On November 6, 2012, Amendment 64 to the Colorado Marijuana Legislation Initiative in the United States was approved, allowing recreational use of the plant by persons aged 21 and above. Thus, since marijuana stores legally opened in the state on January 1, 2014, a collective sales profit of more than five million US dollars has been reported.
In the Philippines, despite a proposal to have marijuana legalized – even for medical use -- , the government has been firm with its statement that marijuana will remain an illegal drug, to the dismay of parents whose children are suffering from serious health conditions. We sought the opinion of experts on the matter.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about marijuana is that it has no health benefits,” says Dr. Natasha Balbas, an alternative health specialist who has experience working with children with neurodevelopmental disorders using a natural, non-invasive approach. She elaborates on some of medical cannabis’s major pharmacologic properties:
• “Analgesia, or pain-relief, which is extremely helpful for those living with pain everyday from things like severe arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome, even excruciating migraines
• “Orexigenic (an appetite stimulant), which would benefit patients suffering from muscle-wasting disease like muscular dystrophy, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, anorexia, and some cancers
• “Antiemetic, meaning that it helps to nausea and vomiting, whether it be from cancer chemotherapy, motion sickness, or pregnancy “morning sickness”
• “Antispasmodic, helping to control muscular movements of patients with neurologic disorders like dystonia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Epilepsy, Tourette's Syndrome, or spinal cord injuries
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