Marijuana or cannabis has long been used for medicine throughout history and all over the world. Over 5,000 years ago, the Ancient Chinese used it for pain, seizures, muscle spasms, rheumatism, gout, hair loss and constipation. The Ancient Indians used it for pain, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, digestion, and as an appetite stimulant. There is documented evidence of the Greeks and Egyptians using medical cannabis for cataracts, cancer, sadness, inflammation, edema, and earache. Most people don’t know that both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both hemp farmers and that the number one crop in early America was hemp.
Cannabis as Medicine
The chemistry of cannabis is complex. There exist over 400 chemicals in cannabis and 80 of them are unique solely to the cannabis plant. They are known as cannabinoids and some of the most important ones for health and wellness are CBD, CBG, CNB and THC. It was discovered in 1996 that human and all animals except for insects possess an endocannabinoid system that consists of cannabinoid receptors. By taking phytocannabinoids, or plant-based cannabinoids, we are actually boosting what our endocannabinoid system is meant to do – keep us healthy and balanced.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Ethics in health care? Checkout my Ethics CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)
Conditions Helped by Medical Cannabis
There exist over 3,000 articles on the medical benefits of cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids. Numerous books have also been published on this topic. The well-known therapeutic properties include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, analgesic, and neuroprotective. Think of all of the diseases and disorders that can benefit from these general properties. Alzheimer’s, ALs, anxiety, arthritis, cancers, cardiovascular disease, Chron’s disease, depression, diabetes, glaucoma, insomnia, migraines, pain, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, and sleep disorders. This is a short list, as there are many other disorders and symptoms that benefit from medical cannabis and cannabinoids.
Ethical Dilemmas
So, if medical cannabis or the cannabinoids are effective in treating a wide range of disorders, what’s the problem? What are the ethical issues with medical cannabis? Is it right or wrong, good or bad? Many states have legalized either recreational or medical marijuana, and more are to follow, so why the debate? Let’s look at some ethical issues.
First, one important question to raise is will more people start using marijuana because it’s either legal or medically necessary? Is it a gateway drug to heavier and more dangerous substances? What are the long-term side effects of chronic cannabis use? There is the ethical argument that pharmaceuticals come with side effects and some that are very dangerous or life-threatening. Is medical cannabis safer than most prescription drugs? Are many pain medications not potentially addictive?
It is important here to say that no one has ever overdosed on marijuana or CBD. Our brain stem doesn’t contain enough endocannabinoids for overdose to occur. We do, on the other hand, have lots of opioid receptors in our brain stem, and this is why people overdose on heroin or pain medications. Is medical cannabis safer than pain medications.
There are side effects of marijuana that may cause ethical issues. According to research, 9% of people who use cannabis long term do become addicted. There exists evidence that people go through withdrawal after quitting use of marijuana. It can also “re-wire” certain areas of the brain, but in all honesty, many psychotropic medications do the same thing. Some research reports that marijuana causes anxiety, panic and paranoia. It may cause psychosis and exacerbate symptoms of schizophrenia.
Final Words on Ethics and Medical Marijuana
This happens to be one of my favorite topics these days and I could go on and on about medical cannabis, CBD and all of the health benefits associated with them. There is a new science – that of the endocannabinoid system and the benefits of phytocannabinoids. Much of what we thought we knew may no longer be applicable in science and medicine and there may be new ideas on the horizon. Good or bad, right or wrong, medical cannabis is here to stay so let’s learn as much as we can about it and keep an open mind.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Ethics in health care? Checkout my Ethics CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)