Medical Marijuana and Back Pain
For most back pain doctors use prescription medications like other NSAIDS (like Celebrex) or opiates (like Vicodin or Norco) can be effective at treating pain but can also cause many adverse and unacceptable side effects. The addictive potential of opiates is very concerning to patients who struggle with chronic pain and need relief; it is this concern that leads patients to consider using medical marijuana, a very effective treatment for chronic back pain.
“Marijuana leads to homosexuality… and therefore AIDS,” said former White House Drug Czar Carlton Turner. Such statements have risen since before the prohibition of marijuana by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. However, most experts agree that such statements are outrageous as well as unfounded, and that marijuana should in fact be legalized.
Advocates for the legalization/decriminalization of marijuana propose such claims that the use of hemp as an industrial plant for textiles and paper making could slow global warming in that it would eliminate the use of deforestation. More profound and well-known reasons for legalizing are the medicinal uses of the plant. Supporters are not only users and dispensers, but also many well known doctors, researchers, and scientists. Rivals of such claims recite the cons of use, such as its addiction potential whether psychological or physiological.
Senators and representatives also know of the huge potential revenue stemming from taxing the cultivators, dispensers, and users. Lastly, decriminalization would halt the arrests of 900,000 people every year (90 percent for simple possession) for marijuana charges, thereby freeing tax dollars to help prosecute violent criminals.
A recent report from the Global Canopy Programme shows that an astonishing twenty-five percent of CO2 greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere are from deforestation (Forests). Forests throughout the world absorb massive amounts of CO2, and “he rainforests of the Amazon, the Congo basin and Indonesia are thought of as the lungs of the planet. But the destruction of those forests will in the next four years alone, in the words of Sir Nicholas Stern, pump more CO2 into the atmosphere than every flight in the history of aviation to at least 2025″ (Howden).
Some experts say that this could be countered by growing and using hemp as a textile product instead of trees. Studies show that “as hemp reduces the need to harvest trees for building materials or other products, its use as a wood substitute will tend to contribute to preserving biodiversity” (Small). In fact, the potential is so huge in that one acre of hemp is equivalent to four acres of trees. But, unlike trees, hemp can be used for a multitude of other products such as; paper products, textiles, molded plastics, construction, food, and countless other products.
While there are many arguments about the legalization/decriminalization of marijuana, the most well-known controversy is medical marijuana. Marijuana cultivation in China dates back to “2737 B.C. in the writings of the Chinese emperor Shen Nung” (History). China was not alone in its cultivation; marijuana has long been used as a medicine in India, China, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and South America. Medical marijuana is believed to have many uses, such as its use as an analgesic and antiemetic (pain and nausea). Former US Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, MD had this to say about marijuana:
The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS — or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day. (”Elders”)
There are also other conditions that some scientists and doctors believe the symptoms may be alleviated by the use of marijuna. Conditions such as; AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), Alzheimer's, Arthritis, Asthma, Crohn's, Clinical Depression, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, and Tourette's (Armentano). In fact, since 1996 thirteen states have legalized marijuana for medical use (Active).
Rivals of medical marijuana legalization enumerate their statement that marijuana is already available to physicians in the form of dronabinol (Marinol), the synthetic pill form of the active ingredient found in marijuana, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). However, marijuana contains many other cannabinoids besides THC that contribute to its effectiveness. Mitch Earleywine, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at University at Albany at the State University of New York stated that “he use of only one active ingredient makes dronabinol less effective than medical marijuana. Many ailments respond better to a combination of marijuana's active ingredients rather than just one. In addition, because dronabinol is a pill, it is difficult for people with nausea and vomiting to swallow. Finally, like any medication that's swallowed, dronabinol takes a long time to digest and have its effects. Inhaled marijuana vapors can work markedly faster.” Many experts agree with Dr. Earleywine's statement, and have found dronabinol to be ineffective when compared with ingesting marijuana in its natural state. Gregory Carter, MD similarly stated:
There are really no other medications that have the same mechanisms of action as marijuana. Dronabinol (Marinol) is available by prescription in capsules, but has the distinct disadvantage of containing only synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is only one of many therapeutically beneficial cannabinoids in the natural plant. Interestingly, it is the most psychoactive of the cannabinoids and is the one that the Federal government allows to be prescribed!Cannabinoids are now known to have the capacity for neuromodulation, via direct, receptor-based mechanisms, at numerous levels within the nervous system. These provide therapeutic properties that may be applicable to the treatment of neurological disorders, including anti-oxidative, neuroprotective effects, analgesia, anti-inflammatory actions, immunomodulation, modulation of glial cells and tumor growth regulation. Beyond that, the cannabinoids have also been shown to be remarkably safe with no potential for overdose. (”Carter”)
With all the pros of legalizing marijuana, one has to wonder what the potential hazards or otherwise cons of its use are whether acute or chronic. Through research it is hard to find many credible downsides to marijuana use; however, one that seems to be at the top of the list is addiction potential. While many supporters of marijuana legalization will argue that it is not addictive, research has found that it is in fact addictive and habit forming. Although it may be addictive, the addiction is psychological, not physiological like that of heroin, other opiates, and alcohol. Meaning that if you used the drug for many years and suddenly stopped its use, you would experience withdrawals such as; headaches, aggressiveness, insomnia, and short-term depression. These symptoms would be temporary and medically harmless. On the other hand if an alcoholic that has drunk for many years suddenly stopped drinking, it could be fatal. Similarly, if an addict tries to get off opiate use, they will experience very severe painful withdrawal symptoms such as; muscle pain, bone pain, insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes death. Withdrawal symptoms usually last up to a week. So as you see marijuana withdrawal symptoms are infinitesimally small when compared with any real medically harmful substances.
The other common misconception about marijuana is how dangerous it is, and for good reason with government officials and organizations reciting false claims about how hazardous it is. H.J. Aslinger, former U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics stated that “[marijuana is] a more dangerous drug than heroin or cocaine.” With such statements from our government there is no wonder the public was once afraid of using marijuana, never mind the fact that Aslinger pulled that statement out of the air, and has no basis in reality. As a matter of fact, all research from actual doctors and scientists prove just how wrong that statement is. Smoked cannabis alone, contrary to popular belief, does not cause cancer or other diseases of the lungs, according to a recent study (Gardner).
Drugs are commonly given what is known as a LD-50 (lethal dose - 50 percent) rating, which is the dosage that fifty percent of people will die from its use. It is estimated that marijuana's LD-50 rating is 1:20,000 to 1:40,000. What this means is that a user would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as contained in one marijuana cigarette to cause death. Francis L. Young, Administrative Law Judge for the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said, “A smoker would have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about 15 minutes to induce a lethal response. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity.”
So already we see the many benefits that legalization/decriminalization could produce in the United States in terms of global warming and medicinal potential, but those are not the only advantages of legalizing. With a current national deficit of 1.4 trillion dollars, our country is at a record new debt never before seen. Combined with the tax potential of legalizing marijuana, it is long past due to reconsider our current laws. A recent report by Jeffrey A. Miron, visiting professor of economics at Harvard University stated that “legalizing marijuana would save $7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition.” Also, that an additional “$6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco” (Miron). At this rate economists predict by legalizing on a national level we could generate nearly $14 billion per year, and with a record high national debt, these numbers are not something to be disregarded.
According to those numbers, we are spending $7.7 billion annually on enforcing our current primitive prohibition laws. Mind you, this money is being spent imprisoning non-violent citizens. According to NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) there have been a gradually increasing number of arrests for marijuana offenses since prohibition began in 1937, and in 2007 there were almost 900,000 arrests for marijuana related charges (see Figure 1). About 90 percent of these arrests are for simple possession.
The current classification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, which is the same as heroin and cocaine, is unsubstantiated and based on primitive speculative claims. There is no better time than now to legalize marijuana. President Obama just recently released a memo telling federal prosecutors to stop arresting users and cultivators that are abiding by state laws. Prohibition did not work for alcohol, and it has not worked for marijuana. As former president Abraham Lincoln said, “Prohibition…goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” It is time for the people of the United States to see the truth about our current drug laws and to tell our senators and representatives that we want to change them. It is time to stop the government and DEA's outdated arguments about what we are allowed to do to our own bodies, whether harmful or helpful, it is high time to think for yourself.
Cited References:
“Active State Medical Marijuana Programs.” National Organization for the Reform of Marijuna Laws NORML, 2004. 6 Nov. 2009. .
Armentano, Paul. “Recent Research on Medical Marijuana.” National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws NORML, 15 Jan. 2009. 9 Nov. 2009. .
Carter, Gregory T. “Medical Marijuana Quotes.” N.p., Oct. 2003. 16 Nov. 2009. http://www.ogreatone.net/Medical_Marijuana_Facts/medicalmarijuanafacts.htm
Elders, Joycelyn. “Myths About Medical Marijuana.” Providence Journal (2004). Print.
“Forests and Climate Change.” Global Canopy Programme GCP, 2002. 3 Nov. 2009. .
Gardner, Fred. “Smoking Cannabis Does Not Cause Cancer Of Lung or Upper Airways, Tashkin FInds; Data Suggests Possible Protective Effect.” California Cannabis Research Medical Group 2005 9 Dec 2008
“History of Marijuana.” Narconon Narconon International, n.d. 3 Nov. 2009. .
Howden, Daniel. “Deforestation: The Hidden Cause of Global Warming.” Common Dreams CommonDreams.org, 14 May 2007. 2 Nov. 2009 .
Miron, Jeffrey A. “The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition.” Chanvreinfo Harvard University, June 2005. 2 Nov. 2009 .
Small, E. and D. Marcus. 2002. Hemp: A new crop with new uses for North America. p. 284-326. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA. .
