Medical Use of Marijuana

The name marijuana comes from the Mexican word "maraguanquo," meaning an plant with narcotic effects. It is the popular name for one plant, Cannabis sativa. The plant grows in almost any climate, although different weather and soil conditions produce variations in its chemical content. The hemp plant has long been grown in the United States for agricultural purposes, even by such prominent figures as George Washington.

Cannabis materials are used in various cultures to bring about such psychological effects as euphoria, drowsiness, and other mental changes. Usually the plant is cut, dried, chopped and rolled into cigarettes. The cannabinoid causing most of the psychological effects of marijuana is known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This chemical has several medical uses. It is w

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arch on the subject generally reaches similar conclusions. The most widely accepted physical effects of marijuana are hunger, reduced physical functioning, loss of short-term memory, and an increased pulse rate with a slight increase in blood pressure (Maykut 4-5). Some studies suggest other health effects, such as breathing problems, fluctuations in blood sugar levels, and a lowering of the body's immune system. These are all important health effects, but they should be placed in perspective. There is no clear case of death from overdose of marijuana or THC after thousands of years of use and hundreds of years of study (Graham 277). Both alcohol and tobacco are widely recognized for directly contributing to the problem of premature deaths. Excessive drinking is directly associated with deaths by cirrhosis of the liver; smoking is directly associated with deaths by cancer. Both alcohol and tobacco contribute to heart disease. There is no such problem with marijuana. Cannabis does not damage the liver or any other vital organs. There may be an increase in the danger of cancer from the tar in smoking a marijuana cigarette. The smoke contains irritating particulate matter, just as does the smoke of tobacco. Moreover,
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