Cannabis has been legal longer than it has been illegal. The plant has only been banned in western countries for the past century or so.
Many believed that this was a medicine before prohibition began. Until the 1950s, cannabis was listed as a medicine in the US Pharmacopeia. In light of this, cannabis is a new form of treatment. Thousands of years ago, people used weeds for medical purposes!
When it comes to medical cannabis, why is there such skepticism?
Two main reasons exist for the skepticism about medical cannabis:
It’s no surprise that there is so much confusion about cannabis. Among so many people who are inept in their approach and unwilling to research the substance to begin with.
However, the Shafer Commission confirms and dispels negative biases about cannabis. Yet found that users were not socially deviant. As a result of its findings, the Shafer report called for ending criminal penalties against weeds. In a surprising move, the Administration ignored this report.
The prohibition of cannabis has had what effect on scientific research?
Weeds became a tricky substance to research when it was made a Schedule I substance in the 1970s. Research was nearly impossible because of excessive paperwork and red tape. Furthermore, US government funded studies of cannabis focused chiefly on its adverse effects. The vast majority of studies looking at its medical benefits did not receive funding. The result was bias among researchers.
Moreover, the research that studies its adverse effects usually focuses on compounds. It is the moderate to high THC levels and not those with lower levels of the psychoactive substance. Despite this, THC is still unfairly demonized to this day. In addition to its pain-relieving effects, THC is a potent painkiller, making it an excellent supplement to opioids.
Although many people accept that addictive opioids and sedatives have medical uses that outweigh the side effects, physicians prescribe them daily in the USA. Looking for seeds to grow at home, see everything at Homegrown Cannabis Co.
Scientists and doctors ignored cannabis compounds such as CBD, CBG, CBN, and CBC, not to mention other compounds found in the plant. Medical cannabis is a contentious concept that most officials and most people would balk at.
Reducing skepticism through research and studies
In the UK, Professor Roger Pertwee, who was at Oxford in the 1960s, came to light, and Prof. Raphael Mechoulam and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Until recently, cannabis scientists began to understand how it works, so they launched an investigation!
Research in the 1970s led to the isolation of THC and CBD, and researchers began the study. Mainly to focus on conditions that are difficult to treat with those compounds. Its unique properties also attracted interest in THCV. Although many attempts to find the negatives of these compounds, they failed to find any.
In the modern era, experts first researched cannabis treatments for;
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Glaucoma
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Cancer
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Epilepsy
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AIDS
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HIV
The US government later in the 1990s patented synthetic THC for its antiemetic and analgesic properties.
Thus, even though the United States government forbade cannabis and opposed it, it was well aware of its medical uses. Some would argue that the US government did this on purpose since it wanted a monopoly for itself and its preferred research partners.
Around 1990, researchers discovered anandamide, a naturally occurring compound. After that, the discovery of CB1 and CB2 receptors. These receptors played a role in maintaining the body’s balance and achieving a balanced, consistent internal state.
Can there be anything to the negatives of cannabis skeptics’ claim?
Cannabis use has its pros and cons, just like everything else in life. It may be helpful to some people. Some may not find this to be the case. Also, it has one major aspect in common with other remedies.
Below are some potential drawbacks connected with cannabis use and how to address them sensibly rather than with skepticism just for the sake of it.
Factors leading to psychosis
THC usage for a short time or for a long time can trigger psychotic episodes, which is why many people fear it will trigger such a disorder. If you are already predisposed to illnesses that involve psychosis, this may be of some benefit. It does not apply to a large number of people. Furthermore, tobacco and alcohol are known to trigger psychotic episodes, and yet they are not forbidden!
Although some studies show that heavy cannabis use can increase the risk of psychosis, this is not likely to play out in real life in all cases. Many people do not use high-THC cannabis—also those who use it under controlled conditions. In addition, CBD may have antipsychotic properties, and some strains with little or no THC may be very beneficial for mental disorders.
Carries the risk of cancer
Much research has shown that cannabis compounds have potential health value in cancer prevention and became more popular as a cancer treatment!
It’s the smoking of cannabis that is the primary target of criticism here. In the US, as with other countries, one needs to limit inhaling smoke from cannabis and tobacco products. Still, mainly from a logical standpoint, burning plants are not advised to be inhaled under most conditions. There is certainly some damage to the throat and lungs when a person inhales cannabis smoke. To what extent this directly causes cancer is unknown?
Factors that lead to addiction
The claim that cannabis is highly addictive is untrue. In addition, it is not entirely accurate to say that cannabis has no potential for addiction. THC is the compound that can cause tolerance; therefore, consumption can produce the same effect. A low tolerance may be necessary, however, to prevent feeling euphoric.
It is also possible to experience cannabis withdrawal. About 12% of heavy cannabis users showed withdrawal symptoms as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. These symptoms were related to a substantial impairment, mood disorders, and anxiety. The incidence of weed dependence is lower than heroin dependence, cocaine dependence, alcohol dependence, and opioid dependency.
The potential abuse is quite low compared to many prescription drugs. Furthermore, stopping cannabis use is not a big deal for most people. In general, withdrawal symptoms are bearable, but a few people find them unpleasant. The plant could be a drug that helps people stop using other substances that are addictive!
What is it about cannabis that causes people to remain skeptical?
Natural compounds are among the safest compounds available. Although weeds have a long history of medical use, few double-blind, placebo-controlled studies prove its use. The use of indirect evidence is prevalent in this case, but it is enough to make claims.
Despite being over a century ago, it still leaves many hangovers. Although there is evidence broadly pointing to „cannabis as medicine,” many people remain skeptical. It is because of the perceived and often over inflated adverse effects of the substance. Its healing properties, however, outweigh its potential risks. Moreover, sometimes those factors, such as appetite induction, drowsiness, and decreased awareness, are precisely what users seek.
People are often more skeptical about cannabis than about many other drugs; they don’t treat it as most other medicines do. The suspicion is not always unfounded, however, and it is not always an entirely rational one.