Medical marijuana is gaining legality in states coast to coast.
From Hawaii to New Jersey, many states allow their residents to obtain a medical marijuana card to purchase cannabis for personal use legally.
Even though most states see the benefits of legalized medical marijuana, there are still a few holdouts for one reason or another.
And that should change. Are you still unsure why? Well then, check out these three reasons medical marijuana should be legal in all 50 states.
1. Medical Marijuana Offers Myriad Medical Benefits
One of the main benefits of legalizing medical marijuana is that it provides lots of health benefits.
These are not just myths created by marijuana enthusiasts to condone their drug use. Medical research shows that marijuana is an effective treatment for many common health disorders.
These include:
- It’s an effective pain reliever in adults who suffer from chronic pain. This is likely due to cannabis’s anti-inflammatory properties, for one thing.
- It’s antiemetic for adults who suffer nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy or digestive issues from crohn’s disease.
- It’s anti-spastic, reducing spasms, tremors, and convulsions in adults with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.
- It’s known to reduce symptoms of PTSD and related trauma.
We are still learning all the benefits of medical marijuana and its potential risks. But the fact that we know it can do all of the above shows its ability to combat physical and mental disorders.
2. Medical Marijuana Legalization Does Not Mean Increased Teen Use
A lot of politicians and pundits like to argue that medical marijuana legalization leads to increased marijuana abuse by youths.
But medical marijuana use has been legal in many states for long enough to show us that this is not the case. In studies, researchers found that legalizing marijuana does not lead to an increased amount of use in teens.
It does show, however, increased use by adult males in the U.S. and Canada.
It should also be noted that increased use by adults does not mean higher instances of marijuana-induced psychosis or related incidents.
3. Medical Marijuana Can Reduce Prescription Drug Use and Abuse
One of the best and most sound arguments for legalizing medical marijuana is that it can reduce prescription drug use. In fact, an estimated 50,000 people died from opioid drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2019.
This is a horrific figure and one that is estimated to rise due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and societal issues.
But legalized medical marijuana means people have an alternative to prescription drugs. They can obtain a medical marijuana card, consult with a doctor or specialist at a local medical marijuana dispensary, and discover which strains are best for them and their medical needs.
This is obviously a better and less life-threatening alternative to taking prescription pills that are all too easy to abuse.
No matter what state you live in, only people with qualifying medical reasons over the legal age can purchase medical marijuana. In states such as Mississippi, you can obtain Mississippi Medical Marijuana Cards online, saving you time and resources.
Medical marijuana can offer the same treatment effectiveness as prescription pills, minus the harmful side effects. Medical cannabis overdose is practically unheard of for a reason, while the opioid crisis rages on.
Conclusion
While most states see the benefit of medical marijuana legalization, not all 50 have taken up the legislation needed for legalization.
But as we have seen, there are plenty of reasons why medical marijuana should be legal in all 50 states.
For starters:
- It offers plenty of medical benefits for people who suffer from chronic health issues.
- In states that have already legalized medical marijuana use, it has not lead to more young people using marijuana.
- And, it can help reduce the amount of prescription drugs people use, and therefore, the number of deaths related to prescription drug abuse in the United States.
Let’s face it: medical marijuana will likely be legalized in all 50 states at some point. Lawmakers not only see these benefits, but they know that legalizing marijuana can help states collect more tax money and reduce unnecessary incarcerations.
The sooner states legalize it, the better we will likely be, in terms of health, and maybe even in terms of societal and economic gains.