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East Tennesseans Debate Medical Marijuana
Some cancer patients say marijuana relieves nausea and other side effects from chemotherapy. And some states have passed legislation removing the state penalties for marijuana use for medical purposes.
Reporter: Jessa Goddard, Medical Reporter |
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Knoxville (WVLT) - Some cancer patients say marijuana relieves nausea and other side effects from chemotherapy. And some states have passed legislation removing the state penalties for marijuana use for medical purposes.
So, where do Tennesseans stand on the issue?
Several recent medical studies suggest marijuana cigarettes could help cancer and aids patients control nausea and pain.
And since 1996, 12 states have passed measures supporting medical marijuana use.
"What they're trying to do is get it under limited circumstances permitted, I believe, those being glaucoma, or relief from glaucoma, and folks that are on chemotherapy," State Senator Tim Burchett says he would oppose any bill that would legalize marijuana for any use, medical or otherwise.
There's still very little understanding of how the drug works.
And, in fact, internal medicine Doctor Michael Green cautions smoking marijuana poses its own health hazards. "When you boil that down, you're taking some leaves of a plant, setting them on fire, then sucking the smoke from that fire down your lungs. Along with that, you're getting all sorts of carcinogens."
Many lawmakers and doctors believe marijuana's future as a drug does not involve smoking.
Its best-known substance, THC, is already legally available as an oral prescription drug called Marinol.
"There's some really good medicines out there for pain and for nausea, which is something that medical marijuana has been touted as helpful for," says Dr. Green.
"Can 100 percent, unequivocally be duplicated in a laboratory and can be taken in pill form. So there really, I don't see any real reasons for it, other than the fact that some of these folks want to smoke marijuana," adds Senator Burchett.
While it remains a topic of discussion, there is currently no bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana before the Tennessee legislature.
How do you feel about legalized marijuana for medical purposes? Leave you thoughts in the comment section below.
Latest Comments
I think Marijuana should be legal period..If you look at the statistics the numbers will show themselves.. there has not been 1 reported case or Marijuana overdose but the aforementioned drugs that are legal from a doctor,people commit suicide on those everyday. And You take the numbers on crashes and fatalities caused by alcohol and the numbers for the crashes caused by marihuana impaired drivers and the alcohol related is far far higher than marijuana impaired drivers or drivers under the influence of perscripion medication. So people need to wake up and realize that its not the drug of the devil its got alot of good purposes and medical uses not to mention a cash crop and alot of recycled goods like rope, clothing, and alternative fuels the possibilites are endless....
These people are proposing medical marijuana for afflictions such as glaucoma or cancer, but what about anxiety? Why can we go to the doctor and legally get oxycontin, xanax bars, percocets, lortabs, valiums, and morphine patches (all of which WILL kill you) but we can't get something that is literally impossible to overdose on? If you use marijuana out of a vaporizer, like Ryan suggested, then it's less harmful to your lungs than tobacco. And any harmful side affects pale in comparison to all of the aforementioned LEGAL controlled substances. Marijuana was made illegal through the furtherance of capitalist lobbyists preying off of the racist fears of the majority of Americans, and it remains illegal largely because of ignorance and fear that it's a gateway drug. What will it take for us to mobilize and get a bill to Nashville???
A big issue I'm seeing here is about the actual smoke being harmful. I have to agree, but there is something called a vaporizer which pulls the THC out of the marijuana and turns it into vapor. This is much better for your lungs. Also the gateway drug argument, the only reason it is a gateway drug is because its illegal. A user might say well this illegal drug isn't that bad maybe cocain isn't as bad as people say or heroine. In fact those drugs are as bad as people say, and that is the thought process most of the people I know that got hooked on other drugs by using this "gateway drug". Not to mention the economical boost that this possible cash crop could produce. Also of course there are the medical uses for cancer and this is the real reason that this great state should legalize medical marijuana.
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