Summary of the issues
On one side we have federal governments opposing the legalization of medical marijuana for fear that doctors will abuse the system and provide the prescriptions to recreational users and to people who can obtain different medication.
On the other side we have people who illegally use cannabis on a regular basis as a painkiller, as other drugs are failing to provide relief. For example, medical marijuana is used to provide relief to patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS, nausea and pain. If cannabis is legalized, all these people would have legal access to the painkillers they desperately need on daily basis.
A third viewpoint may be that while marijuana may be useful for pain relief, there are alternative to marijuana, and marijuana has considerable negative side effects.
Oppose legalisation viewpoint
Voth, E.A. (1994) Should marijuana be legalized as a medicine? No, it's dangerous and addictive.-Eric A. Voth is chairman of the International Drug Strategy Institute and med director of Chemical Dependency Services at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka Kansas, he strongly opposes legislation of medical marijuana and is recognized as an international authority on drug abuse. In this article he examines the problems associated with legalizing marijuana and discuses the pitfalls of legal marijuana.Marijuana remains most frequently used illegal drug. Mental and behavioural changes are the most easily recognized consequences of marijuana use. Marijuana has a high potential for abuse and that abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence, marijuana addict is slow to recognize the addiction.
Legalisation viewpoint
Chon, G. (1997) Medical marijuana: A dream up in smoke- supports legalisation. The article focuses on studies that have revealed that medical marijuana helps patients with multiple sclerosis, AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, nausea and pain, it is especially effective in helping patients regain their appetite. Federal Government is tyring to stop people from obtaining marijuana for medical purposes. The issue created even more dispute when California and Arizona passed proposals allowing for medical use of marijuana.
Patients can get marijuana from "cannabis buyers club" after a screening process verifies a persons medical condition and makes sure the patient has a doctors reference. Supporters of medical marijuana think it is unreasonable that the federal government is spending so much money on fighting marijuana when there are more serious drugs out there. Department of Health and Human Services says more research is needed to make a convincing statement about the benefits of marijuana.
Gliddon, J. (2004) The medicine pot. During school holidays the NSW government ran ad campaign in cinemas, the street press, and in community newspapers warning of the dangers of marijuana.Campaign says pot makes you ......... For people with cancer,MS, spinal cord injuries and AIDS related illnesses pot provides some relief. The NSW government decision to conduct a cannabis trial is stuck in state, federal and international law. In its report on the use of cannabis for medical purposes Working Party concluded that the cannabinoids were medically interesting, commercial development of cannabis based medicine was unlikely and further research was needed to assess therapeutic potential.
Professor Laurence Mather, a university of Sydney research scientist describes the report as extremely conservative because it suggested that cannabis was appropriate essentially only after all other drugs had failed. Professor Mather says cannabis could well become a first line drug for treating some conditions. Marijuana is essentially safe drug that doesn't kill like most other serious drugs can and there is no evidence for someone ever having overdosed on cannabis. This article also shows how medical marijuana users in this country are fending for themselves.
Research points out that cannabis could become drug for treating some conditions. Federal governments are opposing legislation for the medical use of cannabis as they fear the system will be abused by doctors and their patients. There is also a fear that if marijuana is legalized younger people will start to use the pot for recreation, but if marijuana is portrayed as a medicine rather than party drug people will be less likely to abuse the system.
Bibliography
1. Cancer council NSW (2003?) Medical use of marijuana(cannabis) Fact Sheet [internet]. Available at: http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/editorial.asp?pageid=1778 Accessed 17 October 2011
This article prepared by South Australian Drug and Alcohol Council on drug strategy concluded that greatest potential for therapeutic use of cannabis is in three areas: as an appetite stimulant, management of neuropathic pain, relief of nausea associated with cancer and chemotherapy treatments. A working Party established by NSW Government to examine the use of cannabis for medical use concluded that cannabis may have benefits for: cancer or HIV related wasting, nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, patient pain relief and neurological disorders.
There are a number of harmful effects of cannabis: effects on memory,short-term cardiovascular effects, risks of cancers, drugs dependency, effects on the immune and reproductive systems.
This article prepared by South Australian Drug and Alcohol Council on drug strategy concluded that greatest potential for therapeutic use of cannabis is in three areas: as an appetite stimulant, management of neuropathic pain, relief of nausea associated with cancer and chemotherapy treatments. A working Party established by NSW Government to examine the use of cannabis for medical use concluded that cannabis may have benefits for: cancer or HIV related wasting, nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, patient pain relief and neurological disorders.
There are a number of harmful effects of cannabis: effects on memory,short-term cardiovascular effects, risks of cancers, drugs dependency, effects on the immune and reproductive systems.
2. Healey, J. (2003) Marijuana use. The Spinney Press, Rozelle N.S.W.
Book examines the extent of cannabis use in Australia, its health effects, medical use of marijuana and the legislation debate. Information is gathered from wide range of sources such as newspapers reports, government reports, magazine articles etc. The book is focusing on different viewpoints of marijuana use for medical purposes, so the reader can critically evaluate the presented information.
Book examines the extent of cannabis use in Australia, its health effects, medical use of marijuana and the legislation debate. Information is gathered from wide range of sources such as newspapers reports, government reports, magazine articles etc. The book is focusing on different viewpoints of marijuana use for medical purposes, so the reader can critically evaluate the presented information.
3. British Broadcasting Corporation (2009) Cannabis: The evil weed. [Video]. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naYE8xmjjCg Accessed on 18/10/2011
This video done by BBC is very interesting research on marijuana use and its origin through the history. Marijuana originates from the Kazakhstan; humans are using it in this region for nearly 3000 years. Scientists are conducting research of marijuana's effect on human brain. How real is the dark side of the cannabis: addiction, physical dependence, strong need to take it again and psychological addiction?
Scientists believe there is a link between early use of cannabis ( most vulnerable under the age of 15) and mental health problems ( triggers schizophrenia) as number of children using cannabis is on the rise. California (US) allows use of medical marijuana for pain relief, stress relief etc. and to obtain it you must have prescription from the doctor. In Great Britain cannabis cultivated for medical purpose is far from being accepted.
This video done by BBC is very interesting research on marijuana use and its origin through the history. Marijuana originates from the Kazakhstan; humans are using it in this region for nearly 3000 years. Scientists are conducting research of marijuana's effect on human brain. How real is the dark side of the cannabis: addiction, physical dependence, strong need to take it again and psychological addiction?
Scientists believe there is a link between early use of cannabis ( most vulnerable under the age of 15) and mental health problems ( triggers schizophrenia) as number of children using cannabis is on the rise. California (US) allows use of medical marijuana for pain relief, stress relief etc. and to obtain it you must have prescription from the doctor. In Great Britain cannabis cultivated for medical purpose is far from being accepted.
4. Diep, F. (2011) Clearing the smoke. Scientific American. VOL. 305, issue 4. Viewed 20/10/2011, Science Reference Center, No. 00368733.
Article talks how marijuana remains tightly controlled even though preliminary clinical trials show marijuana might be useful for pain, nausea,and weight loss in cancer and HIV/AIDS patients and for muscle spasm in multiple sclerosis.
Drug Enforcement Administration denied a petition supported by American Medical Association to change marijuana's current classification. Marijuana remains tightly controlled category and is defined as a drug that have a high potential for abuse and no current accepted medical use in treatment in the US. DEA states that the drug does not have enough clinical trials showing its benefits. Compared with smoked or vaporised marijuana, isolated cannabis compounds are more likely to reach federal approval.
Article talks how marijuana remains tightly controlled even though preliminary clinical trials show marijuana might be useful for pain, nausea,and weight loss in cancer and HIV/AIDS patients and for muscle spasm in multiple sclerosis.
Drug Enforcement Administration denied a petition supported by American Medical Association to change marijuana's current classification. Marijuana remains tightly controlled category and is defined as a drug that have a high potential for abuse and no current accepted medical use in treatment in the US. DEA states that the drug does not have enough clinical trials showing its benefits. Compared with smoked or vaporised marijuana, isolated cannabis compounds are more likely to reach federal approval.
5. Chon, G. (1997) Medical marijuana: A dream up in smoke. Human Rights: Journal of the Section of Individual Rights & Responsibilities. Vol. 24, issue 4, p16. Viewed 20/10/2011, Science Reference Center. Accession No: 9711226383.
6. Gliddon, J. (2004) The medicine pot. Bulletin with Newsweek. Vol. 122, issue 6431, pp. 20-24. Viewed 20 October 2011. Australia New Zealand Reference Center, Accession no: 14031659
7. Voth, E.A. (1994) Should marijuana be legalized as a medicine? No it's dangerous and addictive. World and I. Vol. 9, issue 6. Accessed 31 October 2011. Australia New Zealand Reference Centre.
Reflection
Reflection
As I stated in my initial research strategy for "medical marijuana" I find most useful information in online databases accessed either through Miller TAFE Library or State Library of NSW. Have also included a very interesting video presented by BBC. I have enjoyed the research on this topic although it was time consuming.
