Americans are changing their attitudes about marijuana. In 2017, a Yahoo News and Marist poll of more than 1,000 adults found that two thirds think opioids prescribed by a physician are more dangerous than medical marijuana.
What Did People Think About Medical Marijuana?
The vast majority of the respondents believed that marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes. That includes both people who have tried marijuana themselves and those who have never used it. Of the 1,122 people polled, 573 had tried marijuana at least once and 160 reported using it regularly.
What Does Medical Marijuana Help?
Researchers are just starting to investigate the potential health benefits of marijuana. Cancer patients find it helpful in overcoming the side effects of chemotherapy. People with multiple sclerosis use cannabis for muscle spasms and neuropathic pain.
Will Medical Marijuana Help Someone With Colon Cancer?
Q. What can you tell me about using marijuana for someone dealing with colon cancer? I have a friend dealing with this and I am wondering where to begin research to see if marijuana can help him. Purchasing medical marijuana in Texas could be a challenge. Do you have any suggestions about where to start?
A. In a survey conducted between 2016 and 2018, nearly a fourth of patients with colorectal cancer in western Washington state reported using cannabis (Cancer Causes & Control, Jul. 14, 2021). The reasons people gave included pain management, relaxation, help with sleep or appetite and control of nausea or vomiting.
Rule Change in Texas:
Starting Sept. 1, 2021, people with cancer will be eligible to use medical marijuana in Texas. However, the psychoactive substance that makes people “high,” THC, is limited to 1 percent. That is significantly lower than the amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) permitted in other states. Some states allow as much as 15 percent THC in medical marijuana.
