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accessHealthNews.net PAGE 8 April 2019 Missouri is the 32nd state to legalize marijuana, often referred to as cannabis, for medical use. Proponents of medical marijuana say, among many things, the drug could provide less dependence on opioids to manage pain. This article looks at both drugs and weighs the pros and cons. Marijuana, or weed, is the slang term for portions of the cannabis plant – one of the oldest psychoactive substances that dates back many centuries. There are numerous compounds in marijuana, and scientists attribute one specific compound to the drug's psychoactive effects: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This compound binds to regions in the brain responsible for pleasure, time perception and pain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This triggers chemicals that stimulate dopamine production, a brain chemical often referred to as the "feel-good chemical." This effect makes recreational marijuana use highly popular and favored. Perhaps that's why it's no surprise the amount of THC in marijuana has grown over the past few decades, according to NIDA. In the early '90s, the average THC content in marijuana was about 3.74 percent. By 2013, THC content jumped to almost 10 percent, the NIDA reports. Like any other drug, marijuana has its pitfalls. Short- term use impairs thinking and coordination. In long-term studies on teens, those who smoke marijuana have lower IQs, as well as structural differences in their brains. Some experts argue this outcome may be due to habitual pot smokers seeking out less intellectually stimulating pursuits. A 2016 study by the University of Montreal offers a more serious look at the outcomes attributed to long-term marijuana use. The study, published in the Development and Psychopathology Journal, found that teens who start smoking marijuana at age 14 do worse on cognitive tests by age 20 than those who don't smoke. Smokers also experience a higher dropout rate. Those who start smoking around 17 reportedly don't experience the same cognitive issues. It's also important to note that NIDA links marijuana use to schizophrenia. The drug is also attributed to bronchitis, stroke and heart failure, and other ailments, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. However, medical professionals across the country are looking to marijuana as an alternative to pain management, as opioid use, addiction and overdoses skyrocket. From opioids to medical marijuana When the late '90s hit, doctors, on the strength of false assurances by pharmaceutical companies, began prescribing opioids for pain management. They were told and believed the drug would not cause addiction, according to NIDA. By 2016, opioid-related drug overdoses killed approximately 116 people daily, with 42,249 dying from the drug annually and another 11 million misusing the drug, as reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This highly addictive drug causes euphoria. Those addicted will resort to more accessible, less expensive and illegal opioids like heroin, when they lose access to prescription opioids. This is not only a public health issue, it is a national crisis. Increasingly, medical experts are turning to medicinal forms of marijuana to manage certain types of pain. They contend medical marijuana carries a much lower addiction risk than opioids. Here's how it works: When a person uses cannabis, compounds in the drug bind to By Tonia Wright, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief A Look at the Pros and Cons