Marijuana and Its Effects
Marijuana has been commonly used for a large number of years. Marijuana has both therapeutic and recreational values, much like any other substance. Additionally, however, the drug causes adverse effects on the human body.
Medical Uses of Marijuana
Marijuana is used medically for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and helps to control epileptic seizures (Price et al., 2015). Tetrahydrocannabinol, also referred to as THC, is a chemical element found in cannabis that helps slow down the disease of Alzheimer's. At the same time, aside from widely recognized ecstasy, the drug prevents the spread of cancerous cells (Volkow, Baler, Compton & Weiss, 2014).
Regulating Marijuana Use
Taking into consideration the above information, it is important to develop laws and principles that regulate the use of this drug without posing a risk to society. To elaborate the most efficient solution, the regulatory bodies responsible for the legalization of marijuana would consider limiting the drug's use only to health facilities like rehabilitation centers. At the same time, a specific prescription by medical experts is a necessary precondition. Hall and Weier (2017) propose that one way would be to allow its usage in various institutions where marijuana can be sold to people suffering from depressive disorders (Hall & Weier, 2017). However, this action must be done under close supervision. The drug should then undergo processing and studying in order to determine its administration, quantity, and specific time of taking.
Home Production of Marijuana
If people were allowed to plant marijuana for home production only, they would be limited in supplying it, thus allowing only relevant users to access it (Wilkinson, Yarnell, Radhakrishnan, Ball & D'Souza, 2016). Growers should, however, register the product at relevant authoritative bodies and get licenses. Intense education should additionally be performed on how to use the medicament properly.
References
Hall, W., & Weier, M. (2017). Has Marijuana Legalization Increased Marijuana Use Among US Youth? JAMA pediatrics, 171(2), 116-118.
Price, J. S., McQueeny, T., Shollenbarger, S., Browning, E. L., Wieser, J., & Lisdahl, K. M. (2015). Effects of marijuana use on prefrontal and parietal volumes and cognition in emerging adults. Psychopharmacology, 232(16), 2939-2950.
Volkow, N. D., Baler, R. D., Compton, W. M., & Weiss, S. R. (2014). Adverse health effects of marijuana use. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(23), 2219-2227.
Wilkinson, S. T., Yarnell, S., Radhakrishnan, R., Ball, S. A., & D'Souza, D. C. (2016). Marijuana legalization: impact on physicians and public health. Annual Review of Medicine, 67, 453-466.
