EXPOSITION

Name: Alex Bryce

Teacher: Ms. Nugent

Theme: Medical uses of marijuana in public health centers in Jamaica

Topic : Health

Speech
Would you want the government limiting how much coffee you can drink or how much
cheesecake you’re allowed to eat? According to Dr. Paul Phinney, president-elect of the
California medical association has found these types of foods to be just as addictive if not more
than marijuana.

“It's only when you abuse the drug that problems start to occur.” But isn't abuse of almost any
bad substance a problem?

Good morning Mr. / Mrs. The topic that I have chosen for my portfolio is 'Medical uses of
marijuana in public health centers ' and the theme is 'Health '. The theme 'Health' was chosen
because, this plays a very important role in our lives today, and I also found it to be a very
interesting and a controversial issue.

I have selected this topic because I have been educated and I have also experienced that the
marijuana plant cannot only be used for recreational purposes but can also be used to cure
certain illnesses such as to suppress cancer, reduce blood pressure, treat glaucoma, alleviate pain
and even inhibit HIV. My theme was also chosen because in Jamaica health has always been an
issue as in relates to public and personal health,from the range of obesity to the lack of
pharmaceutical drugs to depression of financial incomes to purchase these drugs , but their can
be a solution to this problem, with just one plant , we can make a difference ! ...

Marijuana is one of the most widely used drug that is used for recreational purposes as
mentioned before in Jamaica, but mostly by the Rastafarian’s as this plant is a part of their
cultural belief . Marijuana, also known as cannabis sativa, is a significant influencing drug
impacting upon human behaviour and body functions in a number of ways. When smoked the
marijuana plant has short term effects such as slurred speech, impaired mental functioning and
among others .

But in spite of all this, there still is something beneficial about this plant. It is this that I would
like to speak about.

Marijuana contains the chemical (THC) tetrahydocanabaiod and other chemicals which are
useful to the body and can be harvested from the plant not only by smoking, but through a
number of ways, but before I introduced you to the medical properties of the plant. I would like
to share some of the plants rich history, with us human beings on earth. In this speech I will be
expanding on the history, the traditional use and the facilities that are put in place for the use of
marijuana as a public health medicine.

According to the book “Basic Herbs for health and healing" Hakin, R. (1989)

Cannabis sativa, indicating, sativa Ruberlis, common names: ganja, herb, refer; pot, marijuana,
weed, corn, coli, oil, bang, hemp and Mary Jane are some of the names given to the plant by its
consumers for different reasons.
Cannnabisindica, native to regions north of the Himalayan Mountains, it grows wild in China
along the Great Wall. The herb was known to the Greeks and was mentioned in Homer's Odyssey
as an herb that will make men leave their home. In ancient Thebes, the plant was used to make a
refreshing drink. In ancient Egyptian ruin dating from 4000 years ago. In China, 4800 years ago,
the fibres from the plant were used to make rope and linen. Indian writing dating 1000 years ago
reports the medical use of cannabis.

In Persia, in the 11th century, a secret society known as the Hashsashin, or "assassin", used to
prepare a substance made from the flowering tops of the cannabis indica, a known assassin
hashish. This substance would be smoked to give one courage to go and assassinate one's
enemies. This secret society has survived even to this day. But despite of all of that someone saw
that their was something special about this plant.

In the year 2737B.C. Chinese Emperor Shen Nung used the plant as an anesthetic, and a cure for
rheumatism and leprosy. The plant reached Europe around 500 B. Visit.

The traditional and medicinal uses of cannabis have been used in the form of a tea, a tincture,
and as a seasoning for many dishes. Smoking cannabis was introduced to Africans by the Arabs.
In the West Indian islands, the art of smoking, cultivating, and curing the herb was introduced by
the East Indians. As a medicine, marijuana is used as a liniment for sprains, arthritic and
rheumatic pains, and asthma, bronchitis and margarine headaches. It is a blood cleanser and
tranquilizer. It will also rid the body of infections.

In Jamaica, the herb is used for asthma, bronchitis, and all problems dealing with mucus
congestion. It can be taken as a tea, in doses of teaspoon of dried herb to a cup of warm water
sweetened with honey.

A poultice can be made for sores, external ulcers, sprains, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, boils, and
infections and to kill pain. Fresh leaves can be crushed, lightly heated and applied to sores etc.

The marijuana plant can be used as many our things such as:

A tincture .A medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.

A liniment .An embrocation for rubbing on the body to relieve pain, especially one made with
oil.

A seasoning

A cough syrup

And even as a hair rinse

Now do you see that the plant can be used in the medical health field or do you still feel as if it is
unsafe to use?
Research as shown that today thousands of cancer patients use marijuana to relieve nausea and
vomiting, caused by radiation therapy. Glucosamine victims also use the herb to relieve pressure
on the eyes. The plant is presently being studied as an aid for people suffering from multiple
sclerosis, epilepsy, and migraine headaches. Clinical studies have shown that cannabis retards the
growth of most fungus and viruses.

Recognising the potential of cannabis, the food and Drug Administration in September of 1980
classified it a class C drug, meaning one with clinical applications. About 20 statesin the USA
have approved the distribution of THC, the main ingredient of cannabis, for medical purposes.
Drug companies have applied for licenses to market THC in capsule form. THC when costumed
tuns to 25 different compounds which react differently with each user's metabolism system.
Cannabis can speed up the heartbeat and raise blood pressure. Imagine if this was our country,
just imagine the benefits of it.

According to the Jamaica observer on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 :

Dr Bisasor-McKenzie alluded to the report of the Caricom Regional Commission on Marijuana

2018, which states that access to medical marijuana should be facilitated for qualifying
conditions in which there is clear evidence of its therapeutic benefits and for debilitating life-
threatening conditions that are intractable to treatment, and where there is evidence of possible
benefits.

“These include patients on chemotherapy with nausea and vomiting, glaucoma, asthma, anorexia
and weight loss in AIDS, cancers, anorexia nervosa, chronic and neuropathic pain, multiple
sclerosis, sleep disorders and some neuropsychiatric disorders” she outlined.

Dr Bisasor-McKenzie said it is also important to note that the amendments to the Dangerous
Drug Act, facilitating the use of medicinal marijuana, states that the user must be certified by a
registered medical practitioner as suffering from cancer or any other terminal or serious chronic
illness, and that the medicinal or therapeutic product is recommended by that registered medical
practitioner.

The information is credible since it was published in the Jamaica observer a national newspaper
in 2018.The information presented is scientific because it comes from a doctor a

well-known activist in the area of medicine. Therefore, the article

is factual and accurate because the writer is quoting from the doctor’s research and is not biased
as it is not her own opinionated

information. The article is very valid and the information appears to be well researched.

This article effectively highlighted the medical uses of

marijuana. Over all, both articles were generally well-presented, the information gleaned from
them were both revealing in different aspects.

In conclusion I would just like to stress that the medicinal use of marijuana would be very
effective and beneficial to the public health society. I think that there should be more educational
programs going on every where to educate the public about that this plant can do from us, not
only the youths but also the adults about marijuana.

Also there should be more legal marijuana centers and products for patients to help them with
there problem an also there should be many counseling centre to assist families that are not sure
about the drug being used by thier children , because of fair of recreational activities . In closing
ladies an gentlemen I would just like to say that marijuana is safe to be used for medicinal
perposes but don’t over do it