Free Research Paper Sample: Medicinal Marijuana and the Baby Boomers Generation

Baby boomers refer to the population that was born between 1946 and 1964 in the United States. This portion of the population has been recognized for its considerable contribution towards economic growth and development. The Baby Boomers group is significant in the field of Health Service Management Systems because, besides its extensive participation in development is has participated in the enhancement of healthcare than any other group in the history of America. As most of this population is approaching the aging group, they have been involved in the use of medicinal marijuana.

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For quite a long time, people have used marijuana for pleasure purposes until recently that clinical test revealed that marijuana can be for treatment purposes. Since then, intensive researches have been conducted to examine the risks and benefits that can be involved with the use of medicinal marijuana. Even though marijuana has been widely used in operations involving chronic pain, there is a rising concern for the safety of using the medicinal marijuana specifically to the Boomers generation who are in their senior years.

1.2 Background of the Study

The researcher opted to conduct an investigation into the safety of medicinal marijuana on the baby boomers following the realization that most of the previous researches did not find adverse effects of the use of medicinal marijuana. However, the researcher noted that most of the previous studies did not focus on a particular group to which the investigations were conducted. Also, a study carried out at the McGill University Health Center and McGill University in Montreal paved way by proposing that, even though there are rare cases of adverse effects reported from the use of medicinal marijuana, it might be risky to people of particular groups, for instance, people with a history of psychiatric illnesses, nursing or pregnant mothers. The findings from these researches fueled the researcher to find data that can be used to support the need to understand whether the use of medicinal marijuana is safe for the Baby Boomers because they are at their senior age. Even though the research conducted by McGill University Health Center and McGill University in Montreal did not find adverse effects on the use of medicinal marijuana, the researcher proposes that the use of medicinal marijuana is not safe for the baby boomers generation. The researcher suggests that since most of the baby boomers are in their early sixties and late fifties, they could be vulnerable to heart diseases and stroke and, therefore, taking of medicinal marijuana is a health risk.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

In this study, the researcher aims to address one question: Is medicinal Marijuana safe of the baby boomers generation? This issue rose following the findings of various researches indicating that medicinal marijuana was found to have a higher profile of safety as compared to other anesthetics and other therapeutics active substances. For instance, following a review of 23 clinical records, investigators at the University of British Columbia and the McGill University Health Center found that medicinal cannabinoid especially the oral THC or liquid cannabis extract disclosed that there were low risks of medical use of cannabinoid. Also, these researchers insisted that there were rare cases that had been reported regarding the overdose of medicinal marijuana. More so, the findings of a study posted at WebMD by Dennis Thompson in 2015 indicated that medicinal Marijuana was safer for chronic pain but only among people who had some experiences with using the drug. This study, however, highlights some adverse side effects to the patients such as nausea, headache, dizziness, and sleepiness.

The realization of these controversies in the use of medicinal marijuana geared the researcher to assess the safety of the use of medicinal marijuana among the baby boomers as the researcher believes that such adverse side effects could be harmful to the health of baby boomers who are in their senior age. The researcher wish to explore the risks that use of medicinal marijuana would pose to this group.

1.4 Research Questions

Is medicinal Marijuana safe of the baby boomers generation?

What are the risks that the use of medicinal marijuana would pose to the baby boomers?

How will the side effects caused by the use of medicinal marijuana affect the health of the baby boomers generation?

Does medicinal marijuana pose the same risks to people who are used to using the drug and those who are not used to using it?

1.5 Aim and Objectives

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the safety of the use of medicinal marijuana among the baby boomers generation.

1.6 ObjectivesThe following objectives will assist the researcher to achieve the primary aim of the investigation:

To explore the safety of usage of medicinal marijuana among the baby boomers

To examine the health risks that use of medicinal marijuana would pose to Baby Boomers

To assess whether medicinal marijuana has the poses the same risks to those people who uses the marijuana as a drug and those who do not use it

To identify the side effects of marijuana among the baby boomers

Chapter II

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

In this chapter, the investigator will examine the literature that indicates how that marijuana can be useful as well as harmful as a medicinal substance. On the brief review of clinical studies on medicinal cannabinoids, a word literature on the safety and efficacy of cannabis (Bentham 2012) revealed that cannabinoids can be delivered through smoking, vaporization, oral and sublingual or mucosal routes. The article by Bentham showed that smoking marijuana causes the delivery of THC to the brain and can be detected immediately in the plasma after the first puff. The peak concentration occurs within ten minutes and afterward, decreases drastically from 60% in 15 minutes to 20% in 30 minutes. This indicates the implication of smoking marijuana and how it is rather unsafe than the presumed fact that it is not harmful.

2.2 Side effects of medicinal Marijuana

The fact that medicinal marijuana is a drug and when taken in large doses can cause adverse effects like withdrawal symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, and headache, it is also beneficial (Degenhardt & Hall, 2008). In the review on an article about cannabinoids, we examine the fact that medicinal marijuana helps in solving issues like anorexia, weight loss, and early satiety in people with cases of HIV and AIDS and cancer (The open neurology journal 2012). It improves their appetite and thus they are able to gain weight and live healthy. Study shows that use of medicinal marijuana compared to other substances like placebo, brought about an appetite enhancement of 38% from 8% in six weeks and the change persisted for 12 months. The results were quite plausible and very significant in that area (Baker, Jackson & Pryce, 2007). Although this was the case, in the long run the consumption of the medicinal marijuana brought about side effects such as delayed onset of action, variable absorption and extended duration of effects. This indicates that there is a slight difference between the significance of using medicinal drug and its long-term effects,

In the risk management of medicinal marijuana, study shows that use of these substances causes withdrawal symptoms that are characterized by restlessness, anxiety, mood effects and insomnia. Adverse effects also include increased sedation, dry mouth, and dizziness. Cannabis heighten a considerable risk to the vulnerable group of the elderly who are exposed to psychiatric adverse effects like confusion, panic attacks, psychotic reactions such as paranoia, dejection and depressed mood (Eva, Toshiaki, Julian & Jose Luis, 2009). Formal neural, psychological tests revealed that the use of clinical marijuana is aligned with increased impairment of time and speed. Increased cannabinoid, therefore, impacts on the processing speed, attention, learning and recall as well as the perception of time, velocity, reaction time and psychomotor ability (Eva, Toshiaki, Julian & Jose Luis, 2009). Due to this effect, accidents on the road will be frequent and fatal due to the use of medicinal marijuana.

2.3 Scope of use of medicinal marijuana

The new debate that is being raised all over is how worth or the value of this plant to the medicine world. Medicinal marijuana, which entails the use of cannabis and its cannabinoids to improve symptoms and cure some diseases, has made researchers explore scientifically on this plant (Robson, 2001). However, the use of medicinal marijuana has not been openly allowed due to its abuse but it has been made legal in the USA. In essence, it has been initiated the review of articles on whether medicinal marijuana is safe or not most reputable studies, however, has showed that cannabis has got a lot of potential in offering superior treatment options to a broad range of diseases and other medical conditions.

When taken naturally, it cannot be harmful as the only psychoactive substance or compound is the THC (Tetrahydrocanabinnolic Acid) which cannot cause impairment or addiction when taken raw. It poses a danger when it is smoked as the THC now affects the brain. Articles reviewed that the use of medicinal marijuana can inhibit memory loss, or it can cause it. This will depend on the ratio of Tetrahydrocanabinnolic (THC) to Cannabidiol (CBD). After a period, there is build up of an enzyme that blocks the brain neurons from firing and sending information. The blockage in turn causes memory loss.

The cannabinoids, however, clean the blockage and eliminate the enzyme that was preventing the passage and firing of information. Another cannabinoid repairs the damage that was caused by the enzymes and probably the disease that is brought forth by the damage (Degenhardt & Hall, 2008). The removal of the synthetic substance of the brain that causes Alzheimer and thus it can make the brain work like when someone is younger. As people age, they are likely to be affected by this condition of Alzheimer, and thus they opt to use medicinal marijuana to make their minds work like that of a young person thus the baby name boomers.

The study has proven that the use of medical marijuana for the baby boomers is to preserve their memory. As time moves so is age, and the older one becomes, the...