Caution urged when using medical marijuana

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Dr. James V. McDonald, medical director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, delivered an engaging presentation on the latest developments and issues with medical marijuana products to a packed audience at The Miriam Hospital on Oct. 11.

Despite medical marijuana being legal in Rhode Island since 2006, there is still tension on the topic, partly because marijuana is classified by the U.S. government, along with heroin, as a Schedule 1 narcotic.

McDonald’s talk, titled “Medical Marijuana in Rhode Island. It’s Here to Stay, What You Should Know,” included several points about how marijuana, or cannabis, is different from other drugs on the market. A key point is that it wasn’t introduced through the standard process. Typically, before drugs are introduced, they go through a long series of trials to determine their safety and efficacy. It can take years to determine a drug’s side effects.

The notion of marijuana having legitimate medical applications derived from its use worldwide. It’s estimated that more than 22 million Americans used marijuana in 2015. Surveys indicate that half the U.S. population has tried the drug, for either medical or recreational use, by age 21.

It is important to note, McDonald said, that there are two chemical compounds in cannabis that are used for medical reasons: THC and CBD. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC,  causes the psychoactive reaction, or “high,” while Cannabidiol or CBD has no psychoactive effects. CBD is legal in the U.S. and can be bought over the counter. The CBD industry claims its product has many medicinal benefits, but the medical community has largely remained neutral on the topic.

Edible cannabis has emerged as the preferred vehicle for medical applications because the chemical integrity and strength can more easily be controlled, prescribed and tracked, McDonald said.

Though cannabis has been in wide use for a long time, from a medical standpoint, it is still in the testing phase to determine how it works and what conditions it helps. 

The takeaway from the meeting, sponsored by The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association, is that use of medical cannabis can be helpful, but users should be aware of Rhode Island’s regulations on obtaining prescriptions and using cannabis products.

CHRIS WESTERKAMP is advertising director of The Jewish Voice.