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Drugs and Health. Lecture 8. What to Expect in this Lecture. Medical marijuana. Medical Marijuana. The use of marijuana for medical purposes goes back at least 5000 years In recent times, marijuana has been recommended for medical purposes since the early 1900’s
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Drugs and Health Lecture 8
What to Expect in this Lecture • Medical marijuana
Medical Marijuana • The use of marijuana for medical purposes goes back at least 5000 years • In recent times, marijuana has been recommended for medical purposes since the early 1900’s • Only since the 1930’s has marijuana been omitted from drug pharmacopoeia • Advocacy for medicalizing marijuana was reinvigorated in the 1970’s • Two primary medical purposes advocated today • Antiemetic drug for cancer patients • Stimulation of appetite among HIV patients
Legality of Medical Marijuana • Federal marijuana research plot in Oxford, MS • Statewide efforts at legalizing medical marijuana • Began in 1978 • By 2000, 35 states had enacted some sort of medical marijuana provision • Problems with statewide efforts • Most state laws written to allow doctors to “prescribe” marijuana—conflicts with federal law • State bills provide no means to legally distribute marijuana-patients must rely on illegal sources • California provided for legal distribution in a 1996 referendum—however, conflicts with federal law and major distributors are subject to federal charges
Should Medical Marijuana be Federally Recognized? Pros: Cons: