The United States is slowly shifting its perspective on cannabis (marijuana) and the various other products that are created from this plant.
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Years ago, I wrote an article about my stance on marijuana and at the time I was opposed to the use except for specific medical conditions. There has been a lot of changes since that time, so I wanted to revisit this topic and explore some of the other products available.
Cannabis as Medicine
I have always been a proponent of plants being used as medicine, but I also think it is important to stay within the confines of what is legal within your location.
Over the years cannabis has been studied to treat a wide variety of illnesses, but the therapeutic effectiveness has only been positively connected to issues like chronic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy and an ability to reduce stiff muscles. Although there are plenty of antidotal stories of it helping with a wide variety of health issues.
As usual rather than leaving a plant whole the FDA recently approved a drug with is made from CBD the cannabinoidiol in cannabis. Luckily, this is one plant that has been impacted positively by working with the one component. CBD has been used successfully for treating seizure disorders. There have also been other benefits such as reducing inflammation and pain reduction.
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Legality of Marijuana (Cannabis)
Although several states have been legalizing marijuana for personal use at the federal level the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers it a schedule I drug. This puts it in the same category as heroin and LSD. To them it is viewed as a drug that is likely to be abused and lacking in medical value therefore testing is a challenge.
I would imagine some of the reason for the lack of research is also due to it being a plant. When it comes to plant medicine many companies will not provide funding because they can’t place a patent on plant medicine. There is no money in plant medicine.
Make sure to check with your local agencies to know where you stand.
Are CBD & Marijuana Addictive
Even after all these years there is no definitive answer to the question is marijuana addictive. In 2014 I wrote that research was showing that 9-10% of the time use lead to dependence. Compared to 30% of people that use tobacco products become addicted. According to a WebMD article the National Institute on Drug Abuse is still reporting that it is addictive and considered a “gateway drug”.
In recent years CBD (cannabinoidiol) has become a popular substitute to marijuana. This product is made from the same plant but does not contain the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the psychoactive component of marijuana. There have been many positive reports on the benefits of using this product including possibly helping people that may have use disorders from other drugs.
Continued Learning
With every scientific advancement we learn something new and that is true for marijuana. Hopefully, this is a conversation that we can continue to grow and learn from.
In Nevada after recreational use was legalized hospitals did see in increase in marijuana poisonings and other concerns. The signs of poisoning are like the effects of use just more severe including things like anxiety, fast heart rate, hallucinations or severe nausea and vomiting. Due to the current situation (2020/2021) it is hard to tell how use may be impacting employment rates and such.
Overall, my stance hasn’t changed much, I support the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes where the patient and a doctor have reviewed all the options for safe use. For recreational use if it is legal where you live just follow the law, but it isn’t something I will be exploring. The biggest change for me is the learning I have done around CBD. I do think there is a lot to learn there and two books that I recommend are shared below.
What is your stance on marijuana and/or CBD?
