Changes

Critics doubt that there are any medicinal effects of marijuana, other than an overall effect sought by drug addicts. However, some studies show that Cannabidiol, a chemical compound found in marijuana, inhibits cancer cell growth in lab animals<ref>Mechoulam R., Peters M., Murillo-Rodriguez E., Hanus L.O. '''Cannabidiol - recent advances'''. <i>Chemistry & Biodiversity</i>. August 2007. Vol. 4, Issue 8. Page 1678-92. pmid=17712814. doi=10.1002/cbdv.200790147</ref>. Recent studies have shown cannabidiol to be as effective as [[atypical antipsychotics]] in treating [[schizophrenia]].<ref>Zuardi A.W., Crippa J.A.S., Hallak J.E.C., Moreira F.A., Guimarães F.S. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research [http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bjmbr/v39n4/6164.pdf Cannabidiol as an antipsychotic drug] (PDF) 2006. Vol. 39. Page 421-9. ISSN 0100-879X</ref>, and [[marijuana]] is commonly viewed as a natural alternative to any otherwise synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. It has also been shown to increase brain cell growth <ref>[http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2005-3/issue9/ne-mj.html science: Study shows marijuana increases brain cell growth ]</ref>

Critics doubt that there are any medicinal effects of marijuana, other than an overall effect sought by drug addicts. However, some studies show that Cannabidiol, a chemical compound found in marijuana, inhibits cancer cell growth in lab animals<ref>Mechoulam R., Peters M., Murillo-Rodriguez E., Hanus L.O. '''Cannabidiol - recent advances'''. <i>Chemistry & Biodiversity</i>. August 2007. Vol. 4, Issue 8. Page 1678-92. pmid=17712814. doi=10.1002/cbdv.200790147</ref>. Recent studies have shown cannabidiol to be as effective as [[atypical antipsychotics]] in treating [[schizophrenia]].<ref>Zuardi A.W., Crippa J.A.S., Hallak J.E.C., Moreira F.A., Guimarães F.S. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research [http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bjmbr/v39n4/6164.pdf Cannabidiol as an antipsychotic drug] (PDF) 2006. Vol. 39. Page 421-9. ISSN 0100-879X</ref>, and [[marijuana]] is commonly viewed as a natural alternative to any otherwise synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. It has also been shown to increase brain cell growth <ref>[http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2005-3/issue9/ne-mj.html science: Study shows marijuana increases brain cell growth ]</ref>

Opponents of medical marijuana charge that efforts to legalize medical marijuana are intended to be a step towards complete decriminalization and generally decry marijuana as a "[[gateway drug]]" despite the fact that most marijuana users never become addicted to harder drugs. <ref>[http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/study-say-marijuana-no-gateway-drug-12116.html Univ. of Pittsburgh study says marijuana isn't gateway drug]</ref>

Opponents of [[drug abuse]] charge that efforts to legalize medical marijuana are intended to be a step towards complete decriminalization and generally decry marijuana as a "[[gateway drug]]". Many supporters of "medical marijuana" use marijuana recreationally. In California, medical marijuana is even available from [[vending machine]]s,<ref>[http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1236007310 Marijuana Medicine Practices Are Hazy and Confusing], Planet Chiropratic dot com</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,326634,00.html Medical marijuana vending machines take root in LA] Fox News</ref> similar to automated perscription dispensers at some [[pharmacies]] <ref> [http://www.scriptpro.com/products/spud/main.htm Scriptpro: Robotic Pharmaceutical Dispensing System]</ref>, except that the legality of dispensing marijuana this way is disputed by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Additionally, the seriousness of having a marijuana vending machine for supposedly medical reasons is off-set by the presence of a Bob Marley poster in at least one location. Marley was a member of the Rastafari cult, which advocates the recreational use of the drug under the guise of "spiritual" reasons.

 

Medical marijuana has been legalized in 13 states, starting with California in 1996. While many opponents say that wider acceptance of medical marijuana will lead to increased use by children, there is no evidence to support this. To the contrary, the number of states has nearly doubled since 2002, <ref>[http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000881 Medical Marijuana States]</ref> while the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems study showed marijuana use among American teens declined from 2002-06. <ref>[http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/02/03/Marijuana-use-among-teens-down/UPI-25191233687552/ Marijuana use down among teens, UPI.com]</ref> Besides having no impact (or perhaps discouraging use) of marijuana among teens, public support of medical marijuana laws has increased since states began enacting their own laws on the issue in 1996. <ref>[http://www.mpp.org/library/widespread-support-for-medical-marijuana-throughout-the-country.html]</ref>

 

In California, medical marijuana is mostly available from patient collectives, but has been sold in [[vending machine]]s,<ref>[http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1236007310 Marijuana Medicine Practices Are Hazy and Confusing], Planet Chiropratic dot com</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,326634,00.html Medical marijuana vending machines take root in LA] Fox News</ref> similar to automated prescription dispensers at some [[pharmacies]] <ref> [http://www.scriptpro.com/products/spud/main.htm Scriptpro: Robotic Pharmaceutical Dispensing System]</ref>, however medical marijuana distribution remains illegal except for federal patients included in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) program. The program began in 1978 but no longer accepts new applicants, and owing to a Supreme Court ruling the remaining patients (Seven as of 10/6/09) receive 300 joints each month from the federal government. <ref>[http://cannabisnews.com/news/20/thread20817.shtml 7 Americans Get To Smoke Pot in Federal Program]</ref>

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