English 1020
Peter Marra
12 November 2013
Marijuana – the Painkiller of the Future?
Emerging research is changing the public perception of marijuana. What was previously considered to be a purely dangerous substance now has scientifically backed medical applications, with many new positive effects being found as more trials are being conducted. This begs the question, to what extent should the use of marijuana be legalized? Do we push the boundaries of revolutionary treatment, or do we stick to our old beliefs and shut the door on this emerging field of medicine? I believe that marijuana should be legalized for both medicinal purposes, as it provides treatment for many patients who suffer from a variety of ailments, and recreational purposes, as it isn’t dangerous like other decriminalized drugs.
In normal bodily functions, inhibitory neurotransmitters (such as Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)) exist in the synaptic cleft, which is the gap between neurons. The neuron is the basic functioning unit of the nervous system. It is an elongated cell that’s purpose is to transmit messages from the brain to motor neurons, which allows humans to function. The messages travel via an electrical current from one end of the neuron to the other. These messages are then transmitted between the neurons in a pathway through the synaptic cleft – the gap between adjacent neurons – via chemicals called neurotransmitters. Dopamine is one of several neurotransmitters that causes the post-synaptic neuron (the neuron after the synapse, the one that ‘receives’ the message) to polarize in its charge, thus transmitting the message to the next neuron in the pathway. Neurotransmitters can either be excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory neurotransmitters increase the probability that the target cell will fire an action potential and polarize (i.e. Dopamine). Inhibitory neurotransmitters regulate the release of dopamine. Thus, regulating the transmission of messages through the neurons.
The active ingredient in marijuana is a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC mimics a natural neurotransmitter called anandamine. Anandamine binds to receptors on the neurons, which blocks the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, resulting in higher than normal levels of dopamine being released into the synaptic cleft, producing a positive feeling or ‘high’ (Marijuana Abuse; McPartland).
Marijuana use was unregulated for most of human history. In many ancient cultures, it was used as an agent for receiving a euphoric feeling. It was used in Chinese traditional medicine from before 2700 B.C. It spread from China to India into Africa and then into Europe as early as A.D. 500. Even within the United States, it was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia from 1850 until 1942, during which it was prescribed for various conditions such as labor pains, nausea and rheumatism. However, racial tensions in the 1930’s motivated the portrayal of marijuana as a dangerous substance. “Newspapers in 1934 editorialized: ‘Marijuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice.’” This portrayal led to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which led to marijuana use being illegal on a federal level. Later on, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified marijuana along with heroin and LSD as a Schedule 1 Substance (Duke). All of this was done, however, with no scientific testing for potential medicinal applications. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 Substance by the DEA, meaning that “it is deemed to have a high potential for abuse, it has no legitimate medical use in treatment, and there is a lack of accepted safety for its use under medical supervision” (Drug Scheduling). The last parts of this statement are now contested with numerous scientific studies showing otherwise and there is a push to bring awareness to these findings.
Currently, 85% of the prescribed marijuana is being used to treat severe pain or nausea (Ogborne). The reasons why THC aids with pain are not fully known to researchers currently (Marijuana). The most frequent hypothesis is that THC binds to the body’s natural endocannabinoid receptors, which are meant for the endocannabinoids that the human body produces on its own. However, when THC binds to these receptors, it produces the same effect in regulating the body’s responses to a variety of stimuli, including pain (McPartland). Simply put, the added dopamine in the neurotic pathway creates a diluted response to the pain stimulus, causing the patient to feel a weaker and more tolerable pain, if any. Additionally, marijuana is used to mitigate the wasting syndrome of AIDS and for the treatment of a variety of other disorders (Medical Marijuana for Pain). Because of its therapeutic nature, marijuana has been used in the treatment of cancer (to suppress nausea and stimulate appetite), glaucoma (to alleviate eye pressure), epilepsy (to stop convulsions) and multiple sclerosis (to decrease muscle spasms). It has also been found to eliminate menstrual pain (Jancin, Evidence; Jancin, Medical; McPartland). Some of these effects are irreplicable, such as reduction of arm tremors after a stroke and dementia (Gupta, Why I Changed).
One of the main benefits of marijuana is that to date, no one has died of marijuana overdose. This is a key benefit, as medication has tremendous potential of death due to overdosing, sometimes unintentionally (Drug Facts). Drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher. In 2008, more than 36,000 people died from drug overdoses, and most of these deaths were caused by prescription drugs (Gupta, Weed). People overdose on drugs primarily for two reasons – either they are seeking a stronger effect or they unintentionally take another dose because they forgot when they took their medication. This is why some experts are advocating for marijuana as a medication, because it has no overdose risk. The danger might come from excessive use, however, excess of any substance is dangerous in the human body, including water, so with careful administration, the risk is significantly lessened.
An important issue to discuss is the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. A common saying about marijuana is that it is a “gateway drug” such that the use of marijuana leads to the use of other, ‘harder’ drugs, including crack/cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, etc. (Steinberg). However, this could be attributed to the fact that as marijuana is still illicit - the only way for an individual to get it on the street is via drug dealers, who might introduce their clientele to the other substances (Marijuana). In addition, the changing societal pressures and norms have created an environment where drug use is no longer perceived negatively. There is not as much of a negative social stigma associated with smoking marijuana as there has been in the past. This catalyzes an environment where the potential for marijuana use is increased, especially amongst the youth, who are especially responsive to social pressures (Zimmer).
If marijuana were to be legalized, it should be done through a heavily controlled process. Similarly to how pharmacies distribute both prescription and common medication, marijuana dispensaries can be set up to distribute marijuana. This would have a two-fold impact. The risk of transitioning to other drugs will be negated with regulated facilities through which marijuana can be purchased. This would also have the added benefit of reducing some drug-related street crime, as the legal method of obtaining marijuana would draw people away from drug dealers. Additionally, the marijuana dispensaries can also serve to change the perception of marijuana from a street drug to a medical substance that can be used to treat a variety of ailments.
Critics of the legalization of marijuana, even for medicinal uses regard marijuana as an addictive substance. The debate regarding the addictiveness of marijuana stems from the fact that THC impacts the ‘reward pathway’ of the brain as it directly affects dopamine, which is central to the pathway (Hensen). As dopamine is released naturally from the body as a reward for ‘good behavior’ causing the individual to feel happy, by artificially increasing levels of dopamine in the body, this creates a dependence on marijuana for recreating that happy feeling.
However, the potency of the marijuana used medicinally is lesser than the potency of marijuana on the streets (Gupta, Weed). This means that the impact of the ‘official’ marijuana on the nervous system will not be as severe as the current street drug variant. Furthermore, with regards to the recreational use of marijuana, there will be many different strains with their own characteristics, similar to flavored alcohol, further deterring people from turning to drug dealers to obtain marijuana.
Interestingly, studies show that marijuana is safer than cigarettes and alcohol, both of which are legalized for recreational use within the United States. Cigarettes contain numerous toxins that have adverse effects on an individual’s health (Gupta, Why I Changed). These toxins have been linked to a plethora of health diseases. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of developing lung cancer by 18 times and the risk of chronic bronchitis and emphysema by 14 times (Hensen), due to the particulates settling in the soft tissue inside the lungs, causing irritation and inflammation. It also increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease and the risk of stroke as smoking causes reduced blood circulation due to the narrowing of the arterioles and increases the ‘stickiness’ of LDC to the walls, which together drastically increase the chance of an obstruction occurring in the blood vessel.
The negative aspect of marijuana is that it has to be smoked in order to be absorbed efficiently, which has the risk of causing occasional lung problems, especially in patients and individuals with prior lung issues (Hensen). These problems look to be resolved in the future if medical marijuana is legalized, as technological innovation would lead to new ways to administer it to patients (Gupta, Why I Changed). Currently marijuana can also be absorbed via the digestive system, however, the effect is much less as the digestive process breaks down many of the chemicals in marijuana. Potentially, a solution form of marijuana could be administered intravenously, thus bypassing the lungs.
Detractors also suggest that there will be an increase in deaths as a result of driving under the influence of marijuana. Similarly to how drunk driving is being combatted, with strict enforcement zones and education, marijuana should be similarly dealt with. The above guidelines combined with a zero-tolerance policy (or other limit after testing is done to see if there is a ‘safe’ level) with regards to operating a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana should result in less deaths in this manner. Unfortunately, there will never be no deaths, such is the way society works, but all of the precautions should be taken to minimize any possible risk.
Another benefit that isn’t discussed as much as it should be is that the legalization of marijuana could provide an additional source of revenue for the government. Through the legalization of marijuana, and the subsequent tax, this would provide another stream of revenue for the government. Although it may not be a lot, it would certainly suffice to cover the costs of setting up the marijuana distribution system and the government oversight over the distribution process. This is because after marijuana is legalized, the demand for it will be rather inelastic. Inelastic demand is a term in economics for when an increase in the price of a good does not result in a significant decrease in the quantity demanded of the same good. Consumers purchasing marijuana will not likely be deterred by even a 10% tax, all of which is ‘free’ revenue for the government to use. The government should then provide a subsidy for hospitals to purchase marijuana, so that they are not taxed for providing treatment for patients in need.
In conclusion, the use of marijuana should be legalized for a multitude of reasons. Marijuana has tremendous potential as a therapeutic drug to help patients in need with a wide array of medical problems, allowing patients previously in unbearable conditions to live a rather comfortable lifestyle. As with any medical drug, it should be regulated by the FDA to meet certain safety conditions so that there are no adverse health effects. This will not only serve to continually improve the quality of life of numerous people who are suffering from chronic diseases, but will also help to reduce deaths from drug overdose on other painkillers. Likewise, the legalization of marijuana for recreational use also has positive consequences. Not only is marijuana safer than alcohol and cigarettes and will likely draw users away from both substances, but with an effective distribution system set up, there will also be a reduction in drug-related street crime. In addition, the government’s revenue will increase as a result of proper implementation of a tax, with these funds potentially paying for the oversight process itself.

Works Cited

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