Health Risks
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Two major issues currently affecting access are that marijuana is a widely abused intoxicating substance, and that marijuana is most frequently smoked. Opponents of medical marijuana point to the risks of abuse and addiction as a significant problem with its use and its acceptance.
Additionally, the health risks of marijuana smoke (a proven carcinogen) the inability to control the quantities of active substances within a freely growing plant and the existence of synthetic alternatives, all reduce the probability of a near future acceptance of marijuana as a viable public health option.
Medical marijuana has been widely promoted as a solution to deadly AIDS wasting, but there has been some recent evidence that the positive appetite increasing effects may be countered by a real lowering of immune system functioning.
Current Legal Status
A number of states have decriminalized medical marijuana or have eased restrictions on doctors, allowing them to prescribe the medication. Unfortunately, federal law still prohibits the use of and possession of the substance, regardless of state initiatives to change its legal status, and as such clinics providing medical marijuana in these states have been subject to DEA raids and harassment.
No one in America may currently use medical marijuana without some fear of legal repercussions. It remains completely illegal in all 50 states.
Marinol vs. Marijuana
Opponents of medical marijuana point to synthetic drugs such as Marinol, which synthesizes the THC from marijuana into an oral form of medication. They argue that these medications offer the same health benefits of medial marijuana, but are controlled in quantity per dose. Taking a pill also eliminates the risks of smoking on the respiratory system, and also reduces the probability of abuse.
Problematically, these medications have not performed as well as ordinary smoked marijuana in a number of studies, even studies seemingly designed to show that Marinol equals in benefits and exceeds in safety. It doesn’t work as well, many patients suffering the effects of chemotherapy cannot keep any medications down due to extreme vomiting, and it doesn’t seem to offer the same pain or anxiety relief as does the original plant.
Medical marijuana proponents argue that marijuana offers more than THC alone, and is composed of over 400 active substances, not all of which are completely understood. Marinol, and other replicated forms of the THC in marijuana, do not offer as much as simple marijuana can.
