Medical Marijuana - Research Paper Example

Marijuana can, therefore, increase or reduce the strength of the immune system (Beau, 2010). It is this influence that allows marijuana to produce the numerous health benefits patients should be enjoying (Alison, 2001). Marijuana has a way around cancer that most drugs do not have. Research also indicates that marijuana has the ability to inhibit the normally fast progression of tumors (Beau, 2010). These studies indicate that marijuana does this by Contrary to popular believe, marijuana does not have the same effect on the lungs as tobacco cigarettes.

In fact, one of the areas where marijuana suppresses tumors is in the lungs (Beau, 2010). During chemotherapy, nausea and lack of appetite can frustrate the patient and the chances of their recovery. At the right potency and under a specialist’s guidelines, marijuana has the capacity to reduce or halt nausea (Alison, 2001). Nonetheless, there are patients who do not respond effectively to marijuana and the specialist should seek out alternatives (Beau, 2010). Also, marijuana can induce appetite in a patient by inducing cravings (munchies).

This feature is not only beneficial to cancer patients but also anorexic ones (Dale, 2008). However, the persons seeking to gain appetite using marijuana should not overdo it as it may result in weight gain leading to other complications (Alison, 2001). Another advantage of marijuana is the ability to reduce pain. This feature is again beneficial to cancer patients. There are however, other diseases that cause unimaginable pain to individuals (Dale, 2008). One of the most common diseases is arthritis.

Some patients even claim that they sometimes forget their pain in that state f euphoria or “high” that marijuana induces (Dale, 2008). Like many other drugs, the patient has to take the marijuana continuously as it does not assure best results in only one intake. There is also evidence that indicates the ability of marijuana to the accumulation of brain deposits that may cause Alzheimer’s disease. Another condition associated with extreme pain is migraines (Dale, 2008). Doctors claim that marijuana can mitigate migraine pain and in most instances wholly suppresses the condition.

Marijuana can also reduce side effects such as anxiety and depression caused by other pharmaceutical drugs (Alison, 2001). Bello reports that marijuana is both a sedative and a stimulant. She holds that cannabis sativa has causes parasympathetic relaxation and participation simultaneously. Some specialists equate this ability to yoga (Bello, 2007). This is a key feature in marijuana especially for persons experiencing depression as it is able to cause them to relax. Relaxed muscles cause the individual to be less anxious and, therefore, reduce stress (Beau, 2010).

The relaxation of muscles can explain how marijuana helps patients suffering from migraines (Dale, 2008). Also, the ability to relax the muscles is essential for patients suffering from diseases that cause muscle tics and spasms like multiple sclerosis and Tourrette’s disease (Alison, 2001). The relaxation helps the muscles not to suddenly contract causing the patient to go into sudden spastic mode. Parasympathetic relaxation and contraction also allows blood to circulate easily, faster and over a larger distance n the body (Dale, 2008).

This is essential in cleaning up the blood. Also oxygen is efficiently dispersed throughout the body making the brain more alert (Beau, 2010).