For thousands of years cannabis has been used both for medicinal and recreational purposes. Evidence of this use can be found in ancient China, India and Egypt. The United States used cannabis extensively as a medical treatment during the 19th century. However, it was eventually made illegal in the 20th century. There has been an increase in legalization of cannabis as a recreational or medicinal drug over the last several decades.
One current article on the benefits and hazards of smoking cannabis is “Medical Marijuana: A Review of the Science and Implications for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Practice” by Dr. Sharon Levy, published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in 2017.
This article discusses the benefits medical marijuana can bring to a variety of conditions such as chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, and chemotherapy-related nausea. It has also been proven to treat certain types of epilepsy in children.
The article acknowledges that smoking marijuana can have some potential dangers, such as impaired cognitive function and increased motor vehicle accident risk. It also mentions potential addiction. Particularly for children and teens, the author stresses that medical marijuana should be used with caution.
This article ends by calling for further research into medical marijuana use, especially in children. Although the article acknowledges some of the benefits that marijuana can bring, it also calls for more research into the dangers and benefits and how to use it safely in clinical settings.