Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, БЕРЕЗЕНЬ 2014 WWW. UNWLA.ORG 33 MEDICINAL CANNABIS ─ MARIJUANA by Ihor Magun, MD, FACP Although marijuana is considered an ill e- gal substance in most parts of the world, it has made its way into the medical mainstream in some states in our country. There is a significant amount of controversy surrounding this myster i- ous plant, making it even more tempting for many individuals. It is the most commo nly smoked plant after tobacco and has been used recreatio n- ally for its effects of euphoria and relaxation. Marijuana (official name: Cannabis sat i- va ) is indigenous to Central and South Asia and has been used for various reasons for thousands of years. The plant itself is very recognizable, with five to seven leaflets attached to a center point. It is its buds and leaves that are used to produce an effect. The plant is capable of flowering, and hashish, a significantly more potent substance, is what comes from the resin of the cannabis flower. Most marijuana is smoked, and the effects are quickly seen. However, marijuana can also be ea t- en; when ingested, it retains its effects for a longer period of time (albeit with a lower level of the plant’s main chem ical). Marijuana’s main chemical is delta 9 - tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known by its acronym “THC.” THC can be measured in blood, urine, and hair─all methods used to detect previous use or exposure. The THC is also the main substance that is resp onsible for the plant’s effects, which actually occur from affecting ne u- rons. Neurons are types of cells in the brain whose communications with each other are r e- ferred to as neurotransmitters. THC can either substitute for or block a neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter effect is what produces a feeling of relaxation and a sensation of some enhanc e- ment of the senses, with some individuals exper i- encing intense color perceptions. So how did this illegal plant get into mainstream medicine? Just like any medication or treatment option that can be developed with appropriate clinical research, marijuana has been shown to be helpful in certain medical scenarios, although their list is not long: It is used in cancer patients to ease the symptoms of nausea during chemother a- py, especially when traditional methods are not helpful. It stimulates appetite in patients with AIDS/HIV. It is helpful in patients with multiple scl e- rosis who experience muscle tension and spasms. It can also relieve neuropathic pain caused by a surgical intervention. In some cases, it has been used to treat sleep disorders. On the downside, marijuana has been shown to interfere with short-term memory and cause problems with coordination. In addition, marijuana cigarettes have the same cancer- causing chemicals as those in common tobacco cigarettes. Since the intended medicinal use is already somewhat of a last resort to control sym p- toms of advanced illnesses, this fact may not be as critical. We will probably hear more about medi c- inal u ses of this substance as studies are being done at some research centers. However, some of the preliminary results may not be that encoura g- ing , as smoking any substance does not always end with a feeling of euphoria─especially when you realize that you ma y be harming yourself. Stay tuned as the debate over the use of medical marijuana will most certainly continue. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ A FEW WISE WORDS ABOUT HEALTH Health is not valued till sickness comes. - Dr. Thomas Fuller As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself. - Adelle Davis A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools. - Spanish Proverb Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health. - Carl Jung A healthy outside starts from the inside. - Robert Urich Surgeons can cut out everything except cause. - Herbert M. Shelton Man is more miserable, more restless and unsatisfied than ever before, simply because half his nature — the spiritual — is starving for true food, and the other half — the material — is fed with bad food. - Paul Brunton
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
