In the last decade, there has been much controversy over the legality of marijuana. Many people still deny the proven health benefits of marijuana, and some are appalled at the fact that it is still federally illegal. A recent study by Harvard University showed that smoking marijuana improves brain function.
The study was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology. They stated that marijuana factually improves cognitive performance. Researchers from McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Tufts University have begun preliminary investigations that have found incredible benefits from the plant’s use, including the improvement of “our ability to utilize the knowledge acquired by mental processes in our brains.” 24 patients were studied over a three-month history. The patients were consistently measured with cognitive testing, including the Stroop Color Word Test and the Trail Making Test. The patients did extremely well on the tests.
Participants of the study reported that they had improvements in their clinical conditions. They also reported that they had better sleep and decreased use of conventional medications. They particularly decreased use of opiates. They saw a 42 percent reduction in opioid use,” reported Gruber. “This is significant, particularly for those of us in Massachusetts and other areas of the country where the opioid epidemic is ravaging so many. This preliminary finding certainly warrants deeper and broader investigation.
There are many ongoing tests to be performed on medical marijuana. Marijuana has proven benefits in fighting cancer and many other deadly diseases. Marijuana is still federally illegal and is scheduled as a schedule 1 drug, saying that it is as dangerous as major drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. And, as Gruber points out, “people are going to use it. It’s up to us to figure out the very best and safest ways in which they can do that.”