It is amazing how many people flat out deny that medical marijuana works for pain. I recently read someone's comment about a pros and cons list on medical marijuana and opiates for pain management. The commenter said that comparing them was stupid and creates misinformation. This astounds me. The crux of the article is that although medications work, medical marijuana works for pain, too. Proponents of medical marijuana legalization or utilization are not saying other treatments do not work at all. The point is that meds may or may not be effective, but medical marijuana works, too. Cannabis is effective for pain as well as other conditions. Medical marijuana is a versatile medication and the black and white thinking must stop.
A great big plus is that medical marijuana offers effective pain management without the horrible side effects caused by the traditional meds. Medication's bad side effects range from extreme dependence, increased chance of death due to respiratory failure, constipation, rapid tolerance increase, and a rebound cycle of pain with semi-relief. Medical marijuana works for pain without causing constipation that makes you feel like you are passing a boulder that is going to kill you. It also counters nausea. Medical marijuana patients can use different strains so their tolerance doesn't rise.
I'm sure medical marijuana is effective pain relief for many. Medical marijuana treats several different conditions. It's logical that some things don't respond or that medical marijuana isn't the right treatment option for all. I think the fact that medical marijuana works for pain is terrifying to the pharmaceutical industry. Medical marijuana is a direct threat to the billions of dollars made by getting people dependant on opiates. Pharmaceutical companies build in rebound effects to keep people from stopping. If I was the big business in town (big pharma) threatened by the blooming mom and pop shop (medical marijuana dispensaries and co-ops) then I'd be spending money hand over fist to discredit the effectiveness of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is a highly effective booming industry.
Federal government restrictions are supposedly being loosened for those arrested with a legitimate medical marijuana recommendation. This month a man's house was raided in Washington State after a false tip to the police said he had a marijuana grow operation. Although there were plants, it was a fully documented medical marijuana grow operation. The police were courteous (after kicking in the door) and offered him advice on filing an insurance claim for the door. They did not burn or brutalize his marijuana plants for medical use.
Medical marijuana works. It works for pain, nausea, muscle spasms, inability to eat, migraines, neck pain, and so much more. It is too bad that the reefer madness frenzy ideology still exists because there are so many people who refuse to acknowledge the effectiveness of marijuana as a medical treatment option. The words on a medical marijuana authorization state that "the potential benefits of the use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks for this patient." Medical marijuana patients are probably scrutinized and evaluated before being authorized more so than any other patients receiving prescriptions. Medical marijuana works for pain. I wish everyone who needed relief had the chance to at least try cannabis.
Medical Marijuana Pro/Con Article:
http://www.infobarrel.com/Medical_Mariju...(from a social networking site) comment about the MMJ pro/con list "just about the stupidest assertion iv'e ever read. Opiates have a huge place in pain mgmt., it does what no amount of cannabis can do..this type of ****ty reporting is what creates misinformation."