Medical Marijuana – How Are Employers Reacting to the Legalization of Medical Marijuana?

Cannabis is not only the most mistreated illicit drug in the United States (Gold, Frost-Pineda, & Jacobs, 2004; NIDA, 2010) it is in reality one of the most over used controlled substance worldwide (UNODC, 2010). In the United States it is a schedule-I compound which indicates that it is legally thought about as having no clinical use and also it is highly addictive (US DEA, 2010). Doweiko (2009) clarifies that not all cannabis has abuse potential. He consequently suggests using the common terminology cannabis when describing marijuana with abuse capacity. For the sake of clearness this terms is made use of in this paper also.

Today, marijuana is at the center of international controversy questioning the suitability of its prevalent prohibited status. In several Union mentions it has ended up being legislated for clinical purposes. This fad is called “clinical cannabis” and is strongly praised by advocates while concurrently hated harshly by challengers (Dubner, 2007; Nakay, 2007; Van Tuyl, 2007). It is in this context that it was determined to pick the topic of the physical as well as medicinal impacts of marijuana for the basis of this research post.

What is cannabis?
Cannabis is a plant much more correctly called cannabis sativa. As stated, some marijuana sativa plants do not have abuse capacity as well as are called hemp. Hemp is made use of extensively for numerous fiber items including paper and also artist’s canvas. Cannabis sativa with abuse potential is what we call cannabis (Doweiko, 2009). It is interesting to note that although extensively studies for years, there is a great deal that researchers still do not recognize regarding cannabis. Neuroscientists as well as biologists know what the results of marijuana are yet they still do not fully comprehend why (Hazelden, 2005).

Deweiko (2009 ), Gold, Frost-Pineda, & Jacobs (2004) explain that of about 4 hundred known chemicals located in the marijuana plants, researchers understand of over sixty that are thought to have psychedelic results on the human mind. One of the most well known as well as powerful of these is â -9- tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Like Hazelden (2005 ), Deweiko states that while we understand a number of the neurophysical effects of THC, the factors THC generates these effects are uncertain.

Neurobiology:
As a psychoactive material, THC straight affects the central nerve system (CNS). It influences an enormous series of natural chemicals and militarizes various other biochemical as well as enzymatic activity as well. The CNS is promoted when the THC triggers specific neuroreceptors in the mind triggering the numerous physical and also emotional responses that will be stated on even more specifically additionally on. The only substances that can turn on neurotransmitters are materials that imitate chemicals that the mind produces normally. The fact that THC stimulates mind function teaches scientists that the mind has natural cannabinoid receptors. It is still unclear why humans have natural cannabinoid receptors and also exactly how they function (Hazelden, 2005; Martin, 2004). What we do recognize is that marijuana will certainly promote cannabinoid receptors up to twenty times much more actively than any one of the body’s natural neurotransmitters ever can (Doweiko, 2009).

Perhaps the most significant secret of all is the gruntz strain partnership between THC as well as the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin receptors are amongst one of the most boosted by all psychoactive medicines, yet many particularly alcohol as well as nicotine. Independent of marijuana’s connection with the chemical, serotonin is currently a little understood neurochemical and also its expected neuroscientific duties of operating as well as purpose are still primarily hypothetical (Schuckit & Tapert, 2004). What neuroscientists have actually found definitively is that cannabis smokers have extremely high levels of serotonin task (Hazelden, 2005). I would assume that it might be this partnership in between THC and serotonin that explains the “marijuana upkeep program” of achieving abstaining from alcohol as well as allows cannabis smokers to stay clear of agonizing withdrawal signs and symptoms as well as avoid cravings from alcohol. The efficiency of “cannabis maintenance” for aiding alcohol abstaining is not scientific yet is a phenomenon I have personally witnessed with countless clients.

Surprisingly, marijuana mimics a lot of neurological responses of other medicines that it is extremely difficult to classify in a certain class. Researchers will certainly position it in any one of these categories: psychedelic; hallucinogen; or serotonin inhibitor. It has residential or commercial properties that imitate similar chemical feedbacks as opioids. Other chemical reactions simulate energizers (Ashton, 2001; Gold, Frost-Pineda, & Jacobs, 2004). Hazelden (2005) classifies cannabis in its very own special course – cannabinoids. The factor for this confusion is the intricacy of the various psychedelic homes located within cannabis, both known as well as unknown. One current client I saw might not recuperate from the aesthetic distortions he suffered as a result of pervasive psychedelic use as long as he was still smoking cannabis. This seemed to be as a result of the psychedelic residential or commercial properties discovered within energetic cannabis (Ashton, 2001). Although not strong sufficient to produce these visual distortions by itself, marijuana was solid sufficient to prevent the mind from healing as well as recuperating.

Feelings:
Cannibinoid receptors are located throughout the brain therefore impacting a wide array of functioning. One of the most crucial on the emotional degree is the stimulation of the mind’s core accumbens perverting the brain’s natural reward centers. Another is that of the amygdala which controls one’s feelings as well as concerns (Adolphs, Trane, Damasio, & Damaslio, 1995; Van Tuyl, 2007).

I have actually observed that the heavy cannabis smokers that I work with directly seem to share a commonness of making use of the drug to manage their rage. This monitoring has evidenced based repercussions and also is the basis of much clinical research study. Research study has in fact found that the connection in between marijuana and handling anger is medically significant (Eftekhari, Turner, & Larimer, 2004). Anger is a defense mechanism used to defend against psychological repercussions of misfortune sustained by concern (Cramer, 1998). As stated, worry is a main function managed by the amygdala which is heavily boosted by cannabis use (Adolphs, Trane, Damasio, & Damaslio, 1995; Van Tuyl, 2007).

Neurophysical Results of THC:
Neurological messages in between transmitters and receptors not only control emotions and also emotional performance. It is also how the body manages both volitional as well as nonvolitional functioning. The brain and also the basic ganglia control all physical motion as well as control. These are 2 of the most abundantly promoted locations of the mind that are set off by marijuana. This explains marijuana’s physical result creating modified high blood pressure (Van Tuyl, 2007), and a weakening of the muscular tissues (Doweiko, 2009). THC inevitably affects all neuromotor activity to some extent (Gold, Frost-Pineda, & Jacobs, 2004).

An intriguing sensations I have witnessed in nearly all clients that identify marijuana as their medicine of selection is making use of marijuana smoking prior to eating. This is clarified by results of cannabis on the “CB-1” receptor. The CB-1 receptors in the brain are discovered heavily in the limbic system, or the nucleolus accumbens, which regulates the incentive pathways (Martin, 2004). These benefit paths are what influence the cravings and eating behaviors as part of the body’s natural survival reaction, triggering us to crave eating food and also rewarding us with dopamine when we lastly do (Hazeldon, 2005). Martin (2004) makes this connection, mentioning that distinct to cannabis users is the stimulation of the CB-1 receptor directly activating the hunger.

What is high quality and low grade?
A current customer of mine explains just how he originally smoked approximately fifteen joints of “reduced grade” marijuana daily however ultimately switched to “high grade” when the low grade was beginning to confirm inefficient. In the end, fifteen joints of high grade cannabis were becoming ineffective for him also. He commonly fell short to get his “high” from that either. This entire procedure occurred within five years of the client’s first ever experience with cannabis. What is high and low grade cannabis, as well as why would marijuana begin to shed its impacts after a while?