Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Legalizing medical marijuana is controversial. Physicians have not always prescribed controlled substances wisely, as a look at our narcotic epidemic confirms. But marijuana is much safer than narcotics and, according to a recent study, might even save us money, by reducing people's need for other, often more expensive medications.
Most notably, marijuana can be an effective part of comprehensive pain management. Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, caused by a wide range of disorders–inflammatory arthritis, irritable bowel, metastatic cancer, to name a few. Many medications used to manage such pain are expensive and carry substantial risk of substantial side effects (see above–re: narcotic epidemic). Marijuana can help alleviate pain, thereby reducing the need for those other medications.
In fact, in states with legalized medical marijuana, prescriptions for a wide range of medications have declined.
The number of pain medications, in particular, is substantially reduced.
No doubt, some physicians over-prescribe medical marijuana. But many physicians over-prescribe narcotics, too, and seizure medications used to treat pain, and sleep medications used to address insomnia. We need to train physicians to prescribe medical marijuana responsibility, and monitor their prescribing patterns to identify suspicious activities.
But we should also move to legalize medical marijuana nationally, as part of a program to better study appropriate and inappropriate use of this drug.
Patients with chronic pain deserve effective treatments. They shouldn't have to suffer because of the politics of pot.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More Medical Marijuana Could Help Cut Down On Narcotics
Author: Peter Ubel
Contact: Contact Information
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: {{meta.title}}
Most notably, marijuana can be an effective part of comprehensive pain management. Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, caused by a wide range of disorders–inflammatory arthritis, irritable bowel, metastatic cancer, to name a few. Many medications used to manage such pain are expensive and carry substantial risk of substantial side effects (see above–re: narcotic epidemic). Marijuana can help alleviate pain, thereby reducing the need for those other medications.
In fact, in states with legalized medical marijuana, prescriptions for a wide range of medications have declined.
The number of pain medications, in particular, is substantially reduced.
No doubt, some physicians over-prescribe medical marijuana. But many physicians over-prescribe narcotics, too, and seizure medications used to treat pain, and sleep medications used to address insomnia. We need to train physicians to prescribe medical marijuana responsibility, and monitor their prescribing patterns to identify suspicious activities.
But we should also move to legalize medical marijuana nationally, as part of a program to better study appropriate and inappropriate use of this drug.
Patients with chronic pain deserve effective treatments. They shouldn't have to suffer because of the politics of pot.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More Medical Marijuana Could Help Cut Down On Narcotics
Author: Peter Ubel
Contact: Contact Information
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: {{meta.title}}
