Medical Marijuana: Personal Opinion About This Topic

Introduction

Medical marijuana is one of the many controversial issues in society today. It has been a continuous point of contention between the federal government, doctors, and patients. On the one hand, studies have proven that medical marijuana can be extremely beneficial in eliminating side effects and is less addictive than traditional pain medications. Therefore, marijuana should be available as a medical resource for individuals suffering from illnesses or conditions that prescription medications have failed to address.

Legal Landscape of Medical Marijuana

Currently, thirty states have legalized medical marijuana in the United States. From a state perspective, it is now legal to buy, possess, and consume medical marijuana. However, all of these activities remain federally illegal. These thirty states serve as examples of how laws could work nationwide. State laws resemble federal alcohol laws in some respects. For instance, you must be 21 years of age to purchase or sell marijuana, and it is a felony to give or sell marijuana to anyone under 21. Individuals are limited to buying and possessing one ounce of marijuana. Retailers can only sell marijuana between 8 a.m. and midnight (Calkins, 2017). According to Time magazine, Colorado marijuana DUIs were down 33.2% in the first quarter of 2017 (Abrams, 2017). From January to March of that year, 150 people received citations for being under the influence of marijuana while driving (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2017). Even though the laws for cannabis and alcohol might be similar, studies clearly show that alcohol contributes to more fatal accidents. Laws like these will help guide us in the right direction.

Medical Uses and Benefits

Medical marijuana is commonly used in the United States for pain control, nausea, appetite stimulation, and inflammation. While marijuana may not be strong enough to treat extreme pain, such as post-surgical pain, it is still effective for chronic pain that affects millions of Americans. Some studies have shown marijuana to be effective in easing pain and stimulating appetite. Some cancer patients claim that marijuana allows them to return to daily activities without feeling discomfort. According to the American Cancer Society, studies of smoked marijuana have found that it can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. Additionally, it helps with neuropathy pain, which is pain caused by damaged nerves (American Cancer Society, 2020). We can all relate to cancer in one way or another, either through family members, friends, or acquaintances who have been diagnosed with this terrible disease. Approximately 38.4% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes (National Cancer Institute, 2020). With these alarming numbers, we should have the resources to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. One can only imagine a loved one suffering from painful chemo without any means to comfort them.

The Opioid Crisis

Many diseases cannot be cured, yet doctors continue to prescribe pain medications that cause serious internal damage. Vicodin (an opioid) is the most abused prescription medication on the market. Despite this, 140 Americans die each day from opioid overdoses (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2020). Prescription painkillers also cause extreme withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. Marijuana does not cause any withdrawal symptoms even in long-term users. The Drug Enforcement Agency notes that no deaths from a cannabis overdose have ever been reported. The abuse of opioids has escalated in the last several years, making the safety of medical marijuana compared to pain medications clear. Marijuana has a much lower risk of dependency than opioids and no fatal overdose. Clearly, medical marijuana surpasses pain medications (opioids) in terms of safety and efficacy.

Conclusion

Finally, how can a society that allows the consumption of alcohol, which kills thousands each year in traffic fatalities, and allows doctors to prescribe opioids knowing the risk of dependency, still not legalize medical marijuana? Marijuana may have a bad stigma, but in medical situations, we should have all medical resources available, including marijuana. With all the knowledge and benefits of marijuana, we must question why it isn’t legal.