Medical herbs like marijuana are valuable medicines that help people with a variety of conditions. It is often prescribed for nausea, pain, and seizures. In some cases, it can even cure certain diseases. However, there are many questions surrounding this drug, including its therapeutic value and costs. There is also the question of social equity.
Political implications
In recent decades, the political connotations of marijuana have drastically changed. During the 1970s and 1980s, most politicians rallied against marijuana, calling it an illegal drug. Then, there was the “War on Drugs,” an initiative of the federal government that targeted psychoactive drugs of all kinds. During this time, marijuana was regarded as a gateway drug that could lead to serious addiction.
However, subject matter experts warn that the lack of standardized measurement techniques is not a significant roadblock to legalization. States can seek mechanisms to reduce the costs of DRE training and increase accessibility. While it is true that marijuana is the number one culprit in drugged driving accidents, there are also many other drugs that can affect driving.
Therapeutic value
Currently, the federal government is attempting to keep marijuana illegal, despite the therapeutic value it may provide for certain illnesses. This is a blatant violation of the physician-patient relationship. A physician has a duty to fully disclose all treatment options, including marijuana, to their patients. Failing to do so could be a violation of the patient’s right to informed consent.
Medical marijuana has multiple uses and can provide relief from nausea, pain, vomiting, and nausea. While the federal government is wary of the drug’s recreational use, numerous researchers and organizations have documented its medical benefits. In light of this, the government should change the laws and allow doctors to recommend it to patients who need it for a medical condition. Moreover, it can be recommended to patients to fast flowering weed seeds and grow them at home for medicinal use.
Costs
Medical marijuana patients can face several costs associated with the program, including annual license fees and application fees. In addition, patients must pay for cannabis products that they consume. The use of registration cards can keep the overall costs down. These costs aren’t exempt from taxes. Some states will allow patients to purchase medical marijuana in the form of cannabis oil or pills, but that won’t be the case in every state.
State governments determine how much marijuana is available in the market and approve marijuana facilities. For example, Missouri has licensed a lot more medical marijuana dispensaries than Illinois, but this could mean that the number of patients per dispensary is lower. This could lead to smaller establishments with higher fixed costs, and even lead some businesses to shut down. In Arkansas, however, there are only six licensed dispensaries, primarily due to regulatory hurdles.
Social equity
As a way to reduce the number of discrimination-based marijuana convictions, states have passed laws promoting social equity in the industry. These laws offer additional benefits to people of color, such as reduced licensing fees, technical assistance, and low-interest loans. They also encourage disadvantaged communities to join the industry by setting up shop with established firms. Social equity initiatives also emphasize judicial reform, which helps increase the employability of people with prior criminal convictions and remove barriers to housing and other benefits.
While social equity measures are popular in some states, they often are insufficient for small dispensary operators. The state of Illinois, for example, has made social equity a central component of its legalization effort. Its state legislature has been vocal about ensuring that people of color can get a foothold in the growing industry. But 15 months after the state’s law went into effect, there were no African-American-owned cannabis dispensaries in the state.
Costs to government
A recent study shows the costs to the government of legalizing medical marijuana are much lower than previously thought. According to the study, medical marijuana laws save the government millions of dollars in government spending on prescription drugs. The research authors attribute this to the fact that more doctors are prescribing marijuana in place of traditional pharmaceuticals for conditions like pain, sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety.
In addition, marijuana revenue generates a substantial amount of revenue for local and state governments. Some states levy “impact fees” on marijuana sales, while others simply allocate a percentage to the state’s general fund. In addition, these states also distribute part of their revenue to programs that combat drug use and improve community safety.