Marijuana use in the US and other countries has a long history of research and advocacy. Currently, states have different guidelines regarding the use of both medical and recreational types of marijuana. However, while the purpose of recreational marijuana is often disconnected from its long-term effects on people’s health in scholarly discussions, the use of medical marijuana is viewed from the point of patient’s health and the well-being of whole communities. Some studies argue that marijuana can bring positive effects to people with such conditions as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (Fife, Moawad, Moschonas, Shepard, & Hammond, 2015). However, these and other articles also point out the potential medical drawbacks of using cannabis. It is essential to consider the problems concerning medical marijuana use, including the negative influence on a variety of neurological conditions, inconsistency of results, the lack of reliable research, and dangers of minors being exposed to the drug.
Medical Reasons
The research of medical marijuana use still lacks convincing evidence that would show the drug’s benefits to be consistent. According to Shishko, Oliveira, Moore, and Almeida (2018), there exist no conclusive studies that would outline the effects of medical marijuana on certain conditions. While some anecdotal evidence is presented in some articles, it cannot be considered reliable enough to implement cannabis in medical practices. Moreover, the majority of research concerning marijuana use is qualitative, where studies are based on conversations with participants and their self-assessment with or without the help of measurement scales (Shishko et al., 2018).
Furthermore, the quality of cannabis used for therapeutic purposes is also a concern of the healthcare industry. Fife et al. (2015) argue that the lack of regulations for marijuana and its possible contamination can expose patients to unfavorable outcomes and unforeseen side effects. The presence of anecdotal evidence suggesting harmful long-term effects of medical marijuana should be taken into account as well. As Suryadevara et al. (2017) find, cannabis can worsen one’s chronic brain conditions, exacerbate the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and increase risks for people with schizophrenia. Fife et al. (2015) also discuss adverse outcomes and suggest that, while the evidence is inconclusive, cognitive abilities and memory can be damaged as a result of using marijuana. The lack of stable results makes marijuana a potentially dangerous and unreliable treatment option.
Legal and Research Concerns
The implications of legalizing and standardizing medical marijuana usage should be analyzed as well. According to Pacula, Powell, Heaton, and Sevigny (2015), the approval of herbal medical marijuana can lead to a change in attitudes toward recreational marijuana by young adults and minors. Furthermore, the increased accessibility can expose young people to cannabis and expand its use. This development can potentially harm the health of adolescents and young adults and raise the rates of substance abuse. The change in using marijuana can be endorsed by studies that present findings as fully reliable. Nonetheless, Shishko et al. (2018) point out that recall bias may be present in such articles, devaluing evidence.
Conclusion
The use of medical marijuana is not researched sufficiently to implement it into regular medical practice. The gathered information reveals a wide range of results that cannot be considered reliable. The quality of the drug and its possible contamination, as well as the lack of checking procedures, can lead to adverse effects in patients. Moreover, some noted long-term outcomes should also be considered while discussing marijuana.
References
Fife, T. D., Moawad, H., Moschonas, C., Shepard, K., & Hammond, N. (2015). Clinical perspectives on medical marijuana (cannabis) for neurologic disorders. Neurology: Clinical Practice, 5(4), 344-351.
Pacula, R. L., Powell, D., Heaton, P., & Sevigny, E. L. (2015). Assessing the effects of medical marijuana laws on marijuana use: The devil is in the details. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 34(1), 7-31.
Shishko, I., Oliveira, R., Moore, T. A., & Almeida, K. (2018). A review of medical marijuana for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Real symptom re-leaf or just high hopes? Mental Health Clinician, 8(2), 86-94.
Suryadevara, U., M Bruijnzeel, D., Nuthi, M., A Jagnarine, D., Tandon, R., & W Bruijnzeel, A. (2017). Pros and cons of medical cannabis use by people with chronic brain disorders. Current Neuropharmacology, 15(6), 800-814.