Pubdate: Sat, 03 Aug 2013
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2013 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: 
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Fiona Buchanan

PROS AND CONS OF MARIJUANA DIVIDE EXPERTS

Justin Trudeau's Pot Remarks Create Cloud of Controversy

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau drew criticism from both the 
Conservatives and NDP after declaring his support for legalizing 
marijuana last week.

Claiming that marijuana is "no worse" than smoking or drinking 
alcohol, Trudeau said many studies support his views. But medical 
professionals are divided on the issue.

Wayne Hindmarsh, a University of Toronto professor specializing in 
toxicology, said research still cannot answer many questions about 
marijuana. Dr. Pamela Squire, a Vancouver physician who specializes 
in pain treatment, agrees there's debate in some areas of cannabinoid 
research, but says there is plenty of evidence, especially in pain 
management, that suggests benefits.

Hindmarsh and Squire gave a glimpse of what the medical community 
really knows about the effects of pot:

BENEFITS OF MARIJUANA:

Marijuana helps with pain: There is general agreement in the medical 
community that marijuana has positive effects in patients suffering 
from chronic pain. Squire said cannabis is particularly helpful in 
managing neuropathic pain, pain related to nerve injury. Smoking pot 
can relieve the pain HIV and AIDS patients experience, caused by drug 
side-effects to the nervous system. In 2005, Health Canada approved a 
mouth spray drug made of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol - two 
chemical compounds found in marijuana - that relieves pain in 
multiple sclerosis patients.

"We know it is helpful in pain after trauma injuries, a bit in 
arthritis, fibromyalgia," she said.

The debate in this area is not whether marijuana helps, but how long 
it can be helpful. Hindmarsh said that he has reservations about the 
longterm effectiveness of marijuana because patients can build up a 
tolerance to the drug.

Appetite stimulant: No debate here. It's widely known that smoking 
pot can lead to increased appetite, often referred to in pop culture 
as a "case of the munchies." This can be helpful for patients who 
suffer from a loss of appetite due to an illness or side-effects from 
medication.

Nausea and vomiting: Both Squire and Hindmarsh agree that 
cannabinoids can be helpful in reducing feelings of nausea. Marijuana 
compounds are the components of some anti-nausea drugs for cancer 
patients undergoing chemotherapy, but in that case, the drugs are 
ingested, not smoked.

It's easy to kick the habit: Unlike alcohol, Squire says people 
suffer minimal withdrawal symptoms when they bring an end to chronic 
marijuana use. "Most people don't get severe withdrawal symptoms when 
they stop marijuana suddenly," she said. The most common symptoms 
experienced are irritability, or having difficulty sleeping in the 
weeks after quitting."

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF MARI JUANA:

Cognitive function - The short-term effects of marijuana are well 
documented. "It can affect your reaction time, it can affect verbal 
fluency, working memory," said Squire, adding that it "might slightly 
increase risks for accidents while driving." Combined with alcohol, 
the drug becomes more dangerous, she said. "Alcohol plus marijuana is 
a bad combination and can make you even more impaired."

How long pot stays in the body: It has been well established that 
marijuana use is different from alcohol in this respect, according to 
Hindmarsh. Alcohol stays in the body for a short time, he said, but 
cannabis can remain in the body for up to four weeks. For users who 
smoke every day, the cannabis is stored in body fat.

Links to mental illness: Particularly in youth aged 11 to 17, 
marijuana can trigger schizophrenia in those who are genetically 
predisposed to the illness. "It can also trigger an acute psychosis 
that doesn't necessarily turn into schizophrenia," said Squire.

Wheezing and hacking: Chronic marijuana smokers can develop 
bronchitis, an inflammation of airways that supply oxygen to the 
lungs, accompanied with a build up of mucous.

THE UNKNOWNS:

There is also debate about the consistency of the effects of 
marijuana on relieving stress and anxiety.

"I think we all agree that it relaxes the individual," said Hindmarsh.

"There is substantial evidence that the plant can take the edge off 
stress and anxiety," said Squire.

There have also been studies into marijuana and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"The problem with PTSD is every time you have a nightmare or 
flashback, it's as if that flashback or nightmare helps to cement the 
memory in and it looks like marijuana interferes with that," she said.

But Hindmarsh said that reactions to the drug can vary from person to 
person. "Some people don't get the relaxed effect," he said. "They 
get totally uptight."

Side-effects of the smoking aspect is still an unresolved debate. 
Squire said there is no evidence that chronic marijuana smoking leads 
to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a chronic lung disease 
linked to smoking cigarettes that makes it difficult to breathe. But 
in terms of lung cancer, the medical community has not reached a consensus.

"There are several lines of evidence for and against marijuana use 
and lung cancer," she said.

Hindmarsh agrees that not enough is known on the topic and said he 
thinks politicians may come to regret any decisions to legalize the drug.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom