You’re sick. Someone offers you marijuana, saying that it will alleviate your suffering. Do you take it? Many patients and doctors have insisted that marijuana is uniquely beneficial, while others say the dangers of cannabis far outweigh the benefits. We know that marijuana is a drug, but is it a medicine?
Please select the category that most closely reflects your concern about this content,
so that we can review it and determine whether it violates Civility 101 or isn't
appropriate for some other reason.
Abusing this feature is also a violation of Civility 101.
Explanation:
Biweekly updates on new debates and experts
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
© 2008 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Opposing Views, Inc. is not responsible for the content posted on this website. Please view full disclaimer under Terms
Does Marijuana have Medical Value?
Medical Marijuana a misnomer
Promoting the notion of so-called ‘safe smoking of cannabis’ is a quite misleading and potentially harmful action – with an erroneous message, very similar to the one promoted to have people smoke tobacco to relieve symptoms of stress and other illnesses, by tobacco ‘experts’ some 20 years ago.
World experts including the American Academy of Ophthalmology advise that existing pharmaceutical drugs provide satisfactory treatment for patients suffering glaucoma, cancers, nausea, wasting syndrome and multiple sclerosis.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has not endorsed marijuana to be a safe drug for consumption in any form.
The Australian Medical Association has issued warnings on the health risks associated with smoking marijuana, including memory loss, psychosis, hallucinations, asthma, and lung cancer. Studies have found that cannabis drivers have a 7 times greater risk of fatal accidents.
- Drug Free Australia July 29, 2008 4:23PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Medical cannabis is 5000 year old fact
Firstly you know that what you are saying is completely wrong, the fact is that smoking cannabis is far less harmful than most pharmaceuticals not only because it has less side effects, it simply has been proved to be a protector of the body and the brain, see US Patent 6630507 - Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants Assignee:* The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
However there is another innovation coming out of GB that is a spray made from the oil of the plant and almond oil, perhaps a little further research from our Governments own anti drug group. You know the thing that really gets me with DFA is that you will say nothing about the thousands of people who die every year from Alcohol, tobacco and lets not forget the millions of deaths to pharmaceuticals and medical errors, WHY?
You are right the TGA says no medical use, so here is a question I am still trying to get an answer on since they say no medical use why then have they any power over this plant after all they are only there to deal with medical not anything else, secondly why are any plants under TGA watch, again they are supposed to deal with medical not horticulture? Perhaps you can answer.
The so called medical risks have been proved to be not only wrong in fact continuing to claim these things are even according to the latest from the WHO is nothing more than lies and does more harm than good.
Please before more kids decide that adults simply cannot tell the truth don't you think it is time to start telling the truth again a recommendation from the WHO latest report to go to all Governments who signed the Single Treaty and by the way the very thing that not one of them are abiding by on any level, Australia is totally in breach of the Single Treaty at least the USA are ensuring its use for medical and scientific purpose that the treaty states they MUST, a small 4 letter word that your people and our Governments are having a problem understanding.
- littlbit
October 4, 2008 1:13AM
Reply to this Recommend (2)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
completely erroneous take on cannabis use
first of all in recorded history no one has ever died from cannabis. secondly marijuana is a slang word for cannabis. thirdly most people die from doctor prescribed drugs,around 400000 people a year. also not to mention the people that become addicted to pain killers! many of our elected officials have admitted to using cannabis. The only reason it is illegal is because drug companies cannot stop people from growing it themselves and it cuts into their profits. alchohol is the number one drug for auto accident,suicide,family breakup,crime and liver damage. but yet it is legal and young kids die in auto accidents in high school proms and racing down the road. but yet no one dies from cannabis. get your head out of your ass and look around.
- Jackattack
October 8, 2008 2:59PM
Reply to this Recommend (5)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Just what question do you suggest that you are answering?
Your argument is a protest against something that isn't even being discussed here. The question at hand is, "Does Marijuana have Medical Value?" The questions you have answered are different than the question posed.
As for the assertion that somebody is 'promoting the notion of safe smoking' let me put your mind at ease. Luckily, you don't have to smoke it. It can be inhaled through an herbal vaporizer and used in the preparation of food. Ever heard of a pot brownie? Well, they exist, and you don't have to smoke them.
As far as satisfactory treatment goes, does that include death? Obviously, if somebody dies from an approved treatment then they don't have those pesky ailments to deal with any more, do they?
There are just as many obscure groups of folks, that regular people have never heard of, that HAVE endorsed marijuana. While I'm sure the Therapeutic Goods Administration has their reasons for withholding their endorsement, the lack of endorsement has no bearing on the question at hand, and it does not address whether they WOULD endorse marijuana were it gainful for them to do so.
Where o where were the cannabis driving studies done? Austrailia? How was the numerical probability of a fatal accident calculated? Who did the math? Cannabis is not a hallucinogen. Recent studies oppose the Austrailians' conclusions on things such as memory loss and lung cancer. What do the AMERICAN studies say? O yeah, I forgot, there ARE no American studies.
The answer to the question at hand is yes. There are folks who were formerly among you that have switched sides. Although President Obama apparently opposes marijuana legalization, it is important to note that he did not associate himself with any of the positions you have stated. In fact, he didn't qualify his position at all.
- Chris
December 17, 2008 7:30AM
Reply to this Recommend (1)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
and alcohol users?
Promoting the notion of so-called ‘safe smoking of cannabis’ is a quite misleading and potentially harmful action – with an erroneous message, very similar to the one promoted to have people smoke tobacco to relieve symptoms of stress and other illnesses, by tobacco ‘experts’ some 20 years ago.
but still with it killing 500,000 people A YEAR it is still legal, but something that has killed 0 is still illegal...
Studies have found that cannabis drivers have a 7 times greater risk of fatal accidents.
and alcohol users? but that's still legal...
The Australian Medical Association has issued warnings on the health risks associated with smoking marijuana, including memory loss, psychosis, hallucinations, asthma, and lung cancer.
those are RISKS not side effects much like all the crazy SIDE EFFECTS much like the ones you would use for these...
existing pharmaceutical drugs provide satisfactory treatment for patients suffering glaucoma, cancers, nausea, wasting syndrome and multiple sclerosis.
- Turbojdmef9
January 27, 2009 11:32AM
Reply to this Recommend (1)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Nonsense.
Cannabis has controlled my asthma since 1968. It has provided a 25% reduction in my intraoccular pressure as my Ophthalmologist will attest, since my glaucoma diagnosis eight years ago.
And I like it. Deal with that.
- rsteeb
March 3, 2009 10:22PM
Reply to this Recommend (1)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Rx drugs as well?
Lots of other medical associations & groups have endorsed MMJ. Another poster put up a list.
You listed one of the reasons medical cannabis stays illegal, Rx drugs . How about a list of the side affects of your list of Rx drugs? The Rx drug makers are afraid they will lose $ if cannabis were RE-legalized.
Smoke bad? Get a vaporizer.
Medical cannabis is NOT a misnomer. If it were we would not be advocating it's RE- legalization . Those of us who fear the Rx drug side affects know that MMJ works. Besides, the RE-legalize movement is not about getting any one else to start using medical cannabis. It IS about letting us as individuals & States have the ability to choose for ourselves. Why cannot we be allowed to choose a substance that you cannot die from using over Rx drugs "whose side affects may include" our death?
Look up the persecution of MMJ patients like Angel Raich.
SamFox
- SamFox
March 30, 2009 3:24PM
Reply to this Recommend (1)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.