The discomfort of cancer patients is unlike any. They don’t just
suffer from pain directly caused by cancer — they also have to contend
with the toxic effects of the very treatments helping them in their
battle. They feel nauseated and weak. They feel tired, on top of the
pain they already feel. Conventional drugs for their symptoms will not
always work. Unfortunately, stronger ones make them sleepy, aside from
exposing them to serious adverse effects.
Then comes along marijuana. Cancer patients who get stoned for
“leisure” realize that their symptoms go away – they feel a lot better
after smoking weed.
They experience a drug-induced high, their symptoms melting away
while they continue to smoke pot. Their anecdotes carry far and wide,
reaching the ears of health practitioners. Soon enough, a debate ensues
on whether or not medical marijuana use deserves to be legalized.
Taking the “high” road
Although marijuana can alleviate many symptoms experienced by cancer
patients, it is addictive — and that remains one of the most common (and
soundest) arguments against legalizing medical cannabis use.
A few countries, such as Canada and Israel, have legalized medicinal
hemp use. Some states in the US have passed laws to legalize marijuana
use for medical reasons as well. Even the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of cannabinoids in relieving nausea and anorexia among cancer patients.
However, the US federal government still refers to marijuana as a
controlled substance, one that is absolutely outlawed, according the Matthew Seamon in his 2006 article published at The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
The conflict between state and federal laws is as yet unresolved and
will remain so until the courts say that medical marijuana use is
constitutional. In the meantime, doctors and patients resort to playing
it by ear, something they shouldn’t have to do if the rules were clear.
As stakeholders struggle with the stalemate, Israel is tinkering with
a solution that they hope will end the debate once and for all.
Mary Jane gets a makeover
In a secret location in Israel, marijuana continues to grow in
seemingly endless fields. You see, unlike regular marijuana, the weed
grown in these Galilean hills cannot get you addicted.
This non-addictive variant of marijuana was developed by Zach Klein, the former advocacy and development director of Tikun Olam. The company’s name is Hebrew for “repairing the world" — a suitable name, considering their novel discovery.
The new strain of marijuana, named Avidekel,
contains less than two percent of tetrahydrocannabinol, the substance
responsible for getting hemp users stoned. Despite the greatly reduced
THC content, Avidekel marijuana still contains more than 15 percent
cannabidiol, theorized to reduce inflammation.
In contrast to THC, CBD does not attach to receptors in the brain —
that means it can exert its effects without getting a person “high."
Perhaps the new hemp strain can put the weed debate to rest. But the
original and addictive THC-rich weed can provide relief for other
symptoms, which means that marijuana supporters can still argue to have
regular marijuana legalized, not just the THC-free plant.
The “pot” is black, or so the kettle says
We are years away from reaching a compromise. Legalizing marijuana,
even if it’s for friends and family suffering from the disabling effects
of cancer, still comes with consequences.
Others argue that many controlled drugs in the market are also
addictive, such as anti-anxiety medication and sleeping pills, and that
marijuana has much fewer side effects compared to these. But the
back-and-forth continues as many of our doctors and lawmakers reach what
seems to be an impasse.
We try out best to look for solutions. Israel is doing its part in
establishing a compromise: marijuana, yes, but without the addictive
THC.
But we should check our opinions at the door. What we need is more data. We need facts. We need to determine whether or not smoking the plant is better than drinking a pill composed of chemicals extracted from it.
The public also needs to be educated on both the advantages and adverse effects of marijuana use.
Ulterior motives must be set aside if we want to achieve a therapeutic
milestone. For instance, people who use marijuana but know very little
about the science behind cannabinoids cannot simply support the
legalization of marijuana for their own selfish reasons. On the other
hand, people who wrinkle their nose at potheads should not automatically
condemn marijuana use in medicine.
The argument between the opposing camps exists for a reason. It is actually good that we don’t agree with each other.
Much has to be done before legislators figure out whether marijuana
should be legalized for medical use. Much has to be said before doctors
can ensure that marijuana is a plant that should be used by people who
allegedly need it.
But, as is the case in any worthy but difficult endeavor, we have to
start somewhere — even if that “somewhere” is in a heated debate with
brilliant people who, unfortunately, do not share the same point of
view.
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