Chronic Pain and Marijuana

California, the first state to legalize the use of marijuana for chronic pain with a doctor's prescription, is fighting to legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana for personal use as well. Since the legalization of the use of marijuana for chronic pain, thousands of people have taken advantage of the new laws and have found it necessary to continue life as it is. Certain chemicals in the marijuana, like THC, Cannabidiol, and Cannabigerol, are used to help chronic pain.

What Types of Chronic Pain

* Cancer Cells

* Diabetes

* Glaucoma

* HIV

* Epilepsy

* Sickle Cell Anemia

* Multiple Sclerosis

* Tissue Disorders

* Severe Burns

* Degenerative Hips and Joints Disorder

* Back, Neck, and Spinal Cord Injuries

* Rheumatoid Arthritis

Effects Marijuana Has on Chronic Pain

* Helps control nausea during chemotherapy treatments

* Acts as a general analgesia

* Relief of pain of neurological origins

* Blocks the formation of deposits in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's

* Found to reduce tumors in lung cancer

* May stop breast cancer from spreading throughout the body

* HIV patients have more of an appetite

* Helps kill brain cancer cells

* MS patients show less spasticity and provides neurological and anti-inflammatory benefits as well

* Gives patients a relaxed feeling that can be helpful for depressed patients

What Citizens Of The US Are Saying About Marijuana And The Effects of Use For Chronic Pain

In states like California, where medicinal marijuana is legal, residents are upset that the state is not protecting them from the federal government. Residents who use marijuana to fight the effects of chronic pain are now using little if any legally prescribed medication that can damage their liver, heart and other organs. Since they have chosen to use a safer medication, the Drug Task Force, which is federal government authority, have been punishing residents that use medicinal marijuana and putting them in jail.

Sources:

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7786

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis

http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/pain_brochure.pdf

http://hempsavetheworld.wordpress.com/medicinal-marijuana/