| The cannabis plant has a long history of being used | | | | Cannabis has been used as a medicine for years for |
| as a medicine in many cultures and there has been | | | | pain relief and is considered especially good for |
| many positive studies involving the use of cannabis as | | | | relieving neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage). |
| a medicine. It has helped the life's of sick people but | | | | Cannabis also helps with nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, |
| still many countries reject the idea cannabis has any | | | | and movement disorders, cannabis is also a powerful |
| medical value | | | | appetite stimulant and is specifically good for patients |
| What Is Medical Marijuana?: | | | | suffering from HIV and other illnesses that reduce |
| Medical Marijuana refers to the use of cannabis | | | | your appetite. Some newer research finds cannabis |
| marijuana as a herbal therapy and also the use of | | | | properties may protect the body against some types |
| synthetic THC and cannabinoids. | | | | of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective. There |
| A Brief History: | | | | is many more uses for cannabis medically and no |
| The first use of cannabis as a medicine is hard to | | | | doubt further research will show more benefits of |
| pinpoint but in China its believed its been used as a | | | | the plant. |
| medicine for around 4000 years, Egyptian texts like | | | | Future: |
| Ebers Papyrus and the Ramesseum III Papyrus, both | | | | It should be easy to say that the future of cannabis |
| from over 1000 years BC describe medical marijuana. | | | | being used as a medicine is bright but with most |
| Other cultures also have references to medical | | | | countries worldwide rejecting the idea that cannabis |
| marijuana from texts thousands of years old. In | | | | has any medical value it makes progress much harder. |
| modern medicine cannabis was used more in western | | | | I hope soon more countries and all the states of the |
| civilization from the 19th century onwards following | | | | USA will have access to medical cannabis. Awareness |
| experiments and promotion from Irish doctor William | | | | needs to be spread about the medical value of |
| Brooke O'Shaughnessy. The creation of aspirin is | | | | cannabis as there is more people who could benefit |
| considered by some to be responsible for the decline | | | | from the plant.The use of cannabis as a medicine is |
| of the use of cannabis as a medicine, along with the | | | | nothing new and the fact that some pharmaceutical |
| anti-cannabis campaign in the early part of 20th | | | | companies are looking closely at the plant and some |
| century, with movies like Reefer Madness cannabis | | | | of its compounds does not surprise me. Since they |
| went from medicine to a drug that makes you | | | | cannot patent a plant those looking into making |
| insane. In more recent times only a few countries | | | | money from the plant will look at making a synthetic |
| recognize cannabis as a medicine and there is some | | | | version that they can make millions of. It would be |
| pharmaceutical companies looking into the many | | | | easier and better for the patients simply to grow |
| compounds within the plant for medicinal purposes. | | | | their own medicine but of then how would the |
| Where?: | | | | pharmaceutical companies make money then? |
| Lots of countries class cannabis as having no | | | | People might argue that smoking your medicine is not |
| medicinal value so Medical Marijuana is only available in | | | | a healthy way of taking medicine, but with the |
| either herbal or synthetic form in Austria, Belgium, | | | | vaporizers available on the market for healthy |
| Canada, Finland, Israel, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK | | | | inhalation and the fact you can make edible or |
| and in 13 states of the US. The laws are different in | | | | drinkable goodies form cannabis or a hemp oil then |
| all countries with medical marijuana and gaining access | | | | cannabis does not need to be smoked. |
| maybe difficult. You will need a doctor's | | | | The difference among recreational use and medical |
| recommendation so your doctor is the best person | | | | use of cannabis needs to be recognized by more |
| to speak to if you live somewhere where medical | | | | people. While I believe that a responsible adult should |
| cannabis might be available for you. The situation in | | | | have the right to use cannabis recreationally, I do |
| the US is complicated with the 13 states having | | | | think that there should be no doubt about allowing a |
| passed state laws, but medical marijuana is not | | | | sick person use a plant with a long history of medical |
| recognized by federal law. This means patients who | | | | value should be accepted and legal. What might be |
| use and grow medical marijuana legally under state | | | | considered just the munchies by a recreational user is |
| law still have to live in fear of the Drug Enforcement | | | | for some medical users the difference between |
| Agency (DEA) raiding and possibly arresting them. As | | | | having an appetite or not. |
| I spoke about before, there is hope that thing will | | | | Cannabis has a great potential as a medicine and |
| change under the new president but only time will tell | | | | more awareness, and acceptance is needed. |
| Uses: | | | | |