Long before this column, I had an encounter with someone who I thought had had too much marijuana and, in my view, had become irrational because of his love for or addiction to the drug.
I was in my preteens when my brother, now deceased and gone far too soon at 33, began to act strangely and, being the family "spy," I overheard conversations which gave me reason to believe it was his use of "weed" that was making him violent and unreasonable.With that first-hand experience of erratic and at-times violent behaviour, you can well imagine on which side of the debate my bias falls. Yet, in fairness to the arguments, it behooves me to cite reference to the discussion about marijuana's (good) effect on mental and general health along with its ill effect as an addictive drug.The US government's drug abuse Web site says: "Many of marijuana's effects (including its psychoactive or mind-altering properties) stem from an ingredient called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which resembles a chemical that the body and brain make naturally."THC is an FDA-approved medication. It was shown in carefully controlled clinical trials to have therapeutic benefit for relieving nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and stimulating appetite in patients with wasting syndrome (severe weight loss) that often accompanies Aids."
Reading through many works on the defence of marijuana use, it is noteworthy that much of this literature comes from outside the mainstream writing to which I would normally defer for expert advice and information on mental health matters.
One site called trueactivist.com offered its theory citing various studies which extol the benefit of marijuana and the positive impact of the ingredient THC.It says there is no existing evidence of anyone ever dying of a marijuana overdose and that marijuana has been found to suppress cancer, reduce blood pressure, treat glaucoma, alleviate pain, and even inhibit HIV.Claiming that marijuana use was not consistently associated with violent or antisocial behaviour, or with psychological problems, the author says, "Currently, there is no strong evidence that use of cannabis (marijuana) of itself causes psychological or social problems, such as mental illness or school failure," and defers to a study led by Dr John Macleod of the University of Birmingham, UK."There is a great deal of evidence that cannabis use is associated with these things, but this association could have several explanations," Macleod said, citing factors such as adversity in early life, which may itself be associated with cannabis use and psychosocial problems.
Macleod and his team reviewed 48 long-term studies, 16 of which provided the highest-quality information about the association between illicit drug use reported by people 25 or younger and later psychological or social problems. Most of the drug-specific results involved cannabis use (www.trueactivist.com). Among the top ten benefits the Web site quotes a number of studies, based in Europe and the USA, which gives marijuana credit for treating cancer, Tourette's syndrome, seizures, migraines, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), IBS and Crohn's, Alzheimer's, and premenstrual syndrome.Yet, despite the seemingly good effect marijuana has, and even though THC is FDA-approved, the scientific evidence to date is not sufficient for the plant to gain FDA approval, and a number of reasons have been cited.Among them is the fact that it is an addictive drug, which accounts for about 4.5 million Americans who fit the clinical criteria for marijuana abuse, dependence, or addiction."Along with THC," says drugabuse.gov, "the marijuana plant contains over 400 other chemical compounds, including other cannabinoids that may be biologically active and vary from plant to plant. This makes it difficult to consider its use as a medicine even though some of marijuana's specific ingredients may offer benefits."
According to the FDA, there have not been enough clinical trials showing that marijuana's benefits outweigh its risks in patients with the symptoms it is meant to treat. Marijuana has certain adverse health effects that also must be taken into account. Because it is usually smoked, marijuana can cause or worsen respiratory symptoms (eg, bronchitis, chronic cough). It also impairs short-term memory and motor co-ordination; slows reaction time; alters mood, judgment, and decision-making; and in some people can cause severe anxiety (paranoia) or psychosis (loss of touch with reality).Some of Britain's most senior psychiatrists say the drug is now the "No 1 problem" facing mental health services."Psychiatrists in inner-city areas speak of cannabis being a factor in up to 80 per cent of schizophrenia cases, and mental health specialists are bracing themselves for an increase in the problem as Britain's reclassification is misinterpreted as an assurance that the drug is safe."
