Medical Marijuana
By Hugh McBride
Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act of the United States. Schedule 1 substances are designated as possessing high potential for abuse and little or no medical value. This categorization of marijuana has created some controversy in recent years with a sudden surge in support for medical marijuana, which is the production, distribution, and use of marijuana to supplement traditional health care treatments for people with serious illness.
In particular, proponents of medical marijuana say that the substance can alleviate pain and quell nausea (and encourage appetite) in severely ill individuals, and do it more effectively than any currently prescribed medicines. The federal government maintains a severe posture against marijuana, citing significant individual and social consequences linked to abuse of the substance. However, proponents of medical marijuana and the legalization of marijuana argue that the health risks associated with marijuana use are no worse than those associated with frequent use of alcohol and tobacco, and the social consequences of legalized marijuana use may be far fewer than those linked to alcohol and tobacco.
The Controlled Substances Act was made law in 1970 by the United States Congress as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. The legislation formulated five schedules (classifications) for drugs, with different criteria for each schedule. Schedule 1 substances meet three general criteria. The drug (or other substance):
Has high potential for abuse.
Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
Does not meet accepted safety standards for use under medical supervision.
Subcategories of drugs listed on Schedule 1 include opiates, opiate derivatives, hallucinogenic substances, depressants (including GHB, the “date rape drug”), and stimulants. Along with marijuana, specific Schedule 1 drugs include PCP (also known as Angel Dust), LSD, and heroin.
In the National Drug Threat Assessment 2005 Summary Report, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) states that the prevalence of marijuana, coupled with a continuously high demand for the drug, make it one of the foremost drug threats facing the United States. Compared to other illicit substances, marijuana is highly available. However, the DOJ concedes, marijuana has a relatively low association with crime. In 2005, only 4.6% of law enforcement agencies polled identified marijuana as the drug that most contributes to violent crime.
The 2005 Assessment refutes the claim that marijuana is harmless. While admitting that other drugs are “more socially disruptive” than marijuana, the DOJ cites health risks similar to those associated with cigarette smoking (increased risk for respiratory illness), as well as distorted perception, loss of coordination, inhibited memory and learning, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, and increased heart rate. The DOJ also cites a study in which heavy users of marijuana were less likely to complete college or earn more than $30,000 per year than a control group. (The source of this data is not provided.)
The assessment also indicates that marijuana cultivation may be dangerous for the environment due to use of chemical fertilizers. The DOJ and other federal drug control agencies cite lack of evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for any illness. Marijuana is viewed by opponents as a “gateway drug,” a low-level illegal substance that introduces users to more dangerous illegal substances and other illegal activities.
Proponents of medicinal marijuana and the legalization of marijuana argue that the individual health risks associated with marijuana use are no worse than those associated with frequent use of alcohol and tobacco, and the social consequences of legalized marijuana use may be far less than those linked to alcohol and tobacco.
In addition, they say, marijuana offers rare comfort to the seriously and terminally ill. Marijuana may not cure illness, but it provides solace and comfort to those who have not found it in traditional treatments and medications. Marijuana is used by ill individuals because of its calming effect, its ability to reduce chronic pain, and its ability to relieve nausea (thus allowing many individuals to regain an appetite) and promote sleep. Many severely ill people, especially cancer patients, suffer with severe nausea because of medical treatments.
According to a report published in 1994 by a NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) scientist, marijuana is actually far less addictive than alcohol and nicotine. The report, titled “Is Nicotine Addictive? It depends on whose criteria you use,” was written to examine the effects of nicotine in comparison to other popular substances. The report discusses substances in terms of five measurements: dependence, withdrawal, tolerance, reinforcement, and intoxication.
According to the study, marijuana has a lower score (has a less severe effect) in all five areas than both alcohol and nicotine. In the area of dependence, nicotine scores six times higher and alcohol scores three times higher than marijuana. Marijuana is 50% more intoxicating than nicotine, but only half as intoxicating as alcohol. In three of the five areas (dependence, withdrawal, and tolerance), caffeine scores higher (has more severe effects) than marijuana. In addition, the report points out, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports hundreds of deaths every year from alcohol overdose, but has never recorded an incidence of death from marijuana overdose.
Use of marijuana for medical purposes and the issue of whether marijuana should become a controlled substance (like alcohol and tobacco) is complex and continues to cause controversy. Currently, at least 10 states have legalized or decriminalized medical marijuana use in some manner.
Resource: Marijuana Rehab
