Legalization of marijuana for medicinal purpose remains a controversial and often ill-informed topic of debate. Fourteen states currently allow medical marijuana in certain jurisdictions but the medicinal method of comes from smoking the drug. The Office of National Drug Control Policy and the United States Food and Drug Administration note that smoking marijuana is not considered an appropriate form of modern medicine and no current data supports this method of use as safe or effective. Several pros and cons exist on this topic and a case can be made for either side. When it comes to making the best decision for health-care, consider all the options through education about the issue.
Unregulated Doses
As of 2010, medical marijuana prescriptions are not held to the same standards as other prescription medications for dispensing and dosages according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. This is cause for concern since the current means for obtaining the medicine occurs through getting a certificate of registry through doctor recommendation, which may or may not offer thorough diagnostics for treatment need, then going to a dispensary to obtain the drug. In some states, registry allows for growing plants at home and in other states going to a designated marijuana dispensary is required. Dispensaries are not pharmacies and the amount of marijuana provided for medicinal purpose is not regulated by the same means. For this drug to be considered medicinal, safety and efficacy of dispersing the medication requires regulation for standards of care.
Immune System Weakening
According to the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, smoking one joint a day can damage the bronchial passages and decrease the immune system cells from fighting off bacteria and fungi. Current users of medical marijuana, use the drug because of symptoms associated with disorders causing weakened immunity. The use of smoked marijuana even in minimal amounts further increases risk of dangerous pulmonary infections and contraction of pneumonia.
Addictive Potential
Marijuana use has a highly addictive potential and frequent use leads to tolerance to the drug. Tolerance causes the need for using more of the drug to achieve intoxicating results. Medicinal marijuana is not dose regulated, which means users can smoke as much as they want, which further increases the risk for becoming addicted. The ONDCP further indicates that increased tolerance often leads to seeking a more potent version of the drug, which may not prove available at the designated dispensaries. This has the potential to put people at risk for seeking the drug in less safe locations.
Additional Cons
An increased risk of cancer development remains another consideration in using medicinal marijuana. Testicular cancer testing reported in a 2010 study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center concluded that smoking marijuana increased the chances of developing this type of cancer by nearly 70 percent. The risk increased in those using marijuana on a weekly basis versus non-smokers. Mental health problems such as emotional disturbance, psychosis and anxiety also pose risk to frequent smokers of marijuana the ONDCP reports.
References
- ProCon.org: Top 10 Pros and Cons Medical Marijuana
- Office of National Drug Control Policy: Medical Marijuana Fact Sheet
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center: Marijuana Use Linked to Increased Risk of Testicular Cancer
- Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University: What are the Medical Dangers of Marijuana Use
- National Association of Boards of Pharmacy: States Continue to Develop Medical Marijuana Policies as Federal Stance Remains Firm
