Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
The Cannabis Conference held in South Africa on 9 and 10 April 2015 discussed the pros and cons of the use of cannabis (aka marijuana, weed, dagga) for medicinal purposes and along with that the legalisation of marijuana in South Africa became a hotly debated topic.
It's an "annual gathering of cannabis enthusiasts and sympathisers, in other words people who feel some kind of affinity for the plant and its liberation," The GCM (Global Cannabis March) website reports.
How does medical marijuana work?
Proponents claim that marijuana has medicinal qualities, but because it has always been an illegal drug, little research has been done on its medicinal properties. Currently most evidence of its healing and curing properties are purely anecdotal.
According to the US Government website DrugAbuse, the human body automatically generates cannabis-like chemicals that have an effect on pain, inflammation, and various other processes.
The roughly 85 chemicals present in marijuana - known as cannabinoids such as Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - are believed to help the body's natural chemicals function better.
Which diseases can medical marijuana be used for?
An extensive and well-research article in the US publication Business Insider lists diseases that benefit from the ingestion of cannabis and includes the treatment of glaucoma and epileptic seizures, the pain of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and inflammatory bowel diseases.
There is also much anecdotal evidence and increasing research in CBD's role in cancer treatment as well as the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. (See study here).
Cancer.org explains that THC seems to cause the "high" reported by consumers of marijuana, and also can help relieve pain and nausea, reduce inflammation, and can act as an antioxidant. It can also lead to feelings of anxiety and paranoia while cannabidiol (CBD) can help treat seizures and can reduce anxiety and paranoia.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) released a statement late in 2014 after a review of studies published in April 2014 confirming that medical marijuana might be helpful for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in that it might reduce spasms, decrease pain and control urinary incontinence in people with MS.
How is it used?
- Smoked
- Vaporised (heated to release active ingredients, without smoke being formed)
- Eaten (this is usually in the form of cookies or sweet things)
- Consumed as a liquid in extract form
Is the hype about legalising marijuana for medical use really worthwhile?
The South African National Cannabis Working Group (SANCWG), an organisation aimed at promoting positive policy decisions on the legalisation of marijuana — and others like it — are very vocal about their stance on the use of the drug.
They argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of debilitating diseases and cite peer-reviewed studies, prominent medical results and reports on the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history.Opponents of marijuana legalisation for medical purposes beg to differ . . .
Cansa's head of research, Dr Carl Albrecht (involved in Pharmacology for 21 years) spoke to Health24 about his take on the medical benefits of marijuana, which he believes be "over-hyped" and that "there is no evidence that cannabis can cure cancer; but there are many other plants which have been proven to be much more beneficial".
"Many plants become conventional drugs, for example the diabetes medication Glucophage. That is made from a plant, so there are many plants which are used in medicines that can work better than dagga."
Dr. Albrecht added that it may not be a bad idea for cannabis to be regulated IF there were a culture of standardising it, like there is with other medicinal drugs.
"If we can be assured of standardisations or rules and regulations with regards to the quality of dagga that can be afforded to a patient by a doctor writing out a script for it, then it could work. But the way that legalisation is being put makes it seem like a smokescreen to try and decriminalise dagga... because from a pharmacological point of view it is not a big deal."
The starting point of the Global Cannabis March where marchers gather tomorrow prior to departure, is a car park directly across the road from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the CBD. More information can be found on their website.
The debate continues as to whether or not it is the right thing for SA government to legalise marijuana.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Jacaranda FM Mobi site - Marching for medical marijuana
Author: Health24
Contact: Jacaranda FM Mobi site
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Jacaranda FM Mobi site
It's an "annual gathering of cannabis enthusiasts and sympathisers, in other words people who feel some kind of affinity for the plant and its liberation," The GCM (Global Cannabis March) website reports.
How does medical marijuana work?
Proponents claim that marijuana has medicinal qualities, but because it has always been an illegal drug, little research has been done on its medicinal properties. Currently most evidence of its healing and curing properties are purely anecdotal.
According to the US Government website DrugAbuse, the human body automatically generates cannabis-like chemicals that have an effect on pain, inflammation, and various other processes.
The roughly 85 chemicals present in marijuana - known as cannabinoids such as Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - are believed to help the body's natural chemicals function better.
Which diseases can medical marijuana be used for?
An extensive and well-research article in the US publication Business Insider lists diseases that benefit from the ingestion of cannabis and includes the treatment of glaucoma and epileptic seizures, the pain of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and inflammatory bowel diseases.
There is also much anecdotal evidence and increasing research in CBD's role in cancer treatment as well as the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. (See study here).
Cancer.org explains that THC seems to cause the "high" reported by consumers of marijuana, and also can help relieve pain and nausea, reduce inflammation, and can act as an antioxidant. It can also lead to feelings of anxiety and paranoia while cannabidiol (CBD) can help treat seizures and can reduce anxiety and paranoia.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) released a statement late in 2014 after a review of studies published in April 2014 confirming that medical marijuana might be helpful for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in that it might reduce spasms, decrease pain and control urinary incontinence in people with MS.
How is it used?
- Smoked
- Vaporised (heated to release active ingredients, without smoke being formed)
- Eaten (this is usually in the form of cookies or sweet things)
- Consumed as a liquid in extract form
Is the hype about legalising marijuana for medical use really worthwhile?
The South African National Cannabis Working Group (SANCWG), an organisation aimed at promoting positive policy decisions on the legalisation of marijuana — and others like it — are very vocal about their stance on the use of the drug.
They argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of debilitating diseases and cite peer-reviewed studies, prominent medical results and reports on the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history.Opponents of marijuana legalisation for medical purposes beg to differ . . .
Cansa's head of research, Dr Carl Albrecht (involved in Pharmacology for 21 years) spoke to Health24 about his take on the medical benefits of marijuana, which he believes be "over-hyped" and that "there is no evidence that cannabis can cure cancer; but there are many other plants which have been proven to be much more beneficial".
"Many plants become conventional drugs, for example the diabetes medication Glucophage. That is made from a plant, so there are many plants which are used in medicines that can work better than dagga."
Dr. Albrecht added that it may not be a bad idea for cannabis to be regulated IF there were a culture of standardising it, like there is with other medicinal drugs.
"If we can be assured of standardisations or rules and regulations with regards to the quality of dagga that can be afforded to a patient by a doctor writing out a script for it, then it could work. But the way that legalisation is being put makes it seem like a smokescreen to try and decriminalise dagga... because from a pharmacological point of view it is not a big deal."
The starting point of the Global Cannabis March where marchers gather tomorrow prior to departure, is a car park directly across the road from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the CBD. More information can be found on their website.
The debate continues as to whether or not it is the right thing for SA government to legalise marijuana.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Jacaranda FM Mobi site - Marching for medical marijuana
Author: Health24
Contact: Jacaranda FM Mobi site
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Jacaranda FM Mobi site
