he administrator of the DEA and marijuana remained illegal for medical purposes until recently (Grinspoon, 16). Glaucoma is another illness that marijuana has been shown to help. Glaucoma can strike people of all ages but is most often found among those over 65. The most common form of glaucoma is chronic or open-angle glaucoma. The symptoms of glaucoma include pressure within the eye, intraocular pressure or IOP, which can cause damage to the optic nerve if it is not controlled effectively. A 30% drop in eye pressure has been found in glaucoma patients when using marijuana. Natural marijuana, however, consistently lowers IOP. Many cases of glaucoma eventually end up having to have surgery. Glaucoma surgery cost about 8.8 million dollars per year. By marijuana being used it would greatly decrease that amount (Zimmerman, 14).Muscular spasticity is a common condition, affecting more than one million people in the United States. People with multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, quadriplegia, and spinal cord injuries are often part of that demographic. Marijuana has demonstrated particular success in the treatment of muscular spasticity disorders. Current medical therapy is inadequate for those individuals suffering from these problems. Phenobarbital and diazepam, commonly called Valium, are commonly prescribed drugs but many patients develop a tolerance to these medications, can become addicted to the drug, or complain of heavy sedation (Joy). Many prominent physicians studied cannabis and its effects on various conditions. Dr. J. Russell Reynolds said it was "by far the most useful of drugs" in treating "painful maladies." He also noted, "There are many cases of so called epilepsy in adults but which, in my opinion that are the result of organic disease of a gross character in the nervous centers. In which India hemp is the most useful agent with which I am acquainted." Dr. Reynolds may have been referring to multiple sc...
