Marijuana - The Medicine

Marijuana is a drug derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is typically dried and shredded, then rolled into a small cigarette and smoked. The plant product may also be brewed like a tea, mixed with food or concentrated into an oil or resinous slab, called hashish (hash).

Illicit Use of Marijuana

A marijuana plant contains over 400 different chemicals. The chemical associated with the drugâ??s effects is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When marijuana is smoked, the THC is taken into the lungs, where it enters the bloodstream and rapidly spreads through the body. The drug acts on cannabinoid receptor sites in the brain to produce the characteristic â??high.â? THC also increases heart rate and pulse and can cause bloodshot eyes and dryness in the mouth and throat. Other side effects include temporary short-term memory impairment, loss of sense of time and problems with coordination, concentration and reaction time.

Research shows marijuana has been used to treat pain for more than 5,000 years. Today, itâ??s the third most popular recreational drug (after alcohol and tobacco). The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws reports more than 20 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year. A survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found 42 percent of 12th graders have tried marijuana and more than 5 percent of them use it daily.

Medical Use of Marijuana

While medical marijuana is mainly used to produce a recreational high, there is some evidence the drug can provide medical benefits. Studies suggest it may help reduce chronic pain, relieve spasticity, control agitation, and improve appetite in patients with chronic wasting diseases (like HIV). It may also be helpful for patients with glaucoma, uncontrollable nausea, and seizures.

Medical Marijuana is a very controversial topic. Under federal law, the drug is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and illegal for any use. Despite the federal ban, 16 states have passed laws that allow certain seriously ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes.