Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA), acting chief Chuck Rosenberg has repeated his earlier stance that marijuana is not a medicine. He said this during a speech at a non-profit hospital in Cleveland in May 2017. This is not the first time that Rosenberg has spoken about marijuana in a disparaging tone. Even during former president Obama’s tenure, he had said that medical marijuana was “a joke.”
“If it turns out that there is something in smoked marijuana that helps people, that’s awesome,” Rosenberg said at the meeting. “I will be the last person to stand in the way of that. … But let’s run it through the Food and Drug Administration process, and let’s stick to the science on it.”
However, he also acknowledged there are studies that showed marijuana might offer benefits to children with epilepsy, and ensured that the DEA heeds to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations before classifying drugs. Marijuana, just like heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), is classified as a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act. This makes it difficult for researchers to carry out further studies on the plant and its health effects. However, at times, when scientists do get an approval to conduct research, the problem stems from the fact that government-grown cannabis, used in clinical trials, is of significantly inferior quality compared to cannabis grown in legal markets.
Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, another speaker at the Cleveland Clinic, also backed Rosenberg on medical marijuana research. He said that public health issues should be supported with evidence-based researches. “Should we be reducing the administrative and other barriers to researching that in the government? A 100 percent,” he said. “But what we should not do is make policies based on guesswork.” Murthy is also apprehensive that a problem drug use might spiral out of control.
Marijuana often considered a ‘gateway drug’
The problem with marijuana is that it is viewed as a “gateway drug.” When one develops a substance use disorder at an early age, the individual may go on to acquire an addiction to another substance during adulthood.
Similarly, if one is addicted to marijuana, he or she is definitely walking a tightrope. It is likely that the problem would exacerbate with the user getting dependent on other highly addictive substances. When a young developing brain experiences addiction, it is a matter of concern as it affects the mental development of the person.
However, if marijuana is beneficial for relieving pain in certain cases, then a host of evidence-based studies should back it. The NIDA website says, “Though none of these studies are definitive, they cumulatively suggest that medical marijuana products may have a role in reducing the use of opioids needed to control pain. More research is needed to investigate this possibility.”
Dealing with addiction
Whenever one develops an addiction, the best way out is to seek treatment in a credible treatment rehab at the earliest. With timely addiction treatment, one can become sober and lead an addiction-free life. Marijuana addiction can lead to mental problems and can even worsen existing mental conditions. It is a myth that substance use can help manage mental illnesses. In fact, it only complicates matters.
Sovereign Health is a leading substance abuse treatment provider in the U.S. that provides behavioral health treatment services. Our mental health disorders treatment in San Clemente is among the best in the country. Therefore, if you or a loved one is addicted to a substance and is looking for treatment rehabs, be it San Clemente drug rehab centers or in your vicinity, call our 24/7 helpline members or chat online for a quick response.
credit:sovhealth.com
