Medicalization of Marijuana and Prescription Drugs
The Literature Review covers the available literature on the topic of medicalization of marijuana and its pros and cons in society. Thereafter the findings from the literature provided are discussed and finally a conclusion is presented.
Introduction
Marijuana has been used as medicinal drug despite it being generally viewed as a drug which is usually abused by people who want to feel good and as a result, display euphoria. Inciardi and Harrison (1999) research that therapeutic effects in cases of nausea, pain, epilepsy, asthma and hypertension have been documented for several years for both marijuana plants extracts and cannabinoids that have been purified. The Drug Enforcement Administration had been confronted severally to reschedule marijuana in acknowledgment of its possible medicinal purposes but these confrontations had failed until there was a publicized turnaround when Proposition 215 in California and Proposition 200 in Arizona were passed in November 1996 to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal use with a doctors prescription (p.69).
The aim of this paper is to discuss the medicalization of marijuana and other prescription drugs in the United States by exploring the pros and cons of their uses as well as the juxtapositions and comparisons of medicinal drugs from a sociological point of view thus illustrating the values of these drugs.
This paper therefore aims to give the values of marijuana since it has been proven to be of medicinal value. Gieringer, Rosenthal and Carter (2008) have presented cases of the medicinal value of marijuana whereby they state that it is helpful for eye diseases other than glaucoma. One individual has used it to treat a drusen cyst which is a growth that applies pressure on his eye ball (p103). The paper also aims to present the contribution of marijuana to the economy. Staley (1992) states Marijuana is Americas largest cash crop (p.5).
Literature Review
Marinol, an ingredient known to be contained in marijuana has been shown to produce optimistic results. Karch (2007) states that Marinol which has been applied in the treatment of anorexia which is associated with AIDS will generate positive test results. This proves that marijuana can treat one of the greatly feared eating disorders especially in young women. Therefore those who have been worried about their body images will not have to anymore.
Inciardi and Harrison (1999) research that in ancient times (1000 to 1500 B.C.) as documented in the four Vedas from India which are the oldest totally safeguarded religious texts, marijuana was used in religious ceremonies to free one from distress or anxiety. They also found that in the second century, it was used as an anesthetic in China as well as information that Greek and Roman healers suggested the use of marijuana to cure earaches (p.70).
Dart (2004) found that in the nineteenth century, marijuana was a major cause for the generation of revenue in various cities of the United States which brought a large wave of immigration into the United States from Mexico (p.1065). This shows that it created jobs for the low income earners and raised the countries Gross Domestic Product.
Staleys (1992) research concurs with the one above whereby he states that in 1986, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) computed that the approximated value of marijuana crops added up to a total of 26.7 billion compared to other crops whose value was lower. Therefore it contributed in raising the countrys economy.
Gieringer et al. (2008) have proved that marijuana is a non-lethal drug unlike others. They assert that despite its psychoactive effects, it is an exceptionally safe drug unlike other psychoactive drugs such as alcohol, aspirin, opiates, nicotine and caffeine which are known to cause deadly overdoses. Therefore an individual smoking marijuana will smoke it continually without fearing the chances of ending up dead in contrast to one smoking cigarettes whose fatality is caused by the nicotine in cigarettes.
Marijuana is also shown to be a factor which is responsible for the promotion of commodity consumption. Corporations have exploited this and use it as a marketing strategy to attract customers to their products. This is especially when drugs regularly appear in Hollywood films. Blackman (2004) researches that a variety of films in the 1980s have upheld a positive representation of drugs like marijuana whereby they take up humorous marijuana scenes which result in sensitive personal revelations, creating and strengthening bonds of solidarity between different individuals. Hence, though drug use is usually taken up it provides liberating experiences for the characters (p.65). From this illustration therefore, viewers are encouraged to buy marijuana thus promoting corporations while also being comically relieved.
Smokers of marijuana are not prone to addiction as compared to takers of other drugs. Most people who take heroin, tobacco, cocaine or alcohol are addicted easily. Staley (1992) states that marijuana is the least addictive psychoactive drug. He strongly asserts that a considerable number of users are not addicts even when compared to alcohol and tobacco.
Those who are chronic users of marijuana are justified to do so during drug testing for the purpose employment, acquiring insurance or law enforcement. Gieringer et al. (2008) have found that those chronic users should maintain a prescription for Marinol which has been legalized. They therefore emphasize that employees have the right to test positive for a legal prescription for a drug. Hence the ultimate result will be that they cannot be disqualified for testing positive for marijuana (p.32).
The Cons of Marijuana Consumption
Although marijuana has been portrayed as being valuable in the society, it has some effects that are negative. Hoeger and Hoeger (2008) present the short term effects of marijuana such as tachycardia, which is a highly accelerated heartbeat, difficulty in attentiveness, irregular confusion, impairment of short-term memory and stability of speech, meddling of the physical and mental learning as well as increased possibility of a heart attack a whole day after smoking it (p.414). These effects therefore will interfere during communication with other people. They further state that the long term effects experienced are permanent brain damage, less resistance to contagious diseases, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and even impotence (p.414).
Cases of exaggeration have occurred as a result of the use of marijuana. Dart (2004) investigates that a user of marijuana will turn violently murderous towards the nearest person using a knife, axe or gun to kill or injure that person for no reason (p.1065). Therefore it is dangerous to be around people who smoke marijuana since they display violent behavior as a result.
Some other health effects have occurred as a result of chronic smoking of marijuana. Shoshov (2003) provides examples such as the impairment of the bodys immune system such that it is not able to fight off contagious diseases and other serious ones like cancer. This was proven after tests were done on mice and it was discovered that when exposed to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the ingredient contained in marijuana, they are likely to develop bacterial infections and tumors (p.5)
Shoshov (2003) also portrays the effects of marijuana on learning and social behavior where depression, anxiety and personality troubles are some of the main characteristics associated with it. She asserts that smoking it compromises learning ability and the memory such that a person lags behind on intellectual, work or social skills due to the increased intake. According to research done, this unpleasant impact can last for days or even weeks after the effects of the drug wear off. In regards to school life, students have been shown to display low grades and even less likely to graduate from school in contrast to non-smoking students (p.5).
Shoshov (2003) also investigates its effects on pregnancy whereby babies who are born to women who smoked during the pregnancy period seem to have altered responses to visual stimulus, increased quivering and a high-pitched cry thus indicating that there is trouble with neurological growth. Observations have given portrayals of these children experiencing problems in later years. Some of these include behavioral problems, poor performance in duties involving visual perception, language comprehension, maintained attention and memory. In addition, decision-making also appears to be a problem for them (p.7).
Findings
The literature above has shown cases in which marijuana can and cannot be used and therefore the findings are provided below
Marijuana has been portrayed as being able to cure eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa which is a common disorder displayed in females. Watson (2007) states that anorexia arises from thoughts and emotions. Ninety to ninety five percent who suffer from it are female although the male percentage is rising (p.4). Since marijuana is a solution to this disorder, then ones who suffer from anorexia can take it and still maintain their positive body image.
It has been used as a relief from pain since in ancient times it was used as an anesthetic. In modern times it has been found through experiments that elements of marijuana are used in pain relief. Inciardi and Harrison (1999) found that there is evidence that cannabinoid receptors are elements of the pain control system. Therefore this shows likelihood of smoked marijuana being able to relieve pain effectively due to speedy absorption as compared to THC taken orally (p.78).
The marijuana crop is of value to the countrys economy as researched by Staley and Dart who state that it generated revenue for the economy of the United States during the 980s and the nineteenth century respectively. It has also created jobs for people who are involved in its sale and cultivation. This is illustrated in Darts research on how marijuana paved way for immigration of workers from Mexico to look jobs. The jobs concerning Marijuana were readily available for them.
The likelihood of death as a result of marijuana is minimal to none since no cases of death that have been documented. However, it has been stated that one of the effects of smoking marijuana is heart attack. It has also been researched that chronic smoking will weaken the immune system hence increasing the chances of one contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases such as AIDS. Therefore this will result in stigmatization as a result of having the disease.
The use of Marijuana displayed in films has been helpful in attracting customers to buying it due to the comic relief characters in the films display after smoking it. However, the films encourage children under the age of eighteen to start smoking it should they ever get to watch them. They may start portraying adverse effects such as loss of concentration and memory as well as behavioral problems as submitted by Shoshov.
Smokers of marijuana have been researched by Staley as not being prone to addiction. The chances of addiction are said to be minimal compared to any other drugs. This means someone can be a chronic smoker of marijuana and never worry about getting addicted.
Marinol, which is a legally prescribed ingredient of marijuana, enables one to be qualified for employment or acquiring insurance. During testing, if one tests positive for marijuana with traces of Marinol, he or she is not likely to be disqualified.
Therefore, although there are some loopholes to the value of marijuana, positive results have been generated from its use in society such as its contribution to the economy and its medicinal value.
Conclusion
Marijuana has been medicalized due to its therapeutic effects on symptoms such as nausea, pain, asthma, epilepsy and hypertension. It has been further been used to treat diseases such glaucoma and other diseases related with the eye. Therefore it is fit to be used for medical purposes since experiments have been carried out to prove its medicinal value and its legality has been approved by laws that have been passed in California and Arizona.
Its contribution to the economy has raked it billions as provided by Staley and was Americas biggest cash crop in 1986. In the nineteenth century, it is said to have generated revenue and provided jobs for people who migrated from Mexico.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment