Medical marijuana: hype or hope? A complicated discussion Just defining marijuana” is quite complicated. The “medical Though still controversial—and not wholly term distinguishes its intended use from recreational cannabis has gained some support for use in MS—but only marijuana, but it does not imply any clinical acceptance or a for certain symptoms and only in certain forms. difference in its composition. Like recreational marijuana, by Mary E. King, PhD medical marijuana is often available in a variety of strains for smoking or other plant” uses such as “whole People living with multiple sclerosis often are anxious to try vaporization, as well as a in a wide array of plant extracts, the latest treatment to see if it will help ease their and foods (“edibles”) and drinks that contain marijuana symptoms, and in this regard, medical marijuana is no extracts. The amounts that an individual can possess at any different. But even though it’s gaining mainstream given time are usually regulated. acceptance, its use remains very controversial—and very complicated. Marijuana legalization status A trial history Medical marijuana use legalized ■ Marijuana, also called cannabis, has been used for Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of medicinal purposes for centuries, beginning in 2900 B.C. in Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, China. Western medicine first adopted the use of marijuana Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, in the 19th century to relieve pain, inflammation, spasms New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and convulsions, until concerns about its safety arose in the Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont 1940s and In 1970, it was listed as a Schedule 1 ’50s. controlled substance, along with other drugs such as heroin Medical and recreational marijuana use legalized ■ and LSD, and remains restricted as such today. Colorado, Washington (state) In 1978, New Mexico became the first state to approve States with no laws legalizing marijuana. ■ marijuana for compassionate medicinal use in a research Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, setting. As of press time, 23 states and the District of Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississipi, Missouri, Nebraska, Columbia now allow some medical use. That number is North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, increasing, however, as more states consider medical marijuana legislation.
Medical marijuana: hype or hope? Though still controversial—and not wholly has gained some support for use in MS—but only for certain symptoms and only in certain forms. by Mary E. King, PhD People living with multiple sclerosis often are anxious to try the latest treatment to see if it will help ease their symptoms, and in this regard, medical marijuana is no different. But even though it’s gaining mainstream acceptance, its use remains very controversial—and very complicated. A history Marijuana, also called cannabis, has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, beginning in 2900 B.C. in China. Western medicine first adopted the use of marijuana in the 19th century to relieve pain, inflammation, spasms and convulsions, until concerns about its safety arose in the 1940s and ’50s. In 1970, it was listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, along with other drugs such as heroin and LSD, and remains restricted as such today. In 1978, New Mexico became the first state to approve marijuana for compassionate medicinal use in a research setting. As of press time, 23 states and the District of Columbia now allow some medical use. That number is increasing, however, as more states consider medical marijuana legislation. A complicated discussion Just defining “medical marijuana” is quite complicated. The term distinguishes its intended use from recreational marijuana, but it does not imply any clinical acceptance or a difference in its composition. Like recreational marijuana, medical marijuana is often available in a variety of strains for smoking or other “whole plant” uses such as vaporization, as well as a in a wide array of plant extracts, and foods (“edibles”) and drinks that contain marijuana extracts. The amounts that an individual can possess at any given time are usually regulated. Marijuana legalization status ■ Medical marijuana use legalized Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont ■ Medical and recreational marijuana use legalized Colorado, Washington (state) ■ States with no laws legalizing marijuana. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississipi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, cannabis trial