A Conclusive Study?
Over the past several years, more and more states have legalized the use of marijuana, whether for medical or recreational purposes. Cannabis also comes in stronger varieties and in more varied forms now than ever before — as oils and leaves that can be vaped or as edibles such as cookies or cannabis gummy bears. Given the drug's development both legally and physically, it's about time we find out what can be conclusively said of its health benefits and risks.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a 337-page report Thursday to that effect. After analyzing more than 10,000 studies about marijuana, the researchers say that conclusive evidence is still hard to come by, even given the reported increase in the drug's usage —according to a survey, some 22 million American adults said to have used the drug in the last month.
We still need "far more information," Marie McCormick, chair of the NAS committee and professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, told Shots. But this information is difficult to gather given that marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I substance by the DEA.
What We Know and Don't Know
The report summarizes the associated health benefits and risks that come with cannabis use. It highlights only a few health benefits, such as "a significant reduction in pain symptoms," with "substantial evidence" of improving the symptoms of muscle spasms related to multiple sclerosis. It also states "there is conclusive evidence" that oral cannabinoids prevent and treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adults.
Of the health risks, the study looked into quite a number. They found that there is no evidence that it leads to cancer in the same way that smoking tobacco does, but "some evidence suggests smoking marijuana may trigger a heart attack among individuals with diagnosed heart disease." Pregnant women who take cannabis risk producing offspring with lower birth weights, and evidence suggests that regular marijuana smoking can induce more frequent chronic bronchitis and worse respiratory symptoms, the report says.
As far as links between cannabis usage and injury or death, the only ones mentioned in the study are in cases of driving under the influence or in situations where a young child ingests a large amount of the drug accidentally.
The study also notes that there's no known associated risk of developing mental health illnesses due to cannabis use, although those with schizophrenia and other social anxiety disorders are more prone to abusive use. Additionally, the study asserts that teenage exposure to marijuana "increases the likelihood of developing dependency, which can affect academic performance and social interactions."
While the report does cover a good number of studies, a lot of research remains to be done, according to McCormick. Rigorous study is of the utmost importance now more than ever given the trend toward marijuana legalization.
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Je, Uchunguzi Uliofikia Mwisho? Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, nchi nyingi zimepitisha sheria za kisheria za kutumia bangi kwa ajili ya matibabu na burudani. Kamba pia inakuja katika aina kali na katika aina mbalimbali zaidi sasa kuliko hapo awali - kama mafuta na majani ambayo yanaweza kupumua au kama vyakula kama vile biskuti au nywele za bangi. Kwa kuzingatia maendeleo ya dawa hiyo kisheria na kimwili, ni wakati wa kujua nini kinaweza kusemwa kwa uhakika juu ya faida na hatari zake za afya. Chuo cha Kitaifa cha Sayansi, Uhandisi na Tiba (NASA) kilitoa ripoti ya kurasa 337 kwa ajili ya utafiti huo. Baada ya kuchunguza zaidi ya masomo 10,000 kuhusu bangi, watafiti wanasema kwamba ushahidi wa uhakika bado ni vigumu kupata, hata kutokana na ongezeko la matumizi ya dawa hiyo, kulingana na uchunguzi, karibu watu wazima milioni 22 nchini Marekani walisema wametumia dawa hiyo mwezi uliopita. "Hata hivyo, kuna uwezekano mkubwa kwamba ""mwisho wa siku"" utakuja na Marie McCormick, mwenyekiti wa kamati ya NAS na profesa wa pediatrics katika Shule ya Matibabu ya Harvard." "Hii ni kwa sababu dawa ya kulevya inaendelea kuwa ""Chombo cha Chini ya Mipango ya I"" na DEA." Tunachojua na Hatujui Ripoti hiyo ina muhtasari wa faida na hatari za afya zinazohusiana na matumizi ya bangi. "Hii inataja faida chache tu za afya, kama vile ""kupungua kwa dalili za maumivu,"" na ""uthibitisho mkubwa"" wa kuboresha dalili za spasms za misuli zinazohusiana na multiple sclerosis." Pia inasema "kuna ushahidi thabiti" kwamba cannabinoids ya mdomo huzuia na kutibu kichefuchefu na kutapika kunakosababishwa na tiba ya kemikali kwa watu wazima. Kwa sababu ya hatari za kiafya, utafiti huo ulichunguza mambo kadhaa. "Wanasema hakuna ushahidi kwamba dawa hiyo ya kulevya husababisha kansa kama vile kuvuta sigara, lakini ""kuna uthibitisho kwamba kuvuta bangi kunaweza kusababisha mshtuko wa moyo kwa watu walio na ugonjwa wa moyo.""" Wanawake wajawazito wanaotumia bangi wanakabili hatari ya kuzaa watoto wenye uzito mdogo wakati wa kuzaliwa, na ushahidi unaonyesha kwamba kuvuta bangi mara kwa mara kunaweza kusababisha bronchitis ya muda mrefu na dalili mbaya zaidi za kupumua. Kwa upande mwingine, uhusiano kati ya matumizi ya bangi na majeraha au kifo ni tu katika kesi za kuendesha gari chini ya ushawishi au katika hali ambapo mtoto mdogo anala kiasi kikubwa cha dawa hiyo kwa bahati mbaya. Utafiti huo pia unasema kuwa hakuna hatari inayojulikana ya kuambukizwa magonjwa ya akili kutokana na matumizi ya bangi, ingawa wale walio na schizophrenia na matatizo mengine ya wasiwasi wa kijamii wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kutumia dawa hiyo. Kwa kuongezea, utafiti huo unadai kwamba vijana wanaotumia bangi "huongeza uwezekano wa kuwa na uraibu, ambao waweza kuathiri utendaji wa shule na mahusiano ya kijamii". Ingawa ripoti hiyo inashughulikia idadi kubwa ya masomo, utafiti mwingi bado unabaki kufanywa, kulingana na McCormick. Utafiti mkali ni wa umuhimu mkubwa sasa zaidi ya wakati mwingine kutokana na mwelekeo wa kuhalalisha bangi. Shiriki Makala Hii