The legalisation of medical marijuana is currently one of the most discussed and controversial topics in Australia. Throughout the years, each individual developed their own opinion towards the matter, developing a strong debate caused by their conflicting views as to whether or not its use should be legalised. Many say that it has numerous medical benefits, therefore it should be made legal. In turn, many argue and believe that it can cause issues especially since there is a high potential regarding the abuse of its availability, which could cause health risks, and hence should remain illegal.
Cannabis is a depressant drug that enables people to experience a sense of mild euphoria by slowing down the messages travelling between the brain and the body. (Watershed, 2016) It was firstly used in China and is recognised as one of the oldest psychotropic drugs known to man. (Schaffer Library of Drug Policy) There are several types of cannabis, the most common are; Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis. All of which have taxonomic distinctions between them which shows differences between their structure and resin production. (Colbert, 2015) Cannabis is used in three main forms: marijuana- made from dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant, hashish- made from the resin of the cannabis plant, and hash oil- a thick oil obtained from hashish. (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016) There are 400 natural compounds in marijuana and 80 of these are found in cannabis plants. These compounds are known as cannabinoids which activates the cannabinoid receptors found in the body. The main ingredient in cannabis is called delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol, commonly known as THC. (Atakan, 2012)
Researching the science of marijuana began in the mid 1960’s with the identification of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) as one of its main active ingredient. After two decades, researches have been able to identify the sites in the brain and the body where medicinal cannabis acts and referred to them as cannabinoid (CB) receptors. (Scholastic Inc., 2011) The cannabinoids exert heir effect throughout the body by binding with specific cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are known as he Central Cannabinoid Receptor, CB1, and the Peripheral Cannabinoid Receptor, CB2. CB1 is located throughout the brain, connective tissues, gonads, glands and related organs, whilst CB2 receptors are found in the immune system and related organs such as the tissues of the spleen, thymus gland and tonsils. (Xie, et al., 2007)
Brain cells (neurons) communicate with the rest of the body by sending chemical messages. These messages coordinate and regulate and everything that is occurring in the human body. Typically, the chemicals are released from the neuron, which travels across a small gap (synapse) and then attaches to a specific receptor located near the neuron (postsynaptic cell). The Endocannabinoid system communicates in a different way. When the postsynaptic neuron is activated, cannabinoids accumulate in adipose tissue. THC and cannabinoids are strongly lipophilic and due to its strong lipophilic nature, it readily accumulates in the adipose tissue and have a long elimination time of up to 30 days. They are then released from the fact cell and travel backwards to the presynaptic neuron, where it attaches to the cannabinoid receptor. (Scholastic Inc., 2011)
Currently, marijuana is one of the most therapeutically active substances used in the medical field. Medical cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes in treating a variety of illnesses and ailments. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2015; National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2015) The parliament passed new laws that promotes the use of medical cannabis for people experiencing pain and those with chronic illnesses in Australia. However, recreational use and cultivation of cannabis still remains illegal in Australia and only those with valid prescription can possess and use the products of medical cannabis that have been manufactured from legally cultivated cannabis in Australia. The supply needs to be authorised under the Therapeutic Goods Act and applicable state and territory legislation. (Thomsen, 2016) Cannabis is a part of the Schedule nine drugs in all Australian states and territories. This specification means that the drug is prohibited in Australia except for research purposes. It is considered as an illicit drug in Australia, but some states have decriminalised it. In certain states, namely South Australia, possession of small amounts will result in a civil fine, whilst some states and territories recognise this as a criminal offence and could result in criminal conviction and record. (Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2016)
The legalisation of cannabis in Australia draws attention to many and developed a strong debate of opinions from both sides of the issues. The arguments for and against legalisation of medical cannabis will be discussed below.
Despite the illicit status that it has developed, cannabis is known to treat a range of conditions. The proponents for the legalisation of medical marijuana includes the following:
• Pain relief. It has been found that marijuana has properties that can be used as a pain relief for a variety of conditions. In a number of clinical studies, it has been found that the peripheral nerves that detect pain sensations contains receptors for cannabinoids, and the cannabinoids seem to bind to these receptors to block peripheral nerve pain in experimental animals. (The National Academies of Sciences, 2001)
• Anti-emetic. A systematic review found that cannabinoids are more effective than anti-emetic drugs in its treatment by reducing the painful symptoms of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, improving the quality of life of cancer patients. (Tramèr, et al., 2000)
• Appetite stimulation. In animal studies, it has been proven that THC can have a stimulating effect on appetite and lead to an increase in food intake, particularly the craving for sweet food. The CB1 receptor has been found to be active in several areas of the body that stimulates the eating behaviour. (National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, 2013)
• Reliever for Muscle Spasticity and other neurological conditions. It has been found that medical marijuana can relieve the spasticity of the muscles that is sometimes associated with multiple sclerosis and paralysis. It is found that THC blocks the inflammatory action of the lesions, improving the communication between the nerves and the muscles. Cannabis may also be used to lessen or alleviate an entire range of symptoms associated with neurological conditions. (HelloMD.com, 2015)
• It is an old therapeutic medicine. Medical marijuana has been used for centuries and it has successfully alleviated symptoms of pain.
The issues concerning the use of medical cannabis are as follows:
• Addictiveness. The THC in marijuana acts on the part of the brain that responds to pleasurable things. It stimulates the brain cells to cause euphoric feelings, which makes individuals addictive to it. It is estimated that one in ten people who try marijuana will tend to become addicted to it, eventually causing problems in their health. (Medical Marijuana Association, 2014)
• Frequent use of cannabis and cognitive disability. It has been found that frequent use of medical cannabis can affect one’s short-term memory and could impair one’s cognitive ability. In an animal research, it showed that rats exposed to THC before birth, after birth or during adolescence, shows notable problems with learning and memory tasks. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016)
• Psychiatric disorders. A systematic review shows a link between marijuana and development of psychiatric disorders, namely schizophrenia. (Semple, McIntosh, & Lawrie, 2005) It has also been found that heavy of medicinal marijuana can lead to depression.
• Carcinogenicity. Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogens that includes the concentrations of certain aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo pyrene, which can be a risk factor for tobacco-use related cancers. It has also been found that cannabis smokers end up with five times more carbon monoxide in their bloodstream than tobacco smokers, albeit there is vey little evidence that smoking marijuana represents a significant health risk. (ProCon.org, 2012)
While other drugs can be used as a pain relief for chronic illnesses and pain symptoms, they create further steps and would need more consideration than medical marijuana. The main issue of legalising medical marijuana is the possibility of individuals abusing its use. This is fairly hard to overcome as individuals may want unlimited source of the drug, however, the changes that could be implemented to avoid this from occurring are; having an exclusive medical monitoring of patients and educating them about the effects if they ever were to abuse its use to avoid temptations, the creation of laws consisting of strict penalties for medical marijuana diversion and establishments of infrastructures that can sever as dispensaries of medical marijuana.
The legalisation of medical marijuana in South Australia will be a significant step for its supporters. It will allow the state to gain instant and long-term benefits in medical use for researching purposes and for patients suffering from chronic illnesses and alleviate pain symptoms. Although medical marijuana faces several obstacles, the benefits of the use of the drug outweighs it disadvantages, making a strong case for its consideration. It would offer the medical community answers to what the drug is capable of and hence, they can make use of it for treatment of a variety of conditions. If trial data for cannabis reveals evidence that support its use, and if this can be used regulated in a way that enables suitable provision to its users, then I believe that medical marijuana should be legalised in South Australia.