Medical Cannabis

Does pot have the potential to “grow” into modern

medicine?

Who’s Using It?

• Medical Cannabis is prescribed mostly to cancer and AIDS patients.

• But it is has also been prescribed for: glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Neurological pain, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, anorexia, frequent nausea or pain, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

How does it work?

When smoked, marijuana releases cannabinoids, which act as

neurotransmitters in our brain. There are over 40 cannabinoids found in cannabis. These cannabinoids give marijuana its medicinal value. The cannabinoids respond with several different regions of the brain

affecting our memory, pleasure and pain sensors, coordination, and muscle

movement.

How does it work?

The Hippocampus controls our memories. Making scientists believe that marijuana can benefit those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Basal Ganglia controls involuntary muscle movement, making medical cannabis beneficial for patients Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

The Cerebellum plays a role in coordination

What are the effects of smoking marijuana?

Short Term Effects• Increased appetite• Elevated heart rate• Short term memory loss• Euphoric feelings• Dry mouth• Irritated/Red eyes• Loss of Coordination

Long Term EffectsStudies have not linked marijuana to lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis, although some doctors presume the same symptoms as with tobacco smoke.

Some doctors also believe habitual marijuana use can lead to a number of psychiatric problems, such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. There are also no studies proving this theory.

What do doctors think?

"Heavy use of marijuana, just like any substance, is going to interact with the brain. Something you smoke is going to have an effect on the lungs. If you do too much of it, how serious are

those effects?“ –Alan Budney, professor of psychiatry and scientist for the Addiction Research at University of Arizona.

The American College of Physicians believes evidence proving medical cannabis to benefit those suffering from cancer and AIDS. They also believe that with further research it can treat a number of other illnesses.

What do doctors think?

“When interviewed on CNN Dr. Melvyn Sterling, Medical

Doctor and Pain Specialist, replied that he supports the use

of medical cannabis by patients suffering from severe chronic

pain, such as neuropathic pain which is very hard to treat

with the drugs currently on the market. But he also

encouraged viewers to further investigate the potential

dangers of smoking.”

Laws on Medical Cannabis

• Medical Cannabis is now legal in 16 US States, as well as many other countries.

• The US Constitution prohibits all marijuana use for medicinal and recreational purposes.

• Medical cannabis is sold out of dispensaries that operate off of state and local laws.

• Patients must have a medical ID issued by a doctor to be able to purchase the drug legally.

Inside a Dispensary

Different strains and potencies of cannabis are shown to treat different symptoms and produce different highs.

The dispensaries are set up somewhat like bakeries, displaying the different grades of marijuana available to patients.

Legal States• Alaska• California• New Jersey• Rhode Island• Washington• Nevada• Arizona• Colorado

• Washington, D.C.• Maine• Hawaii• Michigan• Montana• New Mexico• Vermont• Oregon

Georgia’s Marijuana Laws

• Possession of less than 1 oz. is punishable with probation. A subsequent conviction leads to up to $1000 fine and up to a year in prison.

• Any sales or trafficking of the drug is a felony with up to 10 years in prison.

• Any conviction within 1000 feet of a school or playground is punishable with up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Film produced in the 1930’s as an attempt to scare people away from using marijuana.

REEFER MADNESS

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video, if it failed to play follow the hyperlink below.

REEFER MADNESS TRAILER

Works Cited"15 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC." Procon.org. Procon.org, 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 24 Nov. 2010.

<http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881>. Bonser, Kevin. “How Marijuana Works” 02 July 2001. HowStuffWorks.com.

<http://health.houwstuffworks.com/wellness/drugs-alcohol/marijuana.htm> "Georgia Marijuana Penalties." NORML.org. NORML.org. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4531>. Medical Marijuana 101. Dir. CNN. Perf. Dr. Melvyn Sterling. CNN Newsroom, 2010. Website. Narconon International. "Marijuana Information." Narconon.org. Narconon International, 2010. Web. 22

Oct. 2010. <http://narconon.org/drug-information/marijuana-pot.html>.

Reefer Madness. Dir. Louis Gasnier. Perf. Dorthey Short, Kenneth Craig,. Motion Picture Ventures, 1938. Smith, Phillip. "Top Doctors Association Says "YES" to Medical Marijuana in Historic Endorsement."

Stopthedrugwar.org. 20 Feb. 2008. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2008/feb/21/top_doctors_association_says_yes>. Super High Me. Dir. Micheal Blieden. Perf. Dough Benson. Eagle Entertainment. 2008. DVD The Editors. "Marijuana Research:Current Restirctions on Marijuana Research Are Obserd." Scientific

American. Natures Inc, 22 Nov. 2004. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=marijuana-research>.