MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA

Medical Use of Marijuana

Abstract

This paper clearly discusses the drug marijuana in detail. Starting from marijuana's discovery and invention, the paper discusses its composition and classification; its history, such as fro where it was originated and how and when it reached America after conquering almost half globe. Most importantly, the paper discusses the medical and other therapeutic conditions in which marijuana is used.

Medical Use of Marijuana

Introduction

In ancient times, people were not provided with the latest technologies and facilities as present today, to overcome their hurdles, perform certain tasks, or cure the illness posting a threat to their lives; however, their operations and processes would be in compatibility with the resources existing back then. If it were not for the advancements and research made in the medical field, we would still be searching for the cure of some commonly prevailing and lethal diseases in the world. The developments made by mankind in almost every field, especially science, have changed the course of carrying out different processes, and most importantly, brought ease in our lives.

Over time, the medical field has been able to extract some medical uses out of some useful herbs and plants in scientific ways. Amongst those commonly used plants and herbs, is the plant of cannabis sativa. The dried parts of the earlier mentioned plant are used, in the form of, what is commonly known as Marijuana.

Marijuana

Considering history, marijuana has been amongst the most controversial drugs, based on its therapeutic uses, or its ability to restore health and ease down pain. The reason for marijuana being controversial remains with its uses in the society. It would not be a controversial drug to that extent, if it were only used for the medical purposes; however, the society has extracted pleasure out of a medical drug. Therefore, several debates over time have taken birth, grading marijuana as an illegal drug.

Composition and Classification

Marijuana is graded to be in the category of raw hallucinogens. Hallucinogens bring an evident change in one's mental state affecting the consciousness, perception and mental awareness, if somehow induced in the body.

The composition of marijuana is quite complex and complicated in structure; it is composed of a number of chemical compounds having a significant function and impact, in the final composition of marijuana. As discussed earlier that marijuana is mainly a dried form of cannabis; however, it comprises of more than 400 chemicals. Amongst those 400 chemicals, over eighty chemicals are commonly known as cannabinoids, which are to a certain extent distinguishable and different from cannabis. Moreover, within them is another chemical known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); it has been observed that THC is the most active and dynamic chemical with respect to pharmacology.

History of Marijuana

Marijuana is not a drug discovered in recent times. For thousands of years people have been utilizing this drug for smoking purposes, besides taking advantage of its medical benefits, as well. Interestingly, its primitive use is defined as that of the fabric, woven from the hemp plant, back in 7000 or ...