A Walgreens in Boulder, Colorado.
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Meric Ackerman
Last week, Walgreens made history. In a Tumblr post, they presented the facts about marijuana in a clear and non-threatening manner. The post was titled What is Medical Marijuana? Clarifying Clinical Cannabis. (Can we just pause for a moment to admire that beautiful alliteration?)
This is history being made, right here. Walgreens is the nation's largest chain of drug stores and, up until now, it has been extremely taboo for any organization in the medical and pharmaceutical industries to go on the record about marijuana at all. And here, Walgreens presents a reasonable, informative summary about marijuana. They even treated possible side effects like they would any other drug, by not sensationalizing them.
It's just one section, among many informative points of discussion.
Well done, Walgreens. Let's hope others follow your lead. Once the corporations are on board, the debate will be over.
Last week, Walgreens made history. In a Tumblr post, they presented the facts about marijuana in a clear and non-threatening manner. The post was titled What is Medical Marijuana? Clarifying Clinical Cannabis. (Can we just pause for a moment to admire that beautiful alliteration?)
This is history being made, right here. Walgreens is the nation's largest chain of drug stores and, up until now, it has been extremely taboo for any organization in the medical and pharmaceutical industries to go on the record about marijuana at all. And here, Walgreens presents a reasonable, informative summary about marijuana. They even treated possible side effects like they would any other drug, by not sensationalizing them.
It's just one section, among many informative points of discussion.
What Are Potential Side Effects of Marijuana?They put more effort into the list of uses than the list of side effects.
Side effects of marijuana are usually temporary and can include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Short-term memory loss
- Euphoria
What are Common Uses for Medical Marijuana?They even shrugged off the reasons prohibitionists use, acting as if the pros outweigh the cons, as most Americans believe now.
Though there is limited research to create general treatment recommendations, medical marijuana use has been suggested and reported for many different conditions including:
- Cancer pain management
- Parkinson’s disease
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Schizophrenia
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Palliative care
- Glaucoma
Why is the Use of Medical Marijuana Debated?
Though marijuana has been approved for medical use in many states, marijuana is not yet approved for national use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Research has indicated it may impair your lungs, memory and judgment.
However, research has also shown marijuana provides pain relief in ways traditional pain medicines don't. Medical marijuana can improve appetite and relieve nausea in those who have cancer and it may help relieve symptoms such as muscle stiffness in people who have multiple sclerosis.All in all, it's a very informative summary of marijuana's benefits. Every point made has a footnote directing you toward studies that support it.
Well done, Walgreens. Let's hope others follow your lead. Once the corporations are on board, the debate will be over.
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