What is marijuana?
大麻
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant [Wikipedia]Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indicaplant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other similar compounds. Extracts can also be made from the cannabis plant. [National Institute of Drug Abuse]
1) Do the medical advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
The medical advantages of marijuana does NOT outweigh disadvantages.
Proven benefit is limited.
- 多發性硬化症, multiple sclerosis
- Use of marijuana for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity due to multiple sclerosis
- Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems: a clinical review
- chronic non-cancer pain
- There is evidence for the use of low-dose medical marijuana in refractory neuropathic pain in conjunction with traditional analgesics. However, trials were limited by short duration, variability in dosing and strength of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and lack of functional outcomes. Although well tolerated in the short term, the long-term effects of psychoactive and neurocognitive effects of medical marijuana remain unknown. Generalizing the use of medical marijuana to all CNCP conditions does not appear to be supported by existing evidence.
- Deshpande A et al. Can Fam Physician. (2015) Efficacy and adverse effects of medical marijuana for chronic noncancer pain: Systematic reviewof randomized controlled trials.
- chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting
- Badowski ME. A review of oral cannabinoids and medical marijuana for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a focus on pharmacokinetic variability and pharmacodynamics. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2017 Aug 5
Marijuana has both short-and long-term effects on the brain.
- Short term:
- change in mood, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, impaired memory
- hallucinations, delusions, psychosis
- Long term:
- affects brain development. When people begin using marijuana as teenagers
Moreover, we have alternatives in pain management, with lesser side effects.
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2) The current Dangerous Drug Ordinance is based upon the UN 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; do you think this treaty is still legitimate basis for the criminalisation of marijuana?
The Dangerous Drug Ordinance in Chapter 134
It is not just a medical issue. It is a social issue. Chinese culture, social values
Examples:
4) Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system
Dr. Pierre Chan
2) The current Dangerous Drug Ordinance is based upon the UN 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; do you think this treaty is still legitimate basis for the criminalisation of marijuana?
The Dangerous Drug Ordinance in Chapter 134
It is not just a medical issue. It is a social issue. Chinese culture, social values
Examples:
- family structure, life and death.
- Same-sex marriage
- Organ donation
- Euthanasia
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3) How big is the demand for the legalisation of medical marijuana in Hong Kong?
It is a social issue. Chinese culture, social values
Government, legislative councillor and society.
The implications of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado. Andrew A. Monte, MD; Richard D. Zane, MD; Kennon J. Heard, MD, PhD JAMA. 2015;313(3):241-242.
3) How big is the demand for the legalisation of medical marijuana in Hong Kong?
It is a social issue. Chinese culture, social values
Government, legislative councillor and society.
The implications of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado. Andrew A. Monte, MD; Richard D. Zane, MD; Kennon J. Heard, MD, PhD JAMA. 2015;313(3):241-242.
4) Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system
Number of MS patients? = 53
KK Lau, LKS Wong, LSW Li, YW Chan, HL Li, V Wong. Epidemiological study of Chinese multiple sclerosis in Hong Kong: questionnaire survey. Hong Kong Med J 2002;8:77-80 | Number 2, April 2002
"For direct use of cannabis, it should still be banned. For cannabinoids, although there are increasing evidence suggesting their role in treating refractory symptoms, the evidence is limited. Personally I suggest HK to follow FDA recommendation. So far as I know only Dronabinol (for anorexia-cachexia in AIDS and post chemo nausea and vomiting) and Nabilone (post chemo N&V not responding to other Rx) are approved. But honestly speaking, there are alternative options for same condition. I worry abuse, but not abuse by citizens but abuse by physicians who are not familiar with these drugs and used them as of-label." Dr. Woo KW
"For direct use of cannabis, it should still be banned. For cannabinoids, although there are increasing evidence suggesting their role in treating refractory symptoms, the evidence is limited. Personally I suggest HK to follow FDA recommendation. So far as I know only Dronabinol (for anorexia-cachexia in AIDS and post chemo nausea and vomiting) and Nabilone (post chemo N&V not responding to other Rx) are approved. But honestly speaking, there are alternative options for same condition. I worry abuse, but not abuse by citizens but abuse by physicians who are not familiar with these drugs and used them as of-label." Dr. Woo KW
REFERENCES
- https://scholar.google.com.hk/scholar?hl=en&q=medical+marijuana+advantages+and+disadvantages&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp=
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215036615002175
- http://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_tc/04_crime_matters/drug/law_pen.html
- https://www.hk01.com/%E7%BD%AA%E6%A1%88/85314/-420%E5%A4%A7%E9%BA%BB%E6%97%A5-%E6%B8%AF%E7%B5%84%E7%B9%94%E6%8F%90%E5%87%BA%E8%A8%8E%E8%AB%96%E5%A4%A7%E9%BA%BB%E8%97%A5%E7%94%A8%E5%90%88%E6%B3%95%E5%8C%96-%E5%98%86%E8%A2%AB%E8%B2%A0%E9%9D%A2%E6%A8%99%E7%B1%A4%E8%90%BD%E9%96%98
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)
Dr. Pierre Chan
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