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Cannabinoids have been shown to have neuroprotective properties and
to reduce High Intraocular Pressure which is a known risk factor for
glaucoma
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American College of Physicians;
Supporting Research into the
Therapeutic Role of Marijuana,
2008
Common marijuana adverse
effects
Notes:
Smoking marijuana increases heart rate and may drop blood pressure.
Other undesirable effects include: short term memory loss, motor skill
problems, and inability to take in information. Chronic use leads to an
increase in cancer. And possible withdrawal symptoms include:
irritability and sleep problems.
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NORML (website), 2012 State legislation regarding
Medical marijuana
Notes:
There are sixteen states that have enacted laws to make marijuana use
for medicinal reasons legal. The states are: Alaska, California,
Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey,
New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the
District of Columbia
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NORML (website), 2012 States that have decriminalized
marijuana and/or legalized it for
recreational use
Notes:
There are 14 states that have decriminalized marijuana. Which means
that no prison time or criminal record will be placed for first time
possession of any small amount. The states that have decriminalized
are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, and Oregon
Colorado and the District of California have legalized recreational use
of marijuana
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NORML (website), 2012 Safety Profile of Medical
Marijuana
Notes:
Cannabinoids are unable to induce fatal overdose. Regardless of
potency or quantity. Though its active parts do indeed produce
physiological and euphoric effects. Increased risks are among
adolescents, pregnant women, and those with mental illnesses.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and HIV
Notes:
Cannabis is used in one in three patients in North America with
HIV/Aids. Furthermore, sixty percent of HIV/AIDS patients self
identify as medical marijuana users. Studies show that patients who use
cannabis have a significant increase in food intake. Also cannabis use in
patients significantly reduced neuropathic pain intensity.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Cancer
Notes:
Studies have shown that THC administration decreases recurring
malignant tumor growth in patients. Cannabinoids also inhibit the
proliferation of various cancer cell lines such as, breast, prostate, skin,
leukemia, and lung carcinoma. Many experts feel that cannabinoids
have the ability to be the latest in anti cancer drugs.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and ALS
Notes:
Recent preclinical studies have shown that cannabinoid have the ability
to delay ALS progression. Also, other trials have shown that
cannabinoids can moderate ALS progression and possibly extend life.
Personal anecdotal from patients have also offset some symptoms.
Though obviously these anecdotal stories do not hold scientific value.
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Iversen, 2005 Long term effects of cannabis
usage
Notes:
There are several adverse effects of high intake levels and prolonged
usage of marijuana. Including: lower educational achievement,
psychiatric illness, and diminishment of cognitive functions. Though in
comparison to other dugs cannabis is a relatively safe drug.
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Kalant, 1996 Adverse effects of cannabis on
health
Notes:
Several studies indicate that there is a link between cannabis and
schizophrenia. Cognitive impairments are a common problem when
under the influence. Long-term usage may result in permanent effects
of memory loss and trouble processing information. Heavy use of
cannabis has significant risks to an individual.
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Bonsor, 2001 History of Marijuana Plant
Notes:
Cannabis Sativa was first cultivated thousands of years ago. The leaves
are arranged palmately and are very common around the world. The
origin of the plant is believed to be traced back to India just north of the
Himalayas. Cannabis plants usually have 2 flowers, a male and a
female.
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Bonsor, 2001 Marijuana in the body
Notes:
When marijuana is consumed, the chemiscals of the drug enter the
bloodstream and head to the brain and the rest of the body. The most
powerful chemical in marijuana is THC and gives the user the “high”
effect. Marijuana can be smoked or eaten. When smoked THC goes
directly to the lungs. Though when eaten the effects are longer.
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Bonser, 2001 Marijuana and the Brain
Notes:
When THC enters the system, it binds with cannabinoid receptors.
These receptors are responsible for short-term memory, coordination,
learning, and problem solving. When THC bings with receptors inside
the hippocampus, which is located in the temporal lobe, it heavily
influences short term memory loss. When THC binds to the cerebellum,
physical motor skills are further effected.
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Bonser, 2001 Other Physiological effects of
Marijuana
Notes:
Other common side effects of the inhalation of marijuana include
trouble with learning, anxiety, and increased hear rate. Also,
endocannbinoids bind with receptors in the brain and ultimately activate
hunger. Users often call this phenomenon “the munchies”.
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Bonser, 2001 Further effects of Marijuana use
Notes:
THC in marijuana may wear off in a few hours, though the chemicals
contain in it maintain to stay in the body anywhere from 20 hours to 10
days. Depending on the potency of the marijuana consumed. Marijuana
users ae still susceptible to many of the same problems cigarette
smokers are faced with such as bronchitis and other lung problems.
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Bonser, 2001 Marijuana Usage
Notes:
Marijuana is an incredibly common substance. It can be found in homes
or farms in all different regions. Marijuana is also smuggled into the
United State from Mexico, Cambodia, and even Thailand. Indoor
cultivation has come to be quite common these days considering the
relentless pursuit of the DEA.
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Bonser, 2001 Further Marijuana Usage
Notes:
Common methods to consume marijuana include: tobacco paper(joint),
cigar paper(blunt), pip, bong, and even food. Marijuana cuts across all
races, age groups, and gender. “The prevalence of marijuana use in
teenagers doubled from 1992 to 1999: One out of every 13 kids aged 12
to 17 were current users of marijuana in 1999”.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Tourettes
Syndrome
Notes:
In several clinical trials, a 25 year old patient has a 10mg of delta-9-
THC and investigators have reported that the patient’s overall tick level
has dramatically dropped. In another double-blind placebo controlled
trial a dosage of 10mg delta-9-THC dramatically reduced ticks in the
long term and patient’s did not suffer any detrimental effects.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Alzheimer’s
Disease
Notes:
“Investigators at The Scripps Research Institute in California in 2006
reported that THC inhibits the enzyme responsible for the aggregation
of amyloid plaque — the primary marker for Alzheimer's disease”.
Furthermore, investigators at Ohio State University, rats dosed with
THC had a 50 percent improvement in memory.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Gastrointestinal
Disorders
Notes:
Gastrointestinal disorders such as different bowel diseases and Crohn’s
disease can be inhibited through marijuana use. Preclinical studies have
shown that marijuana activated receptors that suppress gastrointestinal
motility, inhibits intestinal secretion, and reduce acid reflux.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Sleep Apnea
Notes:
Sleep apnea is directly related to high blood pressure, irregular
heartbeat, and even heart attacks. “One preclinical study is cited in the
scientific literature investigating the role of cannabinoids on sleep-
related apnea… investigators reported that doses of delta-9-THC and
the endocannabinoid oleamide each stabilized respiration during sleep
and blocked serotonin-induced exacerbation of sleep apnea in a
statistically significant manner”.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Incontinence
Notes:
Urinary incontinence is loss of bladder control. Statistics show that one
in ten Americans at elderly ages suffer from incontinence. In recent
investigative studies, “Following cannabinoid therapy, "urinary
urgency, the number of and volume of incontinence episodes, frequency
and nocturia all decreased significantly," investigators determined”.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Fibromyalgia
Notes:
Fibromyalgia is the chronic pain of muscles and increase in tenderness
of different parts of the body. Where medical use is legal, physicians
commonly issue cannabis to treat different musculoskeletal disorders
such as fibromyalgia. In recent trials, marijuana is helped with the relief
of pain and muscle stiffness. Marijuana plays a great factor in the
eluviation of pain.
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NORML (website), 2012 Marijuana and Multiple
Sclerosis
Notes:
Throughout the coarse of an individual with multiple sclerosis, the
patient commonly becomes permanently disabled. According to recent
statistics, nearly 200 people are diagnosed weekly. “investigators at the
University of California at San Diego reported in 2008 that inhaled
cannabis significantly reduced objective measures of pain intensity and
spasticity in patients with MS in a placebo-controlled, randomized
clinical trial”.
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NORML (website), 2012 Cannabis and Cognition
Notes:
Although studies and journals show that long-term use of marijuana do
indeed have effects on cognitive abilities, the extent commonly greatly
exaggerated. A recent study found that long-term smokers who used
once a week, "showed virtually no significant differences from control
subjects (those who had smoked marijuana less than 50 times in their
lives) on a battery of 10 neuropsychological tests."
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Zimmer, 1997 Correlation of medical
marijuana and general marijuana
use
Notes:
Statistics have shown that in areas that have legalized medical use of
marijuana for a prolonged time, have not seen any sort of increased
usage of recreational use of marijuana. For example citizens in
Netherlands who have had access to marijuana in its entirety have
found no escalation overall cannabis use.
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Watson, 1999 THC
Notes:
THC is the primary ingredient in marijuana and is the substance that
produces most of the effects of the usage. “All recent studies have
indicated that the behavioral effects of THC are receptor mediated.
Neurons in the brain are activated when a compound binds to its
receptor, which is a protein typically located on the cell surface. Thus,
THC will exert its effects only after binding to its receptor. [...] Binding
to a receptor triggers an event or a series of events in the cell that results
in a change in the cell's activity, its gene regulation, or the signals that it
sends to neighboring cells."
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Lynskey, 2003 Is marijuana s gateway drug?
Notes:
In a recent study, individuals who used cannabis at an early age had a
dramatic increase in probability to abuse other drugs and/or alcohol.
Early access to cannabis increases the tendency to try other illegal drugs
and it provides easier routs to obtain other drugs.
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Watson, 1999 Marijuana Addictiveness
Notes:
"In summary, although few marijuana users develop dependence, some
do. But they appear to be less likely to do so than users of other drugs
(including alcohol and nicotine), and marijuana dependence appears to
be less severe than dependence on other drugs...”. Marijuana users are
generally far less dependent on their substance in comparison to other
substance users.
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Watso, 1999 Marijuana and its relation to
causing cancer
Notes:
There is no clear cut evidence that marijuana is a cancer causing agent.
Though further studies show that marijuana smoke is a definite risk
factor regarding respiratory cancer.
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