Not a day goes by that a social media post touts the numerous medical benefits of Marijuana. As more states legalize Marijuana for medicinal and recreational reasons, scientists have conducted studies to confirm or refute the claimed beneficial aspects of Marijuana and Cannabis-related products. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have published “The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research,” summarizing medical research findings involving Marijuana in terms of health and medical treatment. The effects of Marijuana on patients with chronic pain, cancer, immunity, respiratory problems, pregnancy issues, and numerous other areas, are covered throughout the document.1
This publication will be used by the Federal Government as a leading tool on potentially legalizing Marijuana nationally and for what medical purposes is it recommended for. Because of the lack of funding in Marijuana research, most of the results have insufficient evidence to support or refute a statistical relationship between Marijuana usage and medically relevant findings. However, there are four major areas with conclusive evidence that Marijuana used as a relevant treatment was medically beneficial:
Cannabis Treatment of Chronic Pain, Most Commonly Associated With:
- Neuropathy (pain usually caused by Diabetes affecting the hands and feet)
- Pain from Cancer
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Musculoskeletal Issues (pain attributed to previous accidents, breaks, sprains, strains, or overuse)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Chemotherapy-Induced pain
Published findings have shown an average reduction of pain by 40% when Marijuana is used to treat Chronic Pain.
Marijuana Used as an Anti-Nausea/Anti-Vomiting Treatment for Chemotherapy Treatment
Zofran and Reglan are prescribed for patients suffering from post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, being key to keeping one’s appetite and strength up during such a physically demanding treatment. However, patients have been found to prefer Marijuana over these drugs when offered the choice between the two, with both being equally effective in combatting nausea and vomiting.
Improving Patient-Reported Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Symptoms with Marijuana
Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis deal with sudden and uncontrollable jerking movements, resulting in difficulty in holding utensils, feeding oneself, and other hand-related issues. Scientific studies have shown that Oral Cannabinoids have been reported by patients to reduce uncontrolled muscle movements
Reduction of Sleep Disturbance with Marijuana
Cannabinoids have been found to reduce sleep disturbances resulting from:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (snoring and sudden stopping of breathing during sleep)
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Chronic Pain
Several potentially negative health-related aspects where also found to not be a threat to one’s health when one smoked Marijuana regularly.
No Evidence of Cancer as a Result of Smoking Marijuana
Cigarette smoking is the principle cause of 12 types of cancer, including lung cancer, cancers of the larynx, oral cavity, and the throat.2 Smoking Marijuana, however, has not been proven to increase the incidence of lung cancer, or head and neck cancers. When compared to usage of tobacco as a smoked product, individuals who smoked the same amount of Marijuana annually who did not smoke tobacco have significantly lower lung cancer rates compared to individuals who smoked the same volume of tobacco annually.
No Evidence of Cardiovascular Disease as a Result of Smoking Marijuana
Every year, cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 800,000 deaths annually, the leading cause of mortality in the United States.3 Cigarette smoking has been found to increase the likelihood of death from cardiovascular disease by 30%.4 Studies of individuals who have smoked comparable volumes of Marijuana have been inconclusive in showing increased heart disease.
Cannabis: Correlation versus Causation
The above scientific studies have all been based on mathematical correlation using large numbers of patients in clinical settings, statistically proved that the use of Marijuana gave specific results. However, many of these studies have qualifiers stating that correlation is not causation, and that further scientific studies may be needed with proof of why the results were achieved. In terms of pain reduction, it has been scientifically established that reduced chronic pain from Marijuana is the result of the cannabinoids being taken up by certain nerve receptors in the body associated with pain, appetite, food, and memory. Other studies, however, have only shown correlation, with no scientific proof of why the results were achieved. Limited funding is holding back further validation of why these results were achieved beyond the correlated effect. The danger of equating correlation to causation can be shown with the following simple cause and effect examples:5
- “After I washed my car, it rained. Therefore, washing my car causes rain.”
- “When I got in the bath tub, the phone rang. Therefore, getting in the bath will lead to the phone ringing.”
- “We won our baseball game when I was wearing these socks, so it must be the lucky socks that caused our win.”
The other importance of conducting clinical research rather than relying on correlated observation is to minimize the Hawthorne Effect, where individuals who know they are being observed will change their reaction to obtain desired results.6 This problem is eliminated with double-blind studies, where neither the patient, nor the doctor, is aware of who is getting an actual product, and who is getting a placebo.7 The FDA and other Federal governmental agencies, as well as the U.S. Congress in terms of legislation, will only be convinced through such studies rather than correlated observations.
References
5 Falin L, “Correlation vs. Causation,” Scientific American, October 2, 2013.
6 “The Hawthorne Effect,” The Economist, November 3, 2008.
7 Black D, “Double Blind Studies,” Consumer Health.
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