Who Might Benefit From Medicinal Cannabis?

What is medicinal cannabis? Medicinal cannabis is made from the cannabis sativa plant. The leaves and buds of this plant are also used to make the drug marijuana, which people use to get high. Medicinal cannabis is sometimes referred to as medical cannabis or medical marijuana. Cannabis has been shown to relieve pain, prevent or reduce vomiting, and it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This is because substances called cannabinoids act on the body’s endocannabinoid system. This is a communications system in the brain and body that influences mood, memory, sleep and appetite. The cannabis plant contains 80 to 100 cannabinoids. The one that gets people high is called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Other cannabinoids have been shown to relieve symptoms of disease. International research is looking at the therapeutic properties of some of the other cannabinoids. The side effects of medicinal cannabis are still being studied. Medicinal cannabis is tightly regulated. Products approved for use in Australia include nabiximols and synthetic cannabinoids. These products are formulated so they have the greatest medical effect and the fewest possible side effects.

In some countries, crude cannabis (raw cannabis plant material) and cannabis oil are used as therapies. These are both illegal in Australia. Who might benefit from medicinal cannabis? There hasn’t been enough research yet to prove the benefits of medicinal cannabis. But it is showing promise for some people with chronic or terminal illnesses who don’t get relief from other medicines, or to help control some of the side effects caused by other medicines. How can I access medicinal cannabis? Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates the supply of medicinal cannabis. Doctors can apply to the TGA to supply medicinal cannabis to certain patients through the Authorised Prescriber Scheme and the Special Access Scheme. Patients may be able to access medicinal cannabis through a specialist doctor, their GP, or if they are taking part in a clinical trial. You cannot apply to the TGA to get medicinal cannabis yourself; only your doctor can apply. The doctor must meet certain requirements, must obtain permits, and must also comply with relevant state laws. However, the laws are different in each state and this may affect whether you can get access to medicinal cannabis. The Australian Government recently changed the law to allow organisations to grow cannabis for research and to make pharmaceutical products. Growing cannabis yourself or using it for non-medical purposes is still illegal. Do not try to import cannabis products or smoke 'street' marijuana to try to treat your symptoms. As well as this being illegal, you have no control over the dose or what is in the product. Also, there hasn’t been research into any side effects, and any form of smoking can give you cancer. Could medicinal cannabis help my condition? Is it safe for me to use? Will it affect my other medications? Are there any side effects?

The new registry will allow patients to access their online account at any time to check status, submit demographic changes, and make payments using a credit card. Patients will also be able to print their own paper registry cards once approved, eliminating the wait time for a card to be mailed to them from a printing vendor. The new registry is set to go live on June 22, 2021. Current active patients will receive an email prior to June 22, 2021 with information about where to find additional documentation about the new application procedures. Going forward, all communication from the registry will be through email. If an email address was not given with the current application or has changed and not been updated, these patients will not receive this information. When the new system is live, patients will be able to log in and update their email if necessary. Patients must also mark DPH.medicalcannabis@illinois.gov as safe email to reduce the possibility of system emails going to spam inboxes. Medical Cannabis Program representatives are available by phone at 1-855-636-3688 Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In August 2013, Illinois became the 20th state to authorize a program for the cultivation and dispensing of cannabis for medical purposes. The Medical Cannabis Registry Program is a statewide program that allows patients access to medical marijuana who meet one of the qualifying conditions. The Illinois Department of Public Health manages the registry by reviewing and processing applications and issuing registry cards to Illinois residents meeting program requirements. IDPH protects patient confidentiality while striving to ensure timely accessibility to cannabis for registered patients.

After extensive research on the benefits and drawbacks of medical marijuana, I've concluded that marijuana should be legalized in Pennsylvania for medicinal use. Business Insider did an article on the health benefits of medical marijuana, ranging from helpful to life saving. To begin, The National Eye Institute conducted research in which the use of marijuana helped reverse the effects of glaucoma. Glaucoma is an increased pressure in the eyes, which can be decreased by smoking this drug. It can slow the progression of glaucoma and even prevent blindness. Second, through research for the documentary "Weed" but Sanjay Gupta, he found a family who treats their child with marijuana. The Fiji Family treats their daughter with Dravet's Syndrome with cannabis to help reduce her seizures. Doctors recommend this method of treatment and 40 other children in the state are using this method and it is working for all of them. Finally, at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, researchers have found that Cannibidiol stops cancer by turning of a gene called Id-1. After treatment from marijuana, the cancer cells became less aggressive, and the person can extend their life. People have been debating the legalization of marijuana for many years, but marijuana doesn't just have health benefits. Legalization of marijuana would decrease the unemployment rate by creating jobs, and would also exemplify our rights as a country. As Roseanne stated, the drug wars are a very detrimental law in the US. Unfortunately, people are being arrested for a drug that can be used for such good things such as health and economy. Legalization of cannibis can greatly help the economy. Many people have done the math, and support is growing around this idea, as you can see in this picture, the famous lines "gro the economy" used to rally support.