The Legalization of Medical Marijuana

The Legalization of Medical Marijuana

Tiffany Moore

Fortis Online

The Legalization of Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana has been a controversial issue for many people. Most people think of marijuana as a recreational drug used only to get stoned. However, research has suggested that cannabis is a promising treatment option for several different physical and mental health conditions. There have been numerous studies done that show that the cannabidiol (CBD) is responsible for the many therapeutic effects of marijuana. Veterans with PTSD report decreased hyperarousal symptoms after marijuana use. Marijuana has also been linked to the decrease in seizures with childhood seizure disorders such as Dravet’s Syndrome. Pain is also one of the most common reasons people request medical marijuana. The legalization of medical marijuana could be highly beneficial for many people with various medical conditions such as PTSD, seizures and pain.        

        Marijuana has long been thought of as a street drug only. When in reality it has actually been proven to help with many debilitating medical conditions. Post -traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) for example is an anxiety condition caused by disturbing episodes such as military combat or sexual assault. Statistics show that 1 in 5 military personnel deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan experience PTSD. Currently, there are no specific effective medications available for PTSD. Most patients are steered towards antidepressants or antipsychotic medications. However, most report little to no effectiveness from these medications. (Rahan, 2015) New discoveries in our body’s endocannabinoid system have helped researchers to better understand and treat PTSD. Researcher Martin Lee, an affiliate and director of project CBD (cannabidiol) with the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies, (MAPS) has studied PTSD and

cannabinoids in depth. Researchers found that patients with PTSD had lower levels of anandamide “our inner cannabis, so to speak”. In addition, this triggers the same receptors activated by THC and other components of the marijuana plant. One pillar in PTSD is an endocannabinoid deficiency. The body stops producing enough to fill receptors, and this is where cannabinoids found in marijuana plants play a therapeutic role. Skewed CB-1 receptor signaling, due to endocannabinoid deficits or low serum levels of anandamide results in impaired fear, aversive memory consolidation, and chronic anxiety. (Rahan, 2015)These are the hallmarks of PTSD. Researchers believe that by replenishing these missing endocannabinoids with those found in cannabis, this could bring PTSD patients relief from their memories. Scientists have determined that normal CB-1 receptor signaling deactivates traumatic memories and replaces it with “the gift of forgetting”. (Rahan, 2015) The damaged caused by PTSD cannot be repaired, but for some cannabis provides relief when nothing else can.

        Just as cannabis provides relief for PTSD, it has also been determined to be a well- tolerated therapeutic treatment that can reduce or even eliminate seizures in a variety of childhood seizure disorders, such as Dravet’s Syndrome. Some children with this disease can have up to 60 seizures in one day. This sounds absolutely horrifying. Preclinical trials have found that cannabis causes significant anticonvulsant effects, (Hill TD1, 2013). This is because CBD (cannabidiol) interacts with cannabinoid receptor 1 of the body’s cannabinoid system, the receptor inhibits the release of particular- neurotransmitters and reduces neuronal excitability. In addition, this silences the triggers of seizures. In one study, 84% of parents reported a reduction in their child’s seizure frequency following cannabis treatment. Out of those parents, 11% of them reported that their child had reached complete seizure freedom. While 42% reported greater

than 80% reduction in seizure frequency, (Porter and Jacobson, 2013). Additional effects were also reported in this study such as alertness (71%), better mood (63%), and improved sleep (53%). This has got to be an amazing feeling of relief and happiness, not only for the children, but parents as well. Studies show that parents tried an average of 12 epileptic drugs, due to ineffectiveness or unacceptable side effects, before finding effectiveness with cannabis, (Porter BE1, 2013). Preliminary and preclinical human studies show that cannabis produces fewer adverse effects than other antiepileptic drugs. The choice these parents made to try marijuana treatment could be the difference between a normal life and an agonizing fearful life for their children.