A 2004 interview with Dr. Mollie Fry led to the statement, “If a doctor is willing to give you a prescription for a drug that is addictive or could kill you, then why should you not be able to choose a non-toxic drug like marijuana?” This is the problem in the United States and in Pennsylvania; patients of painful diseases do not have a safe and effect way to manage the pain. The outcome goal is to reduce suffering in these patients by allowing the sick to use marijuana as a means of dealing with pain. The goal of this brief is to summarize the findings of several studies and personal experiences of doctors in regards to the benefits and harms of medical marijuana use. A large portion of the evidence collected shows that while the long term
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Smoking marijuana “provides effective symptomatic relief of pain, muscle spasms, and intraocular pressure” (Russo et al., 2002, p. 49). Even the government believes that marijuana can be a very helpful treatment in several illnesses, as the United States Government Accountability Office noted that the following conditions can lead to a medical marijuana license in the states that allow it: Alzheimer’s Disease, Anorexia, AIDS, Arthritis, Cachexia, Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Pain, Spasticity, and Wasting Syndrome. Marijuana can help treat Arthritis as marijuana is a great pain killer. The number of seizures caused by Epilepsy can be decreased in those smoking marijuana. Glaucoma patients could also benefit from the legalization of medical marijuana as marijuana reduces pressure in the eyes, which delays the long term effects of the disease. Although marijuana does not directly treat Hepatitis C, it alleviates the side effects caused by drugs used to treat Hepatitis C. HIV and AIDS patients benefit from marijuana use because the drug causes relief from nausea, appetite loss, anxiety, and sleep
Smoking marijuana “provides effective symptomatic relief of pain, muscle spasms, and intraocular pressure” (Russo et al., 2002, p. 49). Even the government believes that marijuana can be a very helpful treatment in several illnesses, as the United States Government Accountability Office noted that the following conditions can lead to a medical marijuana license in the states that allow it: Alzheimer’s Disease, Anorexia, AIDS, Arthritis, Cachexia, Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Pain, Spasticity, and Wasting Syndrome. Marijuana can help treat Arthritis as marijuana is a great pain killer. The number of seizures caused by Epilepsy can be decreased in those smoking marijuana. Glaucoma patients could also benefit from the legalization of medical marijuana as marijuana reduces pressure in the eyes, which delays the long term effects of the disease. Although marijuana does not directly treat Hepatitis C, it alleviates the side effects caused by drugs used to treat Hepatitis C. HIV and AIDS patients benefit from marijuana use because the drug causes relief from nausea, appetite loss, anxiety, and sleep