Many people say marijuana is the most beneficial of all the substances, while others claim it is the most harmful.
In fact, the US DEA has the audacity to decree that marijuana has no accepted medical use. This decision by the DEA comes almost nine years after medical marijuana supporters asked the government to reclassify cannabis to take into account a growing body of research that shows its effectiveness in treating certain diseases, is clearly a self-serving act to keep their funds coming and their agents busy.
Marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for over 4,000 years. Manuscripts from ancient India confirm that marijuana's psychoactive properties were used by doctors for treating a variety of ailments and illnesses, including gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, insomnia and as a pain reliever during childbirth.
Recently, Marijuana has even been approved by California and many other states to treat a range of illnesses, because of the continued success of treatment, studies and trials including marijuana. Many state's government legislation has made both marijuana and Marinol more available to patients. Though still illegal on a federal level, many patients are now finally able to apply for personal possession from their sate of residency.
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| Poll results concerning the legalization of marijuana |
Popular opinion has also swung behind marijuana. Americans overwhelmingly support it in national polls. Gallup's latest poll finds 44% of Americans in favor of legalization and 54% opposed. US public support for legalizing pot was fixed at about 25% until 2000 when acceptance jumped to 31%.
However, because of the prohibition of marijuana, mostly due to the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries, as well as anti-drug activists and religious crusaders, the use of both marijuana and Marinol as a medicine remains restricted.
Dr. Igor Grant, a neuropsychiatrist who is the director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at UC San Diego, said state-supported clinical trials show that marijuana helps with neuropathic pain and muscle spasticity. However, still the federal government's position discourages scientists from pursuing research needed to test the drug's medical effectiveness, he said. "We're trapped in kind of a vicious cycle here. It's always a danger if the government acts on certain kinds of persuasions or beliefs rather than evidence," Dr. Grant concluded.
The studies showing treatment success of marijuana are overwhelming. Just check out the success ratios recorded from studies by Daily Strength in the chart bellow! How can the US government ignore these stats?
Overall, 90%, that is 1,140 DailyStrength.org Members, found Marijuana helpful. Read the reviews, HERE.
Updated 8/31/11
Studies to Discover the Full Potential of Marijuana's Benefits
Its time we put aside old bias and prejudices and study marijuana with all our resources, so we can harness the full potential of its benefits!
Already scientists, researchers and doctors have discovered a wide range of benefits unequaled by any other natural or chemical medication, ever. Period.
No other medication or herb offers relief from symptoms like these:
- Relief of muscle spasms
- Relief of chronic pain
- Reduction in interlobular pressure inside the eye
- Suppression of nausea
- Weight loss - increase and restore metabolism
No other medication or herb offers treatment from a wide variety of diseases like these:
AIDS - Marijuana can reduce the nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting from the condition itself and the medications as well.
Glaucoma - Marijuana relieves the internal eye pressure of glaucoma, and therefore relieving the pain and slowing or even stopping the condition.
Cancer- Many side effects of the medication to stop cancer can be relieve with Marijuana, some studies suggest that Marijuana tends to slow down the progress of some types of cancer.
Multiple Sclerosis - Muscle pain, spasticity, tremors and unsteadiness are some of the effects caused by the disease that can be relieved by Marijuana.
Epilepsy - in some patients, epileptic seizures can be prevented with Marijuana use.
Chronic pain - Marijuana helps to alleviate the pain caused from many types of injuries and disorders.
Anxiety, Depression or Obsession - Even though mild anxiety is a common side effect in some users, cannabis can elevate your mood and expand the mind
Medical Marijuana can Treat a Variety of Serious Diseases
Cannabis also acts as an antispasmodic and anticonvulsant and is indicated for
neurological conditions such as epilepsy especially complex partial seizures, multiple sclerosis, and spasms. As an analgesic and an immunomodulator it is indicated for conditions such as migraine, arthritis, spinal and skeletal disorders.
As a broncho-dilator it is beneficial for asthma. It also reduces the intraocular pressure and is indicated for glaucoma.
It is useful in treating premenstrual syndrome, hypertension, insomnia, constipation and alcohol hangovers.
Marinol, is now becoming widely available through prescription. It comes in the form of a pill and is also being studied by researchers for suitability via other delivery methods, such as an inhaler or patch. The active ingredient of Marinol is synthetic THC, which has been found to relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy for cancer patients and to assist with loss of appetite with AIDS patients.
Medical Marijuana can Help with Physical Addictions
There have been testimonies from opiate users that report an easing of addiction cravings. Some cannabinoids in cannabis are believed to have similar effects as ibogaine, a medication used to treat heroin addiction.
Medical Marijuana can Benefit Psychologically and Spiritually.
Recent studies have shown marijuana to be effective in treating mood disorders and mental health issues such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder.Marijuana should be offered as an alternative therapy, used in conjunction with psychiatric therapy.
Marijuana can be used to enhance personal Spirituality. The herb tends to reveal your true self. It uncovers inner confusion and reveals your true direction - if you let it. Marijuana offers an effect that is both energizing and relaxing at the same time. This balanced effect will help some to think more clearly and more efficiently afterwards.
Joan Bello, author of
The Benefits of Marijuana, wrote,
"with the expansiveness that occurs with marijuana, the subject may begin to notice infinite possibilities to raise the quality of his/her life that would otherwise have remained hidden from normal, defensive consciousness. And feelings of health and happiness naturally lead to hope, which of itself can be curative."
Joan Bello also writes,
"Marijuana will not tolerate repression. Tranquillizers and depressants relax the body and release tension, but the state of mind associated with these drugs is 'unconsciousness' whereby we escape rather than resolve our dilemmas. Alcoholism is an extreme need of both the body and personality sometimes to release the nervousness that has accumulated and continues to build up to an unbearable degree. It serves the same function for the collective personality for the society, as well A culture in which alcohol and tranquillizers are the prevalent form of release prefers not to witness internal confusion and actually choose to act without conscious participation, maintaining a semi-numb condition."
Apparently, considering the US DEA decrees that marijuana has no accepted medical use, they want you to use their drugs which are far worse! Have you ever read the side effects of some of the prescription drugs used to treat the diseases and ailments I outlined above, that could be treated just as well if not better, with marijuana?
And as I mentioned earlier, the claim that marijuana is the Gateway Drug that could take a teenager down the road to destruction has been totally discredited. The Journal of Health and Social Behavior, found that Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug, as was supposed according to long-held beliefs that marijuana leads to the much more dangerous drugs such as meth, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin (read my article,
New Research Suggests Marijuana is NOT Gateway Drug as Believed, here on the
Addicts Not Anonymous blog). So as you can see, another futile attempt to demonize marijuana bites the dust.
Considerations
I believe I have made my case, that marijuana is not the demon it has been made out to be by various governments, religious crusaders and self-righteous fanatics. I believe I have demonstrated that marijuana is very beneficial preventing, alleviating and/or curing various aliments, sicknesses and diseases. And still I believe, marijuana is not for everyone.
There are those who misuse, overuse or abuse anything you put in front of them. They overeat, over-drink and gamble until they're broke. They over-everything. Marijuana is not for them.
Like everything, marijuana requires moderation. If one overuses marijuana it will lead to a psychological and emotional addiction. Even moderate use can lead to psychological dependence in people with
addictive personalities.
As with any drug, I strongly recommend a person research their family history for problems with alcoholism and drug addiction before trying marijuana. You may also want to consider if you have problems with self control; ask yourself:
- Do you have problems with tobacco and/or alcohol?
- Do you have problems with overeating and/or eating when you're not hungry?
- Do you have problems saying no to food, gambling, pornography or anything destructive?
- Have you ever let recreational activities become a financial burden?
If you said yes to any of the above question, you probably have an addictive personality and should seriously reconsider your decision to try marijuana, or any drug for that matter, as you could be in serious danger of developing some degree of psychological dependence.
I know this sounds crazy, as most first time marijuana users do so spontaneously, in the spur of the moment, but maybe you should make up your mind about wanting to try marijuana deliberately and consciously, beforehand. As in right now! You may also want to have a talk with your children about this issue, making them aware of any possible family history of addiction.
If you don't have any problems with any of the issues I discussed above, I see no reason whatsoever for you to NOT try marijuana. Heck, it may even help you have a spiritual revelation and change your life for the better.
Conclusion
When will lawmakers stop listening to religious crusaders and self-righteous fanatics and do what is right, in legalizing a natural herb that can potentially cure, or at least help millions from suffering needlessly?
When will lawmaker stop listening to those who profit from keeping marijuana illegal and do what is right, in legalizing a natural herb that has been used in societies longer than this society has even existed?
Do you believe marijuana is a wonder-drug or a menace? Do you believe that marijuana is a legitimate medicine? Do you believe it should be legalized? Please leave your opinions in the form of a comment bellow.
Addicts Not Anonymous readers and I would really like to know what you think about America's (and the world's) marijuana policies.
Written By: Tom Retterbush
For Further Reading
You may also want to check out my articles,
New Research Suggests Marijuana is NOT Gateway Drug as Believed,
Why Parents Should Support the Legalization of Marijuana and
Marijuana and Hallucinogens as an Effective Treatment for Depression here on the
Addicts Not Anonymous and
The Great American Marijuana Conspiracy: Will the War on Drugs Ever End?, which appeared on my
Conspiracy Watch blog, Friday, August 26, 2011.
This article is actually an updated, more complete version of my earlier article,
Is Marijuana the Wonder Drug that could Help Millions of People?, which appeared on
Health-be.com, Sunday, May 8, 2011.
Download How to Grow Medical Marijuana as a PDF ebook instantaneously, now. No sign-up, no log-in, no obligations, no kidding! This book is easy to read and factual. It takes you through all the steps to grow the "devil's Weed" (The man who wrote the introduction to this book Mr.Peter McWilliams was in reality killed by the govenment for his efforts to publlish this book -- investigate this and you will find it correct). If you need this medicine to save your life read this book. The book also reveals the stupidity of America's Drug War, a fanatical war against our own children and citizens.
A holistic understanding of the physical, psychological and spiritual benefits of marijuana which bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science.
Bello has incorporated everything of significance. She presents it all with balance, lucidity and a sort of calm spirituality. -- High Times, 2000
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