Cannabis is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Since medical marijuana has become legal, more people are using it to treat their health problems. This article will discuss where weed is regulated for only medical use and the potential benefits of legal, medical marijuana.
States Where Marijuana is Regulated to Only Medical Use
Medical marijuana has become a hot topic in the United States. The District of Columbia and 37 states have made it legal for medical purposes. Because of this, doctors in these states can recommend medical marijuana to people with certain diseases. The federal government, however, still considers it illegal. This has created an uneasy tension between state and federal laws.
California is arguably one of the most progressive states when it comes to regulating medical marijuana. The state does not impose any restrictions on who can use cannabis for medical purposes. Patients are not required to register with a state agency to access cannabis. Dispensaries are also legal in California. They operate with relative freedom, especially compared with other states like Washington.
In Washington, dispensaries are heavily taxed and regulated by the state government. Washington doesn’t also allow patients to grow their cannabis at home. However, Colorado also grants excellent flexibility to dispensaries and growers of weed through its Amendment 64 law, which essentially ended the prohibition on recreational marijuana use and allowed businesses to regulate themselves freely within the law.
In Ohio, medical marijuana is permitted, although it is highly restricted to those with an Ohio medical marijuana card. Very few qualify to use cannabis medically, and even fewer dispensaries process the drug. Suppliers of marijuana are heavily taxed, putting a drag on business that some claim is unnecessary.
Federal Regulatory Approach
Under the Controlled Substances Act, Congress has made and briefly strengthened protections for medical marijuana as a schedule 1 drug that has no medical value. The right classifications have been challenged in litigation and lost every time before the Supreme Court. The Constitution’s Commerce Clause is cited as grounds for enforcing interstate commerce of products classified as controlled substances when drugs are transported across state lines via cartels, who later sell them at high prices on the streets. The federal government tried to create three scheduling levels above and below Schedule 1 for its use.
The Federal government recognizes two trademarks held by Privateer Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Privateer Holdings, with legalization as its ultimate goal. However, the lack of FDA approval for any marijuana treatments on top of safety concerns makes it unclear what will happen to the cannabis sector.
It is assumed that these restrictive acts were passed to prevent further issues with drug trafficking through interstate commerce. Because marijuana can be grown relatively quickly, it has been classified as a Schedule 1 drug. Under the office of the Attorney General, the Drug Enforcement Administration refuses to reclassify cannabis for two reasons: an inability to explain mechanisms of action and a lack of clinical data.
Benefits of Legal Medical Marijuana.
1. Pain and Symptom Management.
Some studies suggest it has analgesic (pain reliever) properties, and other studies claim a diminished pain threshold exists.
2. Treatment of Spasticity and Neuropathic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Cord Injury.
There is evidence that THC may have anti-inflammatory properties that could help people with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and peripheral neuropathy. If this is true, cannabis could be used to treat other conditions like inflammation or nerve damage.
3. Treatment of Glaucoma.
Studies suggest that small amounts of marijuana help control pressure within the eye, but large doses can make the pressure worse. Most modern medications for glaucoma take much longer to induce relaxation than marijuana and may be significantly more expensive. https://www.healthline.com/health/medical-marijuana/benefits-of-marijuana.
4. Stomach Disorders and Muscle Spasms.
THC may have strong anti-inflammatory properties, and this could prove a helpful treatment for stomach conditions as well as gastritis, IBS, and muscle spasms due to muscular dystrophy or spinal injury.
