As a physician, I am caught between wanting marijuana users and addicts to be treated as patients – and not criminals – while at the same time being very aware that regular marijuana use carries significant health risks. I believe we should treat habitual users and warn them of the associated risks – not punish them.
My job is to let you know that there is no free lunch medically with marijuana or any drug. Even if a state or a society decides that it is wise economically and politically to make marijuana legal, at the same time we must be prepared for the health consequences even more than the legal ones.
For reasons I elaborate on below, it’s clear to me that there is enough scientific evidence out there for me to discourage regular marijuana use for most people.
The new action by Sessions comes on the heels of California becoming the seventh and largest state (plus the District of Columbia) on Monday to legalize recreational marijuana. About 90 businesses received state licenses to begin legal marijuana sales in California at the start of 2018 and sales are booming. In addition, 29 states allow the sale and use of medical marijuana.
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http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/04/dr-marc-siegel-smoking-pot-routinely-may-seem-harmless-but-don-t-be-fooled-even-if-it-s-legal.html
5 comments:
Maybe try sourcing something other than Fox News when it comes to scientific studies. Marijuana has very very little health risk benefits. Can it be abused? ABSOLUTELY. Is it any more harmful to use as medication than any other pharmaceutical? Definitely not.
From the article "...while at the same time being very aware that regular marijuana use carries significant health risks.". Guess 12:50 doesn't believe Dr. Siegel. The problem is more and more people are using mj not for medical purposes but for recreational purposes. Then just like alcohol and other drugs recreational use becomes a daily habit. If you really need drugs or alcohol to provide your daily existence maybe you should just end it now.
Everything can be abused. I abused spinach and got gout. Cut back on my spinach, have not had gout since.
Funny comment to 2:53: Were you smoking it wet or dry?
Ok; I really love cooked spinach or in a salad, but not to extremes.
Now to the actual article: Self medicating on any substance is chancy. Putting anything but air in your lungs carries risks. Marijuana is generally not considered physically addictive, but as noted can become psychologically habitual. Whatever the reason for usage, it does impact reaction time for drivers. And, as perusal of police reports will show, many people are combining use of marijuana with pills, drugs and alcohol. Folks they injure are the innocent victims.
But the greedy keep getting richer off the opioid crisis. Disgusting.
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