Marijuana (Cannabis) Related Disorders
the facts
(Update; February 01, 2008)
Marijuana Video Posts are NEW to PMMedia.com
We want to bring awareness to more people by using U-Tube, and so we have posted videos for educational purposes. Please click videos below to watch.
New Video page coming soon!
(UPDATE; November 18, 2007.)
There has come to light an article, which is of utmost importance to our understanding of Marijuana, and its effects.
The first is an article published in the renowned publication, NATURE.
To read the nature article: CLICK HERE.
Updated May 3, 2006 - PMMedia.com
Cannabis sativa is the name of a plant that has been smoked in the Western World since late 19th Century . Actually the first articles and a book were written in 1868 by the French Psychiatrist Joseph Moreau de Tours . His book “Du hashish et de l’alienation mentale”, is possible the first psychiatric book on Cannabis. In this book he described the psychosis produced by smoking Cannabis, and he gives Cannabis intoxication as a good model psychosis for “Bipolar Disorders”.
This book has been translated into English and is at Jesse Jones Library the title is “Hashish and mental alienation," Columbia University Press.
Since 1968, Cannabis smoking in both forms marijuana and hashish became an epidemic in America . At that time young people were fighting the Federal Government decision of sending American troops to Vietnam, and all the anti-VietNam War Americans were smoking pot as a way of being “anti-establishment”, since the U.S. Federal Government has had Cannabis on the list of illegal drugs since the early 1930’s. Worldwide , Cannabis became an ILLEGAL DRUG or “narcotic” in 1967, at The World Health Organization Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. In this meeting Cannabis was classified, as well as heroin,cocaine, etc, as a dangerous drug of abuse that has no medicinal purposes.
Irrespectively of these Organizations and the U.S. Surgeon General recommendations (since the Presidency of Ronald Reagan), MARIJUANA is smoked weekly by millions of Americans. There has been a long time debate regarding the possible “medical” uses of marijuana, but this has just been an excuse of several Western American States like California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington to “decriminalize it”. Their allegations have been that : “marijuana is a good medication for AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and nausea. So far, there have been two law suits vs The Federal Government ,trying to approve the so called “Medical Marijuana” , the first one three years ago was : The Oakland growers of Marijuana –vs- the U.S.A., and the most recent one was Reich & Reich vs- the U.S.A. Both cases were heard at The United States Supreme Court, and in both cases they were defeated. (i.e. 'Medical marijuana' has not been approved to be used legally no matter what anyone tells you.)
MORE DATA ABOUT MARIJUANA
This herb, mostly used by smoking joints or smoked in pipes , but also used orally because the herb contains 10 known psychotropics, plus several hundreds of terpenes (long chain hydrocarbons).
These compounds have similar mental effects to organic solvents that are inhaled like gasoline fumes, or balsamic fluid . Every joint has different variables, which are enormous considering they have very different chemical composition, so you never really know what you are smoking. Hashish is just a “concentrated marijuana”.
Because the psychotomimetics in marijuana are only four and exist in nature in minimal amounts, the psychosis produced by marijuana smoking is a very mild one, and these patients recover very fast, leaving no sequelae. But this is not the case for schizophrenic and bipolar patients, who smoke marijuana, in these cases smoking a few joints can aggravate their already existing mental illnesses .
So, why is so much marijuana smoked in the USA? Your answer is as good as mine. I guess because we are a very free country where everyone has an opinion and sometimes Medical opinions contradict what individuals believe. Medical doctors say it is bad and the opponents say that it is good. The doctors have the facts to prove otherwise. The pro-marijuana people say it is natural and sure it is natural just as the grass in the front yard, but are you going to smoke that grass? Probably not.
In the 1920’s some Physicians tried to discourage American people to smoke cigarettes (because of the possible carcinogenic effects) and they were not taken seriously. Cigarette smokers continued to smoke cigarettes with no regard to these physicians and since, millions of people have died of pulmonary disease and smoking related complications. Marijuana is not safe and should not be smoked. Heed the warning just as the physicians of the past warned against cigarette smoking.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE is the most important MEDICINE. Don't start smoking- that is preventing.
Jose Carranza, M.D.
Preventive Medicine Media
Questions? Questions@PMMedia.com
This article is for educational purposes and is also based on opinion by the doctor - pmmedia.com is not responsible for misinterpretation or abuse of said text in any way or form. You should consult a medical professional if you have further questions. Please read disclaimer.