The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine.
However, scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form. Continued research may lead to more medications.
Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that may help treat a range of illnesses and symptoms, many people argue that it should be legal for medical purposes. In fact, a growing number of states have legalized marijuana for medical use.
The FDA requires carefully conducted studies (clinical trials) in hundreds to thousands of human subjects to determine the benefits and risks of a possible medication. So far, researchers haven’t conducted enough large-scale clinical trials that show that the benefits of the marijuana plant (as opposed to its cannabinoid ingredients) outweigh its risks in patients it’s meant to treat.
Cannabinoids are chemicals related to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient that makes people “high”. The marijuana plant contains more than 100 cannabinoids. Scientists, as well as illegal manufacturers, have produced many cannabinoids in the lab. Some of these cannabinoids are extremely powerful and have led to serious health effects when misused.
The body also produces its own cannabinoid chemicals. They play a role in regulating pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, body movement, awareness of time, appetite, pain, and the senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight).
Currently, the two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of medical interest are THC and CBD.
THC can increase appetite and reduce nausea. THC may also decrease pain, inflammation (swelling and redness), and muscle control problems. Unlike THC, CBD is a cannabinoid that doesn’t make people “high.” These drugs aren’t popular for recreational use because they aren’t intoxicating. It may be useful in reducing pain and inflammation, controlling epileptic seizures, and possibly even treating mental illness and addictions. Many researchers, including those funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are continuing to explore the possible uses of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids for medical treatment.
For instance, recent animal studies have shown that marijuana extracts may help kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others. Evidence from one cell culture study with rodents suggests that purified extracts from whole-plant marijuana can slow the growth of cancer cells from one of the most serious types of brain tumors. Research in mice showed that treatment with purified extracts of THC and CBD, when used with radiation, increased the cancer-killing effects of the radiation.
Scientists are also conducting preclinical and clinical trials with marijuana and its extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions, such as:
diseases that affect the immune system, including: HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis (MS), which causes gradual loss of muscle control, inflammation pain, seizures, substance use disorders, mental disorders:
Two FDA-approved drugs, dronabinol and nabilone, contain THC. They treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and increase appetite in patients with extreme weight loss caused by AIDS. Continued research might lead to more medications.
The FDA approved a CBD-based liquid medication called Epidiolex for the treatment of two forms of severe childhood epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
The United Kingdom, Canada, and several European countries have approved nabiximols (Sativex®), a mouth spray containing THC and CBD. It treats muscle control problems caused by MS, but it isn’t FDA-approved. (US’ National Institute on Drug Abuse)
It never killed anyone yet like other FDA Approved drugs with terrible side affects.just watch network TV and see the warnings on Big Pharma FDA approved drugs Billion Dollar earning medication .It would be FDA approved if the Big Pharma owned and controlled it. It is going to be stiff competition and anyone with a chemistry and biology can produce it. It is going to cost them Billions in drug sales annually.
The rastas says that marijuana is the healing of the nations. So does that mean that anyone with any symptom, even the common cold, can get a prescription for medicinal marijuana? The PM said that before legalizing marijuana, it would be brought to the people in the form of a referendum. I see this as a way to bring wholesale legalization through the back door.
And Eye hope wunna realize dat de marijuana dat de so called scientist/illegal manufacturers mekking (synthetic cannabis) is de one responsible fah de bad responses in ppl.
YESSS!! YESSS FINALLY THEM INFORMING THE MASSES ABOUT THE TRUTH ON MARIJUANA!! SHIIIITE MAN I WAS SAYING IT GOOD FOR THE LONGEST TIMEE!! THANK YOU BARBADOS TODAY THANK YOU!!!
Boy bajans does really mek me laugh ,what de hell is medical marijuana in Bim. Wunna want to follow de big countries and used big words ,leh me see how this going to play out in Bim .