Maine is one of 17 states in which possession, use and cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes is legal. The topic of medical marijuana is one that can be confusing, especially because of the significant amount of conflicting information about the issue. It is an issue that affects not only medical marijuana users, but also the children and teens who are exposed to misinformation within the media, and whose choices about whether to experiment with marijuana are directly influenced by the messages they receive. Since 2000, youth perceptions that regular use of marijuana has little to no risk have increased. Likewise, there has been a steady increase in the numbers of youth reporting they used marijuana in the past month.
It is important to sort through the facts about medical marijuana so that we, as adults and parents, can communicate the facts accurately to the children and teens in our lives. Here is what you should know:
• The cannabis plant has medicinal potential. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), “the potential medicinal properties of marijuana have been the subject of substantive research and heated debate. Scientists have confirmed that the cannabis plant contains active ingredients with therapeutic potential for relieving pain, controlling nausea, stimulating appetite, and decreasing ocular (eye) pressure.”
• There are FDA approved Cannabinoid-based medications. Cannabinoid-based medications include synthetic compounds, such as dronabinol (Marinol) and nabilone (Cesamet), which are FDA approved, and a new, chemically pure mixture of plant-derived THC and cannabidiol called Sativex, formulated as a mouth spray and approved in Canada and parts of Europe for the relief of cancer-associated pain and spasticity and neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis. (Source: NIDA)
• More research needs to be done. Scientists continue to investigate the medicinal properties of THC and other cannabinoids to better evaluate and harness their ability to help patients suffering from a broad range of conditions, while avoiding the adverse effects of smoked marijuana. (Source: NIDA)
• Marijuana as a smoked product has never proven to be medically beneficial. While the cannabis plant has some ingredients with medicinal potential, numerous studies have shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.
• Marijuana causes many harms, including health, safety, social and behavioral problems, especially for young users – these will be discussed in detail in the next article in this series.
This article, the first of a two-part series, was brought to you by Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP). For more information and resources, go to asapcoalition.com or call 521-2408.
