Medicinal Marijuana – A Vegan Perspective

We certainly can’t have a week-long Hemp History Week celebration without discussing it.

You know, hemp’s cousin, marijuana. 

While Hemp History Week does not address medicinal marijuana (or advocate for its use) specifically, hemp’s legal status is defined by marijuana, thus making it essential to understand the difference between the two.

So let’s talk about it.

Both Hemp and Marijuana come from the same genus of plants: Cannabis. The difference between the two is in its use.

The term ‘Hemp’ commonly refers to the industrial or commercial use of the plant. Marijuana, on the other hand, refers to the medicinal, recreational, or spiritual use of consuming cannabis flowers.

The variety, Cannabis Sativa, is generally grown for hemp. 

It’s full of highly nutritional seeds and long stems that are known for their fibrous properties. Hemp contains low amounts of THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, aka the intoxicating ingredient which gets people “high.” Today’s hemp comes from naturally selected strains of the plant, about 0.3 – 1.5%, meaning you’re not going to get impaired from consuming it.

On the other hand, Marijuana cultivation is from either Cannabis Indica or Cannabis Sativa varieties.

These plants have little to no seeds, are bushy with short stems, and have higher THC content than hemp, about 5% – 10%, meaning it’s likely you’ll become impaired from consuming it.

Now that you know the difference between Hemp and Marijuana let’s talk about Medical Marijuana and why it’s more vegan than popping an aspirin.

Marijuana was placed in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 by the US Congress because they determined it had “no accepted medical use.” It is illegal for any reason, except for FDA-approved research programs.

Since that time, 15 out of 50 states (including DC) have now legalized Medical Marijuana.

Confused?

It isn’t straightforward.

Basically, Medical Marijuana is legal to use (in varying degrees) at the (some) state(s) level but remains illegal at the federal level.

Medical Marijuana, or medical cannabis, refers to the use of cannabis or cannabinoids to treat disease or improve symptoms of a wide array of conditions.

Medical Marijuana supporters argue it’s a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and many other conditions. 

Marijuana has shown several well-documented medicinal properties, including amelioration of nausea and vomiting, aiding in stimulating hunger in AIDS and cancer patients, and lowering eye pressure (effective for treating glaucoma), as well as gastrointestinal illnesses, and used an analgesic. 

Their claims are backed up with peer-reviewed studies by prominent medical organizations and major government reports that found the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history.

Those against the use of medical marijuana say that it’s; dangerous to use, addictive, a “gate-way” drug (a drug that leads to harder drug use), has health implications such as infertility, injuries to the lungs, immune system, and brain. 

Currently, the drug lacks the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

So, how does any of this matter in terms of veganism?

All drugs, regardless if they contain animal ingredients or not, have been subject to animal testing at one time.  The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations require all new drugs to undergo animal experimentation before they are permitted to proceed with any clinical trials.

Testing performed on non-human animals, including primates, does not provide accurate and useful information regarding human medicine. Over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, and vaccines all contain a myriad of ingredients in endless combinations.  These combinations make it nearly impossible to determine the actual effects on humans without human clinical trials.  Different species ingesting equal amounts of the same chemical react differently due to their fundamental genetic and biochemical differences. 

Due to current governmental regulations worldwide, it is nearly impossible to avoid medications that have been tested on animals. Medicinal marijuana looks as if it could be an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical offerings tested on animals.

Note: I am not suggesting you refuse medications because of animal testing. Refusing medications for ethical reasons will do little to deter pharmaceutical companies from using animal experimentation to determine the safety and efficacy of new medications, and worse, it could make you sick. Help effect change by contacting your governmental agency responsible for animal testing regulation and supporting charities that fund only non-animal research.

Medical Marijuana looks as if it could be a great vegan alternative to some traditional pharmaceutical offerings for a few reasons.

First, it can be cultivated locally. Sourcing local cuts down on energy costs in shipping (and overall costs associated with obtaining prescription medications). 

Next, it prevents soil erosion by root-binding, adds nutrients back to the soil, and produces oxygen, which lowers Co2 levels in our atmosphere, decreasing global warming. 

Finally, it eliminates the need for non-human animal testing, unlike any over-the-counter or prescription medications. Eliminating animal testing saves the lives of non-humans.

In my mind, that makes Medical Marijuana more vegan than aspirin.

This article is not about the efficacy of marijuana use for health-related issues, nor should it be interpreted as a pro or con regarding its use. In this article, the term ‘Medical Marijuana’ refers to a crop that is grown legally within the parameters of the law. 

I am not encouraging or suggesting illegal activity of any kind.

This article does not present medical advice and should not be interpreted or used to treat or diagnose medical issues. See disclosures.

Please consult your doctor and all information sources regarding medical marijuana to determine if it’s legal and right for you.