Medical Marijuana A Natural Alternative - 1968 Words

Five year old Charlotte suffers from a rare genetic disorder. In her short life, she has had as many as 300 grand mal seizures in one week, she was confined to a wheel chair, has gone into cardiac arrest and could barely speak. Her doctors were at a loss as to what to do and out of ideas on how to help her. Her mother had heard of the treatment of seizures using cannabinoids, a chemical compound found in marijuana, and as a last resort at saving her little girl, she decided to give it a try. Only two years later Charlotte is almost completely seizure free. She is able to walk, talk and feed herself. Her family has now relocated to Colorado where they are able to legally obtain the specific strain of cannabinoid found in medicinal†¦show more content†¦Amidst all of the country’s controversy surrounding this plant, there are no doubts about its medical potential. One of these medical areas is in treating seizure disorders. There are three million people in the U nited States alone that have epilepsy and one-third of those have treatment-resistant seizures (Young). The cannabinoids found in marijuana seem to help many of these people. The Epilepsy Foundation is a big supporter of medical marijuana. â€Å"Some individuals, specifically families of children with uncontrolled seizures, are using what is called cannabinoid oil, or CBD oil, and anecdotally a few are seeing remarkable results. This is truly spectacular – anytime someone finds a treatment that stops seizures, there is a cause for celebration because seizure freedom for one person means hope of seizure freedom for others (Gattone and Lammert).† These children are not getting â€Å"high† off of marijuana. The specific medical marijuana that is being used is called â€Å"Charlotte’s Web† named after the little girl described in the beginning of this paper and it is high in cannabinoids and low in THC, which is the main psychoactive ingredient that produces what users call a â€Å"high† (â€Å"Moving for Marijuana†). Seizure disorders are not the only medical benefit of marijuana. Cancer and AIDS patients have benefited substantially from its affects as they have found relief from pain but also great relief fromShow MoreRelatedAlternative Drugs: Marijuana Essay1588 Words   |  7 PagesAlternative medicines have been argued â€Å"ineffective† by many people, but most consumers find alternatives to be significantly better than most medications and result in less side affects and, in fact, save more money. Among these alternatives I will talk about acupuncture, yoga, religion, foods, and above all, medical marijuana. The medical uses of cannabis are astonishing. Studies prove that cannabis can relieve chronic pain, loss of appetite, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, antiemetic, analgesiaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?942 Words   |  4 PagesHow can marijuana be illegal when it could help so many people who suffer and are in need of help for medical reasons, such as cancer, AIDs, and people who suffer from depression? Can you imagine having a natural way of helping the sick and not using it? Marijuana should be legalized because it would help symptoms for certain medical conditions and would create jobs. Marijuana has been around the world for thousands of years. The mystical Chinese emperor Shen Neng, introduced the uses of pharmaceuticalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1407 Words   |  6 Pagesalso known as Marijuana has become a widely known and controversial topic in the United Sates. It is currently legal for recreational use in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. Medicinal Marijuana has also been legalized in 11 other states. 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Fellow drugs in this class include: heroin, LSD, MDMA, and bath salts. Some have an affinity to argue that this classification is unreasonable and outdated; however, when the factual evidence is displayed one can easily see why marijuana has no placeRead MoreMedical Marijuana Should Be Legal1651 Words   |  7 Pagesmost commonly referred to as marijuana. Medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis and its cannabinoids to treat dise ase or improve symptoms (Wikipedia.com). Cannabis contains two active ingredients inside called cannabinoids (CBD) along with the delta-g-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The medicinal and psychoactive effects that personally associate with marijuana are caused by unique structures of cannabinoids. In addition, the major psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is THC, which additionallyRead MoreAmeric Red, White, And Green1678 Words   |  7 Pagesworld: marijuana. Through the use of government slandering propaganda and stereotyping, many people have tunnel vision when it comes to the controversial issue. Many view marijuana as a harmful drug, not realizing all of the economic, resourceful, and medical uses that can generate from it. These are the same people who want to keep marijuana illegal and out of the public s hands. Only in the past twenty years has marijuana made progress with the United States Government by legalizing medical and recreationalRead MoreThe Issue Of Legalization Of Marijuana1605 Words   |  7 Pagesfamous scientists in the United States known as Carl Sagan. Marijuana has been one of the most debated topics in the media today, and numerous years before. Altogether, this debate has raised many questions, yet with very few answers of whether the legalization of marijuana should be passed, and expressed throughout the nation as a whole. The fight for legalizing marijuana has embraced itself to see success. The legalization of marijuana is essential in society today for three reasons: failed prohibitionRead MoreThe Benefits of Medical Marijuana729 Words   |  3 PagesMedical marijuana has been used for centuries to combat pain, weakness, anxiety, insomnia, female problems and nausea. Today it is commonly used by cancer and AIDS patients to stimulate hunger, combat nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy or other drug therapy and reduce pain. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing eye pressure, especially in the cases with glauco ma. Medical marijuana, or cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and there is some evidence of cannabis