Today is the twentieth day of April, that's 4/20 for the uninitiated. That means plenty of local and regional news articles about cannabis, plenty of google searches on pot-related topics, and a number of folks maybe wondering about the medical benefits of marijuana. Others may just be wondering about the cryptic origins of the 4/20 designation. So, however it's written, 420, 4:20 or 4/20, it's all pot smoker slang for the act of indulging in cannabis. Thus, every April 20 (that's 4/20) like-minded people across the America gather to celebrate cannabis and push for more lenient pot laws. Some indulge purely for personal enjoyment, while others indulge to gain medical relief.
To many supporters, marijuana is pot wonder drug, and beneficial in the treatment of ailments that include cancer, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, and neurological disorders. To many detractors, the scientific evidence to support these claims is hazy, at best.
But what are the known medical benefits of marijuana?
In a 2008, the American College of Physicians, the nation's second-largest physician group and a respected voice on medical matters, summed up the scientific information supporting the use of marijuana to treat four conditions: They found ample evidence that marijuana provides beneficial relief in four areas: Poor appetite/vomiting; Glaucoma; Neurological disorders; and Pain Management. With respect to poor appetite/vomiting, the group found "abundant" research supporting the effectiveness of THC (one of more than 60 chemical "cannabinoid" compounds in marijuana) as an appetite stimulant and to relieve nausea and vomiting.
The group noted that studies showed "THC to be equivalent or superior to other antiemetics," and that "THC and other cannabinoids may offer relief not found in other drugs." For glaucoma, the group found that though "cannabinoids have been shown to have neuroprotective properties and to reduce interocular pressure, a risk factor for glaucoma, a potentially blinding eye disorder…the effects are short-lived, and there is concern that long-term use of marijuana could reduce blood flow to the optic nerve." The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that there is no scientific evidence to show marijuana is better for treating glaucoma than the current crop of glaucoma drugs.
For neurological disorders, however, there is evidence to suggest that smoking marijuana can provide relief of pain, tremor, and spasticity in some multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury patients. In addition, recent research shows that smoking marijuana eases nerve pain associated with HIV/AIDS. Also, a component of cannabis called 'cannabidiol' has shown promise in treating epilepsy, but little research has been done.
Regarding marijuana's role in pain treatment, the group noted that current research into "various forms of marijuana as an analgesic is promising." They singled out cancer and rheumatoid arthritis as painful conditions for which pot may provide relief. They noted that more research is needed to "identify the specific kinds of pain that may be relieved by marijuana."
San Francisco is home to at least three dozen medical cannabis clubs, including delivery only services, such as The Green Cross.
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