effects included drowsiness and fatigue. Our survey shows that parents are using
cannabidiol-enriched cannabis as a treatment for children with treatment-resistant epilepsy."

CON: "Marijuana use in pediatric populations remains an ongoing concern, and marijuana use by
adolescents has known medical, psychological, and cognitive side effects. Marijuana alters brain
development, with detrimental effects on brain structure and function, in ways that are incompletely
understood. Furthermore, marijuana smoke contains tar and other harmful chemicals, so it cannot be
recommended by physicians."
 6 facts about marijuana

1Support for marijuana legalization is rapidly outpacing

opposition. A slim majority (53%) of Americans say the drug should be made legal,
compared with 44% who want it to be illegal. Opinions have changed drastically since 1969,
when Gallup first asked the question and found that just 12% favored legalizing marijuana use.
Much of the change in opinion has occurred over the past few years support rose 11 points
between 2010 and 2013 (although it has remained relatively unchanged since then).

2Not all groups support legalization . Only about four-in-ten Republicans

(39%) do. While most non-Hispanic whites and blacks say marijuana should be made legal, only
40% of Hispanics share that view. Among generations, 68% of Millennials say marijuana should
be legal while only 29% of the Silent Generation (those 70 to 87) share that view. Baby Boomers,
who were the most supportive generation in the 1970s before becoming opponents during the
Just Say No 1980s, are now about as likely to favor (50%) as oppose (47%) legalization.

3About seven-in-ten (69%) Americans believe alcohol is more

harmful to a persons health than marijuana while 15% pick marijuana as
worse (14% say both or neither), according to a February 2014 Pew Research survey. If
marijuana became as widely available as alcohol, 63% still believe alcohol would be more
harmful to society.

4 While support for legalizing marijuana has grown, 62% of Americans would

be bothered if people did their smoking in public even if

marijuana were legal. On the other hand, 57% say they would not be bothered if a
store or business selling legal marijuana opened up in their neighborhood. And just 15% say they
would be bothered if people used legal marijuana in their own homes.

5Nearly half (49%) of Americans say they have tried

marijuana, and 12% in the past year, which the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and
Health says is the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. The government survey showed
that 18.9 million Americans 12 or older (7.3%) had used marijuana in the prior month.

6 Four states Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska and the District of Columbia have passed

measures to legalize marijuana use , while an additional 14 states have decriminalized certain
amounts of marijuana possession. Including those five locations, nearly half of U.S. states (23
plus D.C.) allow medicalmarijuana.
Note: An earlier version of this post was published in November 2014. It has been

updated to include March 2015 survey data.

23 Health Benefits Of Marijuana
States around the country more than 20 in total have legalized medical marijuana.

Experts have been changing their minds too recently, CNN's chief medical correspondent
Sanjay Gupta reversed his opinion on medical marijuana.

While recreational pot usage is controversial, many people agree with Gupta's new stance, and
believe that the drug should be legal for medical uses.

And even though the benefits of smoking pot may be overstated by advocates of marijuana
legalization, new laws will help researchers study the drug's medicinal uses and better
understand how it impacts the body.

Currently only 6% of studies on marijuana analyze its medicinal properties.

Keep in mind, though, that there are negative effects of smoking too much pot or using it for
non-medicinal purposes. When overused or abused, pot can lead to dependency and mess with
your memory and emotions.

There are at least two active chemicals in marijuana that researchers think have medicinal
applications. Those are cannabidiol (CBD) which seems to impact the brain without a high
and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which has pain relieving (and other) properties.

Also keep in mind that some of these health benefits can potentially be gained by taking THC
pills like Dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, which in some ways might be more effective than
smoked marijuana.

IT CAN BE USED TO TREAT GLAUCOMA

Marijuana use can be used to treat and prevent the eye disease glaucoma, which
increases pressure in the eyeball, damaging the optic nerve and causing loss of
vision.
Marijuana decreases the pressure inside the eye, according to the National Eye
Institute: "Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered
intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with
glaucoma."
These effects of the drug may slow the progression of the disease, preventing
blindness.

IT MAY HELP REVERSE THE CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS OF TOBACCO AND

IMPROVE LUNG HEALTH.
According to a study published in Journal of the American Medical Association in January
2012, marijuana does not impair lung function and can even increase lung capacity.
Researchers looking for risk factors of heart disease tested the lung function of 5,115 young
adults over the course of 20 years. Tobacco smokers lost lung function over time, but pot
users actually showed an increase in lung capacity.
It's possible that the increased lung capacity maybe due to taking a deep breaths while
inhaling the drug and not from a therapeutic chemical in the drug.
IT CAN HELP CONTROL EPILEPTIC SEIZURES.

Marijuana use can prevent epileptic seizures, a 2003 study showed.

Robert J. DeLorenzo, of Virginia Commonwealth University, gave marijuana extract
and synthetic marijuana to epileptic rats. The drugs rid the rats of the seizures for
about 10 hours. Cannabinoids like the active ingredients in
marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC), control seizures by binding
to the brain cells responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation.
IT ALSO DECREASES THE SYMPTOMS OF A SEVERE SEIZURE DISORDER
KNOWN AS DRAVET'S SYNDROME.
During the research for his documentary "Weed," Gupta interviewed the Figi family, who
treats their 5-year-old daughter using a medical marijuana strain high in cannabidiol and
low in THC.
Their daughter, Charlotte, has Dravet Syndrome, which causes seizures and severe
developmental delays.
According to the film, the drug has decreased her seizures from 300 a week to just one
every seven days. Forty other children in the state are using the same strain of marijuana to
treat their seizures and it seems to be working.
The doctors who recommended this treatment say that the cannabidiol in the plant
interacts with the brain cells to quiet the excessive activity in the brain that causes these
seizures.
As Gutpa notes, a Florida hospital that specializes in the disorder, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, and the Drug Enforcement agency don't endorse marijuana as a treatment for
Dravet or other seizure disorders.
A CHEMICAL FOUND IN MARIJUANA STOPS CANCER FROM SPREADING.
CBD may help prevent cancer from spreading, researchers at California Pacific
Medical Center in San Francisco reported in 2007.
Cannabidiol stops cancer by turning off a gene called Id-1, the study, published in
the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, found. Cancer cells make more copies of
this gene than non-cancerous cells, and it helps them spread through the body.
The researchers studied breast cancer cells in the lab that had high expression levels
of Id-1 and treated them with cannabidiol. After treatment the cells had decreased
Id-1 expression and were less aggressive spreaders.
In "WEED," Gupta also mentioned a few studies in the U.S., Spain, and Israel that
suggest the compounds in cannabis could even kill cancer cells.
 IT MAY DECREASE ANXIETY.

Medical marijuana users claim the drug helps relieve pain and suppress nausea
the two main reasons it's often used to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy.
In 2010, researchers at Harvard Medical School suggested that that some of the
drug's benefits may actually be from reduced anxiety, which would improve the
smoker's mood and act as a sedative in low doses.
Beware, though, higher doses may increase anxiety and make you paranoid.
THC SLOWS THE PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

Marijuana may be able to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a study led
by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute suggests.
The 2006 study, published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, found that
THC, the active chemical in marijuana, slows the formation of amyloid plaques by
blocking the enzyme in the brain that makes them. These plaques are what kill brain
cells and cause Alzheimer's.
THE DRUG EASES THE PAIN OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

Marijuana may ease painful symptoms of multiple sclerosis, a study published in

the Canadian Medical Association Journal in May suggests.
Jody Corey-Bloom studied 30 multiple sclerosis patients with painful contractions
in their muscles. These patients didn't respond to other treatments, but after
smoking marijuana for a few days they were in less pain.
The THC in the pot binds to receptors in the nerves and muscles to relieve pain.
Other studies suggest that the chemical also helps control the muscle spasms.
OTHER TYPES OF MUSCLE SPASMS COULD BE HELPED TOO.

Other types of muscle spasms respond to marijuana as well. Gupta also found a
teenager named Chaz who was using medical marijuana to treat diaphragm spasms
that were untreatable by other, prescribed and very strong, medications.
His condition is called myoclonus diaphragmatic flutter (also known
as Leeuwenhoek's Disease) and causes non stop spasming in the abdominal muscles
which are not only painful, but interfere with breathing and speaking.
Smoking marijuana is able to calm the attacks almost immediately, as it calms the
muscles of the diaphragm.
IT LESSENS SIDE EFFECTS FROM TREATING HEPATITIS C AND
INCREASES TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS.
Treatment for hepatitis C infection is harsh negative side effects include fatigue,
nausea, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and depression and lasts for months.
Many people aren't able to finish their treatment course because of the side effects.
But, pot to the rescue: A 2006 study in the European Journal of Gastroenterology
and Hepatology found that 86% of patients using marijuana successfully completed
their Hep C therapy, while only 29% of non-smokers completed their treatment,
possibly because the marijuana helps lessens the treatments side effects.
Marijuana also seems to improve the treatment's effectiveness: 54% of hep C
patients smoking marijuana got their viral levels low and kept them low, in
comparison to only 8% of nonsmokers.

MARIJUANA TREATS INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES.

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative
colitis could benefit from marijuana use, studies suggest.
University of Nottingham researchers found in 2010 that chemicals in marijuana,
including THC and cannabidiol, interact with cells in the body that play an
important role in gut function and immune responses. The study was published in
the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
THC-like compounds made by the body increase the permeability of the intestines,
allowing bacteria in. The plant-derived cannabinoids in marijuana block these
body-cannabinoids, preventing this permeability and making the intestinal cells
bond together tighter.

IT RELIEVES ARTHRITIS DISCOMFORT.

Marijuana alleviates pain, reduces inflammation, and promotes sleep, which

may help relieve pain and discomfort for people with rheumatoid arthritis,
researchers announced in 2011.

Researchers from rheumatology units at several hospitals gave their patients

Sativex, a cannabinoid-based pain-relieving medicine. After a two-week period,
people on Sativex had a significant reduction in painand improved sleep quality
compared to placebo users.
IT KEEPS YOU SKINNY AND HELPS YOUR METABOLISM.
A study published in the American Journal Of Medicine on April 15 of last year suggested
that pot smokers are skinnier than the average person and have healthier metabolism and
reaction to sugars, even though they do end up eating more calories because of the
munchies.
The study analyzed data from more than 4,500 adult Americans 579 of whom were
current marijuana smokers, meaning they had smoked in the last month. About 2,000 had
used marijuana in the past, while another 2,000 had never used the drug.
They studied their body's response to eating sugars: their levels of the hormone insulin and
their blood sugar levels while they hadn't eaten in nine hours, and after eating sugar.
Not only are pot users skinnier, but their body has a healthier response to sugar.
 IT IMPROVES THE SYMPTOMS OF LUPUS, AN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER.
Medical marijuana is being used to treat the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus
Ertyhematosus, which is when the body starts attacking itself for some unknown
reason.
Some chemicals in marijuana seem to have a calming effect on the immune system,
which may be how it helps deal with symptoms of Lupus. The rest of the positive
impact of the marijuana is probably from the effects on pain and nausea.
WHILE NOT REALLY A HEALTH BENEFIT, MARIJUANA SPURS CREATIVITY IN
THE BRAIN.
Contrary to stoner stereotypes, marijuana usage has actually been shown to have
some positive mental effects, particularly in terms of increasing creativity. Even
though people's short-term memories tend to function worse when high, people get
better at tests requiring them to come up with new ideas.
One study tested participants on their ability to come up with different words
related to a concept, and found that using cannabis allowed people to come up with
a greater range of related concepts, seeming "to make the brain better at detecting
those remote associations that lead to radically new ideas," according to Wired.
Other researchers have found that some participants improve their "verbal fluency,"
their ability to come up with different words, while using marijuana.
Part of this increased creative ability may come from the release of dopamine in the
brain, lessening inhibitions and allowing people to feel more relaxed, giving the
brain the ability to perceive things differently.
MARIJUANA MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH CROHN'S DISEASE.
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder that causes pain, vomiting,
diarrhea, weight loss, and more. But a recent study in Israel showed that smoking a
joint significantly reduced Crohn's disease symptoms in 10 out of 11 patients, and
caused a complete remission of the disease in five of those patients.
That's a small study, but other research has shown similar effects. The cannabinoids
from marijuana seem to help the gut regulate bacteria and intestinal function.
POT SOOTHES TREMORS FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
Recent research from Israel shows that smoking marijuana significantly reduces
pain and tremors and improves sleep for Parkinson's disease patients. Particularly
impressive was the improved fine motor skills among patients.
Medical marijuana is legal in Israel for multiple conditions, and a lot of research
into the medical uses of cannabis is done there, supported by the Israeli
government.
 MARIJUANA HELPS VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD.
The Department of Health and Human Services recently signed off on a proposal to
study marijuana's potential as part of treatment for veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder.
Marijuana is approved to treat PTSD in some states already. In New
Mexico, PTSD is the number one reason for people to get a license for medical
marijuana, but this is the first time the U.S. government has approved a proposal
that incorporates smoked or vaporized marijuana, which is currently classified by
the government as a drug with no accepted medical applications.
Naturally occurring cannabinoids, similar to THC, help regulate the system that
causes fear and anxiety in the body and brain.
MARIJUANA PROTECTS THE BRAIN AFTER A STROKE.
Research from the University of Nottingham shows that marijuana may help protect
the brain from damage caused by stroke, by reducing the size of the area affected by
the stroke at least in rats, mice, and monkeys.
This isn't the only research that has shown neuroprotective effects from cannabis.
Some research shows that the plant may help protect the brain after other traumatic
events, like concussions.
IT MIGHT PROTECT THE BRAIN FROM CONCUSSIONS AND TRAUMA.
There is some evidence that marijuana can help heal the brain after a concussion or
other traumatic injury. A recent study in the journal Cerebral Cortex showed that in
mice, marijuana lessened the bruising of the brain and helped with healing
mechanisms after a traumatic injury.
Harvard professor emeritus of psychiatry and marijuana advocate Lester Grinspoon
recently wrote an open letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, saying the NFL
should stop testing players for marijuana, and that the league should start funding
research into the plant's ability to protect the brain.
"Already, many doctors and researchers believe that marijuana has incredibly
powerful neuroprotective properties, an understanding based on both laboratory
and clinical data," he writes.
Goodell recently said that he'd consider permitting athletes to use marijuana if
medical research shows that it's an effective neuroprotective agent.
IT CAN HELP ELIMINATE NIGHTMARES.
This is a complicated one, because it involves effects that can be both positive and
negative. Marijuana disturbs sleep cycles by interrupting the later stages of REM
sleep. In the long run, this could be a problem for frequent users.
However, for people suffering from serious nightmares, especially those associated
with PTSD, this can be helpful. Nightmares and other dreams occur during those
same stages of sleep. By interrupting REM sleep, many of those dreams may not
occur. Research into using a synthetic cannabinoid, like THC, but not the
same, showed a significant decreasein the number of nightmares in patients with
PTSD.
Additionally, even if frequent use can be bad for sleep, marijuana may be a better
sleep aid than some other substances that people use. Some of those, including
medication and alcohol, may potentially have even worse effects on sleep, though
more research is needed on the topic.
WEED REDUCES SOME OF THE AWFUL PAIN AND NAUSEA FROM CHEMO, AND
STIMULATES APPETITE.
One of the most well-known medical uses of marijuana is for people going through
chemotherapy.
Cancer patients being treated with chemo suffer from painful nausea, vomiting, and
loss of appetite. This can cause additional health complications.
Marijuana can help reduce these side effects, alleviating pain, decreasing nausea,
and stimulating the appetite. There are also multiple FDA-approved
cannabinoid drugs that use THC, the main active chemical in marijuana, for the
same purposes.

MARIJUANA CAN HELP PEOPLE TRYING TO CUT BACK ON DRINKING.

Marijuana is safer than alcohol. That's not to say it's completely risk free, but it's
much less addictive and doesn't cause nearly as much physical damage.
Disorders like alcoholism involve disruptions in the endocannabinoid system.
Because of that, some people think cannabis might help patients struggling with
those disorders.
Research in Harm Reduction Journal shows that some people use marijuana as a
less harmful substitute for alcohol, prescription drugs, and other illegal drugs. Some
of the most common reasons for patients to make that substitution are the less
adverse side effects from marijuana and the fact that it is less likely to cause
withdrawal problems.
Some people do become psychologically dependent on marijuana, and this doesn't
mean that it's a cure for substance abuse problems. But, from a harm-reduction
standpoint, it can help.
 Medical Marijuana
More states are passing laws that allow people to use medical marijuana. So what does it treat,
and who can and should use it?

Pain is the main reason people ask for a prescription, says Barth Wilsey, MD, a pain medicine
specialist at the University of California Davis Medical Center. It could be from headaches, a
disease like cancer, or a long-term condition, like glaucoma or nerve pain.

If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and your doctor thinks it would help,
youll get a marijuana card. You will be put on a list that allows you to buy marijuana from an
authorized seller, called a dispensary.

Doctors also may prescribe medical marijuana to treat:

Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis

Nausea from cancer chemotherapy
Poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illness, such as HIV, or nerve pain
Seizure disorders
Crohn's disease

The FDA has also approved THC, a key ingredient in marijuana, to treat nausea and improve
appetite. It's available by prescription Marinol(dronabinol) and Cesamet (nabilone).

How Does It Work?

Your body already makes marijuana-like chemicals that affect pain, inflammation, and many
other processes. Marijuana can sometimes help those natural chemicals work better, says Laura
Borgelt, PharmD, of the University of Colorado.

How Is It Used?

Medical marijuana may be:

Smoked
Vaporized (heated until active ingredients are released, but no smoke is formed)
Eaten (usually in the form of cookies or candy)
Taken as a liquid extract

Side Effects

Side effects of marijuana that usually dont last long can include:

Dizziness
Drowsiness
Short-term memory loss
Euphoria

More serious side effects include severe anxiety and psychosis.

Risks and Limits

Medical marijuana is not monitored like FDA-approved medicines. When using it, you dont
know its potential to cause cancer, its purity, potency, or side effects.

Only people who have a card from a doctor should use medical marijuana. Doctors will not
prescribe medical marijuana to anyone under 18. Others who should not use it:

People with heart disease

Pregnant women
People with a history of psychosis