Perceptions of Medical Marijuana - Literature review Example

 Perceptions of Medical Marijuana Author/s Aims Methods Results Conclusion Stella M. Resko This study aims to examine patterns in public perceptions and attitudes toward marijuana use among adolescents. The methods used in the study is computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) to collect data from a statewide sample of adults in Michigan identified through random-digit dialing (n = 560). CATI interviews were supplemented with web- and paper-based surveys for nonrespondents. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between class membership and demographics, substance use, and methodological factors. Survey participants (n = 560) ranged in age from 18 to 95, with an average age of 49 years (SD = 16.3). Female – 49%, Married or cohabitating- 60% Ethnicity white/Caucasian- 77% Black/African American-13% Latino/ Hispanic, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Arab/Middle Eastern- less than 3% Children Participants with children- 79% participants with children under the age of 18- 39% Educational Level 58% had earned a high school diploma/GED or less 42% of participants had completed a college degree 26% had completed a bachelor’s degree 16% had completed a graduate or professional degree). Alcohol and marijuana use More than half the sample (54%) reported recent (past 30 day) alcohol use, Only 6% reported recent (past 30 day) marijuana use. Almost a quarter of participants in the sample (22%) reported that they have used nonmedical prescription drugs or illicit drugs other than marijuana in their lifetimes. The cultural perception of marijuana is that it has a lower level of risk, and both adolescents and adults do not see the need to treat marijuana-related problems. There is need for public about successful treatment options to help adolescents. Magdalena Cerda, Melanie Wall, Katherine M Keyes, Sandro Galea, and Deborah Hasin To test the role of macro-level factors, in shaping marijuana use, abuse and reliance The study used the second wave of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a national survey of adults aged 18+ (n=34,653). Selected analyses were replicated using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a yearly survey of ~68,000 individuals aged 12+. In NESARC, residents of states with medical marijuana laws had higher odds of marijuana use (OR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.49-2.47) and marijuana abuse/dependence (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.22-2.67) than residents of states without such laws. Marijuana abuse/dependence was not more prevalent among marijuana users in these states (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.67-1.60), suggesting that the higher risk for marijuana abuse/dependence in these states was accounted for by higher rates of use. In NSDUH, states that legalized medical marijuana also had higher rates of marijuana use. Marijuana use is high in states that have legalized its use. Even so, there is need for future research to determine the relationship between the two factors. David C. Peters II The aim is to investigate perceptions about the effects of marijuana, the impact of marijuana in people’s lives, and its reliability as medicine. The researchers collected data through qualitative interviews using a convenience and snowball sample of 28 medical marijuana patients and producers in Michigan. 19 were “regular” patients and 9 were producers or “Caregivers” under Michigan law. Interview types There were two categories of interviewees: 1. Producers and Activists (“Caregivers”): (n=9). 2. Regular Patients: (n=19). Number of Caregivers/ Number of patients claimed to have advised about medical Total n=9 marijuana 1 A few dozen 4 Lots…too many to count 2 Hundreds 2 Thousands Patients consistently reported using marijuana to substitute or wean off prescription drugs. All patients and producers who were taking opiate painkillers claimed they reduced overall drug use, especially opiates, by using medical marijuana. Patients and caregivers also claimed medical marijuana was preferred over opiates, eased withdrawal from opiates, and in some cases was perceived as more effective at relieving pain. Patients believe that medical marijuana is more effective than codeine but less effective than stronger narcotics like Oxycodone or Morphine. Medical marijuana patients prefer the “all natural” remedy of medical marijuana. Yu-Hui Jenny Huang, Zuo-Feng Zhang, Donald P. Tashkin, Bingjian Feng, Kurt Straif, and Mia Hashibe. The objective is to review the epidemiologic studies on the possible association of marijuana and cancer. The study identified 34 epidemiologic studies on upper aerodigestive tract cancers (n¼ 11), lung cancer (n¼ 6), testicular cancer (n¼3), childhood cancers (n¼6), all cancers (n¼1), anal cancer (n ¼ 1), penile cancer (n ¼ 1), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n ¼ 2), malignant primary gliomas (n ¼ 1), bladder cancer (n ¼ 1), and Kaposi sarcoma (n ¼ 1). Studies on head and neck cancer reported increased and decreased risks, possibly because there is no association, or because risks differ by human papillomavirus status or geographic differences. The lung cancer studies largely appear not to support an association with marijuana use, possibly because of the smaller amounts of marijuana regularly smoked compared with tobacco. Three testicular cancer case–control studies reported increased risks with marijuana use [summary ORs, 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09–2.23 for higher frequency and 1.50 (95% CI, 1.08–2.09) for_10 years]. For other cancer sites, there is still insufficient data to make any conclusions. Large-scale well-designed studies on marijuana use and cancer are necessary. The potential risks conferred by marijuana use, although it may be a moderate risk, needs to be clarified for marijuana users. Eva Martin-Sanchez, Toshiaki A. Furukawa, Julian Taylor, and Jose Luis Martin To assess the efficacy and harms of cannabis preparations in the management of chronic pain. Systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomized controlled trials that compared any cannabis preparation to placebo among subjects with chronic pain. An electronic search was made in Medline/Pubmed, Embase, and The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (TRIALS CENTRAL) of all literature published until February 2008, as well as specific web pages devoted to cannabis. Eighteen trials were included. The efficacy analysis (visual analog scales) displayed a difference in standardized means in favor of the cannabis arm of -0.61 (-0.84 to -0.37), with statistical homogeneity (I2 = 0.0%; P = 0.50). For the analysis of harms, the following Odds Ratios (OR) and number needed to harm (NNH) were obtained: for events linked to alterations to perception, OR: 4.51 (3.05–6.66), NNH: 7 (6–9); for events affecting motor function, 3.93 (2.83–5.47), NNH: 5 (4–6); for events that altered cognitive function, 4.46 (2.37–8.37), NNH: 8 (6–12). Cannabis treatment is moderately effectual for treatment of chronic pain. Even so, potentially serious harms may offset beneficial effects. Joan Bottorff, Laura JL Bissell, Lynda Balneaves, John L Oliffe, Rielle Capler, Jane Buxton The study describes users’ perceptions of and responses to the stigma attached to using CTP. Twenty-three individuals who were using CTP for a range of health problems took part in semi-structured interviews. Transcribed data were analyzed using an inductive approach and comparative strategies. Through an inductive thematic approach to data analysis, participant experiences of stigma were related to negative views of cannabis as a recreational drug, the current criminal sanctions associated with cannabis use, and using cannabis in the context of stigmatizing vulnerability (related to existing illness and disability). Strategies for managing the resulting stigma of using CTP included keeping CTP ‘undercover’; educating those who did not approve of or understand CTP use; and using cannabis responsibly. The perceptions on stigma help in the development of strategies aimed at reducing stigma associated with the use of CTP. This can help tackle predicaments faced by those using this medicine. List of References ALLEN, J., & HOLDER, M.D., 2014, “Marijuana use and well-being in university students”, Journal of Happiness Studies, 15, 301-321. ANDERSON, M., HANSEN, B., and REES, D., 2013, “Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption” Journal of Law and Economics, Vol. 56, No. 2 (May 2013), pp. 333-369. ANDERSON and REES, D., 2013, “Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption”, IZA DP No. 6112. BORGELT, L., FRANSON, K., NUSSBAUM, A., AND WANG, G., 2013, “The Pharmacologic and Clinical Effects of Medical Cannabis”, PHARMACOTHERAPY Volume 33, Number 2, 2013. BOTTORFF, J., BISSELL, L., BALNEAVES, L., OLIFFE, J., CAPLER, R., AND BUXTON, J., 2013, “Perceptions of cannabis as a stigmatized medicine: a qualitative descriptive study”, Harm Reduction Journal, 10:2. CERDA, M., WALL, M., KEYES, K., GALEA, S., AND HASIN, D., 2013, “Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence”, Drug Alcohol Depend, 120 (1-3): 22–27. DOI:  10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.06.011. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND COLE, J. (Jun. 29, 2011). Memorandum to United States Attorneys, Guidance Regarding the Ogden Memo in Jurisdictions Seeking to Authorize Marijuana for Medical Use, Department of Justice. EDDY, M., 2010, “Medical Marijuana: Review and Analysis of Federal and State Policies”, Congressional Research Service. EVA MARTIN-SANCHEZ, TOSHIAKI A. FURUKAWA, JULIAN TAYLOR, AND JOSE LUIS R. MARTIN, 2009, “Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cannabis Treatment for Chronic Pain”, American Academy of Pain Medicine, Volume 10, Number 8, 2009, 1526-2375/09/$15.00/1353 1353–1368 doi:10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00703.x GRANT, I., ATKINSON, J. H., GOUAUX, B., & WILSEY, B., 2012, “Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke”, The Open Neurology Journal, 6, 18–25. Doi: 10.2174/1874205X01206010018 HUANG, Y., ZHANG, Z., TASHKIN, D., FENG, B., STRAIF, K., AND HASHIBE, M., 2015, “An Epidemiologic Review of Marijuana and Cancer: An Update”, American Association for Cancer Research, doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-1026. NUNBERG, H., BEAU, K., ROSALIE LICCARDO, P., and JAMES, B., 2011, “An Analysis of Applicants Presenting to a Medical Marijuana Specialty Practice in California,” Journal of Drug Policy Analysis: Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 1. Available at: http://www.bepress.com/jdpa/vol4/iss1/art1 O'CONNELL, T AND BOU-MATAR, C. B., 2007, “Long term marijuana users seeking medical cannabis in California (2001–2007): demographics, social characteristics, patterns of cannabis and other drug use of 4117 applicants”, Harm Reduction Journal, http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/4/1/16 OGDEN, D., 2009, “Memorandum to Selected United States Attorneys, Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana. PETERS, D., 2013, “Patients and Caregivers Report Using Medical Marijuana to Decrease Prescription Narcotics Use”, HUMBOLDT JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RELATIONS—ISSUE 35, 2013. RESKO, S., 2014, “Public Perceptions and Attitudes toward Adolescent Marijuana Use Results of a Statewide Survey”, SAGE Open January-March 2014: 1–11. DOI: 10.1177/2158244013518055. SENECA, M., 2014, “Meta-Analysis of Herbal Cannabis Therapy for Chronic Pain”, UNF Theses and Dissertations. Paper 503. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/503. Read More