Top US Doctor Says Medical Marijuana May Help Some Conditions

The use of marijuana for medical purposes is now legal in 23 states, and two more are considering legalization for medical use by 2016.1 On a federal level, however, the herb is still considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance (other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD, Ecstasy, methaqualone and peyote).

It received this label in 1970, when the Controlled Substance Act was enacted. This act labeled cannabis as a drug with a “high potential for abuse” and “no accepted medical use,” which clearly is not an accurate description – just ask US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

In an interview with CBS This Morning, Murthy said, “We have some preliminary data showing that for certain medical conditions and symptoms, marijuana can be helpful.”2 His statement echoes a growing sentiment in the medical and scientific communities that the health benefits of marijuana should no longer be ignored.

It’s Time to Acknowledge the Medicinal Effects of Marijuana

Marijuana was a popular botanical medicine in the 19th and early 20th centuries, common in US pharmacies of the time (and its use can actually be dated back to 2700 BC3). Today a wealth of research shows marijuana does have outstanding promise as a medicinal plant, largely due to its cannabidiol (CBD) content.

Cannabinoids interact with your body by way of naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors embedded in cell membranes throughout your body. There are cannabinoid receptors in your brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, immune system, and more. Both the therapeutic and psychoactive properties of marijuana occur when a cannabinoid activates a cannabinoid receptor.

Research is still ongoing on just how extensive their impact is on our health, but to date it’s known that cannabinoid receptors play an important role in many body processes, including metabolic regulation, cravings, pain, anxiety, bone growth, and immune function.4

Some of the strongest research to date is focused on marijuana for pain relief and better sleep. In one study, just three puffs of marijuana a day for five days helped those with chronic nerve pain to relieve pain and sleep better.5

Americans for Safe Access also has links to research studies suggesting that cannabis may help in the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, noting:6