“In adults with multiple sclerosis (MS)-
related spasticity, short-term use of oral
cannabinoids improves patient-reported
spasticity symptoms.”
Smoking weed was also proved to help
athletic performance as it deepens
concentration, increases tissue oxygenation,
and decreases muscle spasms before, during
and after exercise.
The extensive 395-page report unearthed
more than 100 conclusions about the health
effects of recreational and therapeutic
cannabis use.
The nature of the relationship between
cannabis and psychiatric disorders has been
hotly debated for decades, with the report
confirming it does have risks.
“Cannabis use is likely to increase the risk of
developing
schizophrenia
and
other
psychoses; the higher the use the greater the
risk,” the report read.
However, research found smoking weed did
not appear to increase the likelihood of
developing depression, anxiety or PTSD.
It also addressed the risk of cancer from
smoking.
“The evidence suggests that smoking
cannabis does not increase the risk for certain
cancers (i.e., lung, head, and neck) in adults,”
it read.
And while it did admit smoking cannabis on a
regular basis is associated with chronic cough
and phlegm production, it explained
consuming the drug orally will likely reduce
these symptoms.
The report also confirmed the many
therapeutic effects of weed.
“In adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea
and vomiting, oral cannabinoids are effective
antiemetics,” the report read.
“In adults with chronic pain, patients who
were treated with cannabis or cannabinoids
are more likely to experience a clinically
significant reduction in pain symptoms.
WHAT VIEW AUSTRALIA’S POLITICAL
PARTIES HOLD
Australia is slowly taking steps to change its
stance on weed, with Victoria becoming the
first state to legalise marijuana for young
children suffering from epilepsy, while NSW
also allows use for patients suffering from
serious illnesses such as cancer or multiple
sclerosis.
Queensland’s laws are the most flexible in the
country, which grant patients of any age or
suffering from a range of illnesses access to
medicinal cannabis products.
Tasmania allows medical cannabis in limited
circumstances where conventional treatment
has been unsuccessful, as does Western
Australia, South Australia, the NT and the
ACT.
The Greens are the only political party to be
pushing to make cannabis recreationally
legal, with Labor and the LNP only showing
support for medical marijuana at a federal
level.
However, a bill for the legalisation of
cannabis in the ACT is currently before the
territory’s legislative assembly, with support
from both Greens and Labor.
The Liberal Democrats also support
legalisation, with Senator Leyonhjelm’s main
argument against the prohibition of cannabis
being "adults should be free to make their own
choices as long as they do not harm others".