Medical Marijuana Gaining Another Foot Hold, Is it Really Medicine?

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April 3, 2011--

Marijuana is slowly and steadily losing its image as a villainous drug in the U.S. and becoming widely regarded as a useful medication. This week, the Delaware state senate voted to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. The bill has to now go before the house.

Should it pass, Delaware will become the 16th state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Pennsylvania and Maryland lawmakers are currently considering similar legislation.

Not to say that the controversy is over. Montana is actually considering repealing its past legalization.

(photo taken from stonedgopher.com) With the steady legalization of marijuana across the U.S. for medicinal purposes, will the next step be its full legalization?

The Delaware law has specific language that marijuana is for medical use only. That is, individuals with qualifying illnesses would be issued a identification card and be limited to purchasing up to 6 ounces of marijuana each month, and only from a certified dispensary, called "compassion centers."

Proponents of the bill point to studies suggesting that marijuana can help alleviate pain, nausea and other symptoms.

Medical conditions that would make a patient eligible for marijuana use in Delaware include:

cancer
Lou Gehrig's disease
multiple sclerosis
glaucoma
post-traumatic stress disorder

In 1996 states began to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, beginning with California then closely followed by Washington and Oregon. The state laws conflict with federal laws, since cannabis (marijuana) is a "Schedule I" drug according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

A Plant That Carries a Lot of Confusion

There are two sides to the controversy about marijuana. One side may be motivated to get marijuana ultimately legalized for consumption for all, but regulated, similar to the way alcohol is today. The belief is that it is actually less harmful than alcohol.

The other side fears any movement toward legalizing any drug for fear of widespread addiction. Who's right? It's often hard to separate the facts from the wishful fiction.

Here are some well documented benefits about marijuana:

Marijuana is a muscle relaxant and has "antispasmodic" qualities which have proven to be a very effective treatment of seizures. It greatly helps multiple sclerosis patients.

Marijuana is effective in relieving migraines

Marijuana is effective in treating glaucoma

Marijuana has shown that it can help with symptoms of the chronic diseases as it stops nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

There is some research that the THC found in marijuana helps to minimize the onset of Alzheimer's by blocking the deposits in the brain that cause the disease.

Many women have found relief to severe PMS from marijuana.

Posting date:04/03/11

Source: delawareonline.com

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