Pros of Medical Marijuana

Introduction

Over the years there has been constant debate and ethical concerns regarding the use of medical marijuana.Medical marijuana is known to have several pros in the health sector. Based on the ethical approach this research will explain this statement. Modern advances in research and levels of knowledge provide both the patient and doctors with adequate information on the benefits and know the benefits and effects. Legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical use in a some of states in the US has drawn mixed reactions and approaches to the use of this drug.For medical purposes, a correct dosage of marijuana is required. Medical marijuana is helping to nausea this I caused chemotherapy and increases appetite in patients with severe weight loss. This primary focus if this paper is on the use of medical marijuana in cancer and the ethical issues concerning its use in medicine (Greene,2016). Marijuana has been used for medical purposes throughout the history of medicine. In ancient times marijuana was used to treat a headache and migraine. However, this drug has taken twists with law enforcers. The drug that was once legal and celebrated for its medicinal use in ancient times turned out to be illegal. However medical researchers have not abandoned researched in the use of marijuana for medical purposes(Levinson,2013).Currently, the stigma that is associated with marijuana is being eliminated by the discoveries on the medicinal benefits and use of medicine. The push for legalized medical marijuana has resulted to the legalization of medical marijuana in the United States of America 28 states and the capital Washington DC have legalized the use of medical marijuana while some states allow the physicians to prescribe marijuana instead of recommending it to the patient. In some states where marijuana users are arrested, they are allowed to mention medical use in self-defense. The levels of the legalization of marijuana vary from state to state. While in some states it is strictly for medical purposes, in other states recreational use is legal, others allow cannabidiol-only use. Cannabinoids extracted from marijuana are used for therapeutic purposes only such as chronic pain and headache disorders. Some law enforcement officers require supportive evidence for the therapeutic use of marijuana. Medical researchers have found out that medical marijuana has therapeutic functions in a number of diseases particularly chronic pain disorders. However, the use of medical marijuana is usually case based. Medical marijuana is known for the extensive use in the treatment and control of cancer. It is used to ease cancer-related pain especially potent opiate failure, appetite stimulation for cancer patients, used as an anti-cancer drug (breast, lung, skin, brain, leukemia, and colon cancer)( Owe, 2012).Nabiximols, a registered oral mucosal formulation available in the UK and Canada, is widely used for neuropathic pain related complication and cancer-related pain for patients with failed opiate dosage. According to the recent survey, the Key ethical arguments on Medical Marijuana show that given that therapeutic functions of marijuana have been established, the ethical question, therefore, arises on the legislation. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), schedule1 drugs do not have accepted medical use, therefore, have a high chance of abuse. These drugs have severe psychological and physical effects on the users (Owe, 2012). The ethical concerns raised by the federal authorities include the unproven medical safety and efficacy of marijuana. Legalizing medical marijuana may have negative consequences such as recreational use (Levinson,2013). Another concern is the potential abuse by teenagers and wrong perceptions among children about drug abuse. However, these grounds have been challenged by proving the efficacy and safety of medical marijuana. Marijuana is not a gateway drug to other drugs and using marijuana for medicinal purposes does not lead to bad social consequences as opposed to recreational use. Therefore there are no solid arguments against the use of medical marijuana. In the health sector, the ethical principles guide medical practitioners in the dispensation of their duties. Medical ethics as any other ethical practice focuses on the good versus the evil. The use of medical marijuana produces the double effect where there are both good and evil in its use. The good, in this case, outweighs the evil to a greater extent.From the principles highlighted it is evident that medical marijuana is only used when necessary to relieve pain nausea and other cancer-related complications. The patient who uses marijuana is must be tolerated once the negative effects arise since these effects are not the target of the treatment though they accompany the therapy. As long as the positive effects of using marijuana for medical purposes outweigh the negative effects, there can be no better option (Greene, (2016). Another greater concern is where the patients get their medical marijuana. The black market supplies the largest volumes of marijuana at lower prices.This is the reason why there is a call for legalization of medical marijuana and establishment of appropriate regulation. By disallowing the doctors from administering medical marijuana when it is required violates the principle of nonmaleficence since they will fail to offer appropriate therapy. In the modern world, there are a lot of benefits associated with of using medical marijuana, this claim is therefore supported by many researchers who see no reason for illegalizing the use of this drug.As of now in many countries all over the world marijuana use is illegal and using it might be perceived as breaking the rule of the law.On the ethical approach, those in authority such as the top political leaders should push laws to legalize marijuana for it is associated with many pros if used wisely .in the health sector the drug is known in the treatment of cancer which has become a deadly disease in the recent years (Levinson,2013). The magnitude of the medical benefit of a drug influences the decision about its acceptability. The effects, risks associated with use are also considered before the drug is approved. The acceptability of marijuana and a medical drug faces many challenges in the USA and the world. This is despite the scientific proof of its use as an anti-cancer drug, used in anxiety reduction and sedation. Therefore the fact that marijuana is essential in the treatment of cancer outweighs the cons associated with it. The FDA must, therefore, measure the risks associated with marijuana with the therapeutic benefits. For patients who don't respond to antiemetic drugs, the use of marijuana is more effective in their treatment. Marijuana is also used in the treatment of AIDs. Generally from the above perspectives strategies should be made based on legalizing the use of medical marijuana as it really helps in improving health status and the well-being of the society. Medical research proves that medical marijuana is effectively especially in the treatment of cancer. Progress has also been made in recognition of this significance of marijuana in medicine. Consequently, almost half of the states in the USA have legalized medical marijuana (Levinson,2013). The ethical principals prevent the doctor from inflicting pain on the patient. Therefore, by preventing the use of medical marijuana to relieve pain causes harm to the patient. This, therefore, calls for an understanding on the part of legislators to enact laws that are in the best interest of the people. The Clinton administration eased restrictions on medical marijuana, supplied marijuana to medical researchers and encouraged researcher to seek to fund research in this field. During the Obama administration, several states legalized medical marijuana. Therefore the Clinton administration laid the foundation for progressive research in the field of medical marijuana. Consequently, the researchers did not disappoint since immense benefits were discovered. The suffering cancer patients should draw government and public attention and concern. Medical professionals, therefore, need to advocate for medical solutions and provide strong research to support their claim. Patients suffering from extreme pain have been known to call for physician-assisted suicide. The advances in medical research can help to control such scenarios. Cancer is a terminal illness, yet medical marijuana has proved to be an invaluable therapy and therefore the government and the relevant stakeholders should consider legalizing the use of medical marijuana.

References

Greene, W. (2016). Dispensing medical marijuana: some halachic parameters. Judaism: A Quarterly Journal of Jewish Life and Thought, 55(1-2), 28+. Retrieved from https://go.galegroup.com.gmclibrary.idm.oclc.org/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=mill30389 &v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA149590104&asid=d64452ee5417c5cb681e60ed4887b6e7 Levinson, M. H. (2013). An extensional approach to drug legalization. ETC.: A Review of General Semantics, 60(2), 125+. Retrieved from https://go.galegroup.com.gmclibrary.idm.oclc.org/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=mill30389 &v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA107488013&asid=32b1610852add323f2bce969cb2fc9cd Owe, J. (2012). Dealing with Dope: drugs research officer James Rowe diagnoses a case of ` moral panic' in press reactions to marijuana law reform. (Essay). Meanjin, 61(2), 91+. Retrieved from https://go.galegroup.com.gmclibrary.idm.oclc.org/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=mill30389 &v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA87509116&asid=0cc7b1a8e488cbbec2e29aed0893da31

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