Medical Marijuana and Pain Management: The Physicians Catch 22

Abstract

In this paper, concerns connected to the usage of marijuana in treating patients are extensively analyzed. It is revealed that physicians have been in conflict with the federal government as to whether to use cannabis for medical purposes or if they should consider prescribing other drugs. A large percentage of physicians admit that marijuana could be an effective drug in treating patients, especially those with acute pain, nausea, AIDS, muscle spasms, and cancer, among other ailments. However, patients and physicians are scared of the strict laws that criminalize the use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Physicians are also reluctant to discuss the risks of marijuana, even though they might consider recommending it for treatment. The federal government criminalized marijuana because it is highly addictive and poses a danger to the health of an individual. Although marijuana could be incorporated into treating patients suffering from several medical complications, it is critical to support further research that would reveal the guidelines that physicians must follow in ensuring that patients benefit from this kind of treatment.