Skip to main content

The Effects of Marijuana: Healthcare Medical Device

The Effects of Marijuana: Healthcare Medical Device

Scientific studies released in mid-1997 indicate that people who smoke large amounts of marijuana may experience changes in their brain chemistry. These changes are similar to those seen in the brains of people who abuse addictive drugs such as heroin, cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol. All addictive drugs increase the amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a brain chemical responsible for causing feelings of reward. The new studies found (for the first time) that high doses of marijuana increased the levels of dopamine in the brain. Constant use of addictive drugs, however, can cause the brain to lose its ability to produce high levels of dopamine. When this happens, a drug user feels a greater need for the drug, or for even stronger drugs. Scientists believe this may occur with marijuana.

Users of addictive drugs feel withdrawal symptoms (feeling anxious, edgy, and unable to cope) when they stop taking the drugs. It was previously believed that marijuana users did not suffer feelings of withdrawal. However, the recent studies indicate that heavy users of marijuana smoke not so much for the “high” but to calm their feelings of anxiety brought on by withdrawal from the drug. Since THC is absorbed primarily in the fat tissues and lingers in the bloodstream, withdrawal symptoms are not as evident as with fast-acting drugs like nicotine.

In 1985, the FDA gave approval for the use of two psychoactive chemicals from marijuana to help prevent the nausea and vomiting many cancer patients experience after receiving chemotherapy. For these patients, THC can be prescribed in capsule form. Research suggests that compounds (other than THC) inhaled when smoking marijuana can also be used for medicinal purposes. Marijuana may help stop the weight loss in AIDS patients, it may lower eye pressure in people with glaucoma, it may control spasms in multiple sclerosis patients, and it may help relieve chronic pain.
Labels:

Comments

LifeForce said…
There are many studies done on drugs and alcohol and to date the findings on the effects of marijuana are for the most part very advantageous. Here is a link to an enlightening movie.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=9864907

For information on what new companies are doing to promote the legalization of marijuana check this link....
http://247wallst.com/2009/04/03/legalized-medical-marijuana-company-now-public-really-cviv/
4/06/2009 4:28 AM
Anonymous said…
I suffer from chronic nausea and vomiting due to Diabetic Neuropathic Gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach.) I have tried Marinol and it is worthless. It does nothing for nausea or pain control. Inhaled cannabis vapors gives immediate relief from chronic nausea and vomiting with no dangerous or permanent side effects as in other prescription drugs. Reglan/Metoclopramide is the most commonly prescribed drug for my condition. As my doctor handed me my Reglan prescription he said, "Do not take Reglan on a regular basis for it causes irreversible Parkinson like shakes and tremors," this is a common side effect, it also causes "Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome" which is rarer yet fatal. WHAT!!! They want me to take proven toxic drugs and risk acquiring a permanent nervous disorder akin to Parkinson's rather, than use marijuana proven completely safe and effective? Especially for a 55 year old man on disability due to the gastroparesis. What kind of message does it send to our young people to force me, or anyone, to take toxic drugs that cause lifelong disorders or death while prohibiting marijuana? "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest most therapeutically active substances known to man. For the DEA to stand between those sufferer's and the substance is arbitrary, unreasonable and capricious."-Francis L. Young, DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge, 1988. Sorry folks but when they tell me to take toxic drugs that are worse than the disease something is wrong and I will not participate. Legal or not I will use the safest, most effective and efficient drug for chronic nausea and vomiting control known to man, Inhaled Cannabis Vapors. Our politicians are so obtuse regarding marijuana in general and Medical Marijuana in particular. For a government to prevent research into a drug that has proven medically accepted use for treatment in the United States gives evidence that corupption exists within that government preventing it from legalizing Marijuana in general and Medical Marijuana on particular. You cannot say it is just 'political opinion,' there is definetly corruption in the United States Government resulting in maintaing 'Marijuana Prohibition.' We have already learned Prohibition does not work. You have to admit Al Capone was a great teacher proving prohibition only works for the criminal.
4/06/2009 11:56 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insulin Resistance- cause of ADD, diabetes, narcolepsy, etc etc

Insulin Resistance Insulin Resistance Have you been diagnosed with clinical depression? Heart disease? Type II, or adult, diabetes? Narcolepsy? Are you, or do you think you might be, an alcoholic? Do you gain weight around your middle in spite of faithfully dieting? Are you unable to lose weight? Does your child have ADHD? If you have any one of these symptoms, I wrote this article for you. Believe it or not, the same thing can cause all of the above symptoms. I am not a medical professional. I am not a nutritionist. The conclusions I have drawn from my own experience and observations are not rocket science. A diagnosis of clinical depression is as ordinary as the common cold today. Prescriptions for Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, etc., are written every day. Genuine clinical depression is a very serious condition caused by serotonin levels in the brain. I am not certain, however, that every diagnosis of depression is the real thing. My guess is that about 10 percent of the people taking ...
5 comments
Read more

Could Narcolepsy be caused by gluten? :: Kitchen Table Hypothesis

Kitchen Table Hypothesis from www.zombieinstitute.net - Heidi's new site It's commonly known that a severe allergy to peanuts can cause death within minutes. What if there were an allergy that were delayed for hours and caused people to fall asleep instead? That is what I believe is happening in people with Narcolepsy. Celiac disease is an allergy to gliadin, a specific gluten protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. In celiac disease the IgA antigliadin antibody is produced after ingestion of gluten. It attacks the gluten, but also mistakenly binds to and creates an immune reaction in the cells of the small intestine causing severe damage. There is another form of gluten intolerance, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, in which the IgA antigliadin bind to proteins in the skin, causing blisters, itching and pain. This can occur without any signs of intestinal damage. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a similar autoimmune reaction to gliadin, however it usually involves the...
19 comments
Read more

Blue-blocking Glasses To Improve Sleep And ADHD Symptoms Developed

Blue-blocking Glasses To Improve Sleep And ADHD Symptoms Developed Scientists at John Carroll University, working in its Lighting Innovations Institute, have developed an affordable accessory that appears to reduce the symptoms of ADHD. Their discovery also has also been shown to improve sleep patterns among people who have difficulty falling asleep. The John Carroll researchers have created glasses designed to block blue light, therefore altering a person's circadian rhythm, which leads to improvement in ADHD symptoms and sleep disorders. […] How the Glasses Work The individual puts on the glasses a couple of hours ahead of bedtime, advancing the circadian rhythm. The special glasses block the blue rays that cause a delay in the start of the flow of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Normally, melatonin flow doesn't begin until after the individual goes into darkness. Studies indicate that promoting the earlier release of melatonin results in a marked decline of ADHD symptoms. Bett...
Post a Comment
Read more