Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana

When is comes to getting a prescription for Marijuana, how easy should it be? Should it be legal to everyone, or just sick patients? Are people possibly making up medical conditions to get ahold of something that is far less harmful than any prescription drug? In the article I am going to go over some of these questions and more. As with anything, I will try to stay as unbiased as possible, although, this is one of the most controversial topics since Marijuana was introduced as a Schedule 1 drug, which means it is deemed just as dangerous as heroin.

• It may help heal lungs wounded by the carcinogens in tobacco, thus improving lung function. According to a study published in 2012 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Marijuana does not hinder lung function and can even improve lung capacity. The lung function improvement is due to pot smokers taking deeper breaths more often, not an actual therapeutic agent in the drug itself.
• In a sever seizure disorder known as Dravet's Syndrome, marijuana is known to decrease the symptoms immensely. The Figi family were interviewed in the documentary, "Weed", where they are treating their 5-year-old daughter suffering from Dravet's Syndrome with a medical marijuana strain high in cannabidiol and low in THC. Their daughter, Charlotte, was suffering from 300 seizures a week. Since using the unconventional treatment her seizures have been lowered to only one every seven days. Charlotte isn't the only child in the state being treated with medical marijuana; there are also 40 other children, and they seem to be thriving.
• Marijuana seems to ease pain symptoms in patients with chronic conditions. It has been documented that THC helps reduce muscle spasms and muscle pain in patients suffering from diseases such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis. Many patients noticed a decreased amount of pain within just a few days of smoking marijuana consistently.
• Helps improve metabolism. Even though it's a pretty well known fact that stoner's get consumed with a hunger most commonly referred to as "the munchies", a study published in the American Journal of Medicine suggested that pot smokers are generally more fit and have better metabolisms than none smokers. Scientists studied the human bodies response to sugars in pot smokers and non-pot smokers; pot smoker's body's had a healthier response to sugar than non-pot smokers.
• It can help an array of different psychiatric conditions. Conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and night terrors have completely ravished North America the last few decades. With that being said, lot's a medications have been formulated to try and help American's deal with these all too well known mental health problems. An interesting thing though, is that marijuana can help with lot's of different mental health conditions, and it is a lot less harmful than some of the medications on the market.

As with anything, there are downsides. It is worth noting however, that nobody has ever died from marijuana, something we can't say about any other prescription drug.

• Too much marijuana can lead to paranoia and worsen anxiety. In a perfect world, patients being treated with marijuana could be more open to general family practice doctor with their experiences with the drug. Since it is such a controversial drug still, it's hardly ever mentioned during a routine check-up. It is such an off limit topic doctors might not be able to assess potential downsides to the medication, and in turn making it harder to work with a patient who would like to use it as an alternative to pills.
• You can become addicted to the drug. Yes, people who have smoked over several years recreationally can develop an addiction to the plant. Although, considering it doesn't create damaging withdrawal symptoms, it may not be a bad thing if you are using weed in place of a medication that could cause damaging withdrawal once stopped. As with any medicine, it is important to weigh out the pros and cons

Years of damaging propaganda have hurt this plants potential to be a helpful drug to use for ill people. When researching the cons to this drug, I really couldn't find much that was scientific based; mostly people are just afraid of it being a gateway drug. Is it possible, however, that if us as American's can open up about this sensitive topic, and honestly review the pros and cons, we could come to a compromise as to what is fair for pot smokers and what isn't? Helping patients get marijuana that are in need of relief, but don't have access to healthcare, could be the difference between a good and bad quality of life. I personally think American's should be able to pick and choose what they want to put into their body, as long as no one else is harmed, but that is to be saved for a different hub and a different time.

It is important for me to add that I am not a doctor, 
I do not represent any agency, and have written this
hub for entertainment purposes only.