Concept Paper

The Concept of Marijuana as Medicine 

By Doug Holder

Marijuana is usually associated as a recreational drug. But this drug, often referred to as "grass,"weed," etc... has some other uses as well.  It has medicinal uses that treat the eye disease glaucoma, and has uses with cancer patients. It is no wonder that marijuana has been legalized in many states, and is dispensed in specialized clinics.


One medicinal use of marijuana is for the treatment of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in adult populations. According to Dr. Joe Smith, in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine titled "Marijuana and Eye Disease," he states: "Because of increased eye pressure, left untreated, the eye will become damaged, and eventually it will lead to blindness."(242). According to Smith the use of medical marijuana reduces eye pressure to levels that are acceptable and will not cause damage. (24).


Medicinal marijuana can also  be used in the treatment of cancer. Often cancer patients have painful side effects from their treatment with chemotherapy. Marijuana is shown to reduce those side effects drastically. In one study titled "Cancer and Cannabis," conducted by Mike Brown for the Mayo Clinic News Bulletin, he reports: "Patient side effects were reduced 70 per cent with treatment with Cannabis" (212).

In conclusion, instead of thinking of marijuana in the realm of  blank-faced stoners, think of it in the realm of approved and effective medical treatment.