The Regulation, Benefits and Risks of Marijuana Use

Cannabis sativa is an ancient plant used at different points in history as a valuable commercial crop and for its medicinal properties. Its psycho-neurological effects on the mind and body contribute to its therapeutic properties, but they have also led to public health concerns and a perceived danger of marijuana use. This conflict has played out in the United States over the recent centuries. Marijuana was readily available in the U.S., during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The view of marijuana as a dangerous drug emerged in the U.S., in the 1930s, spurring federal and state regulations that made the use of marijuana and its component parts illegal. These regulations continue today, but because of emergent evidence that cannabinoids may have potential health benefits in a wide variety of diseases, many states have enacted laws permitting patients to use marijuana for medical purposes. This has led to a loosening of governmental regulations over marijuana use. On the other side, evidence continues to arise that conflicts with the view that marijuana’s benefits outweigh the risks of its use. A history of marijuana and its medicinal uses, as well as its risk for adverse events, will be discussed in this course.