Medical and recreational cannabis was outlawed around 50 years ago, but it looks like the end of the prohibition is right around the corner. Since 2012, states have begun legalizing the recreational use of cannabis, and by 2016, the majority of states have finally legalized it for medical purposes. What does this mean for us?
End Of The Opioid Crisis
Instead of marijuana being seen as a "gateway drug", medical professionals are beginning to see medical marijuana as an "exit drug". While American patients die from opioid overdoses at alarming rates, the use of medical cannabis for pain management may be the solution.
Due to the lack of sufficient data, it is too soon to tell if cannabis is effective against opioid addiction. However, studies have shown that in areas that have legalized, the number of opioid subscriptions and overdoses have dropped.
Intensive Research
With changes of regulation on medical marijuana, it has opened up many issues that have yet to be studied (and needs to be). As of now, U.S. health officials are raising awareness of respiratory-related problems associated with vaping. Hopefully, the federal ban will lift so that it can be adequately regulated for the safety of the public.
While there is no consistent connection between vaping and THC, the cannabis industry can experience a temporary fallout that could have been prevented. Lifting the ban on cannabis will allow further study and inform the public on how to avoid incidents like these from occurring.
The Patients
Not only will the end of cannabis prohibition help patients with chronic illnesses, but it will also help them financially as well. Legalizing medical marijuana has caused the price drops of Medicare prescription drugs. Depending on what condition is treatable by cannabis, they have a safer and more affordable option available.
They are also given access to the tools needed with their prescription cannabis. Companies like Sharpstoneusa.com and others have already begun working on equipment to make the consumption of cannabis safe and effective.
Cannabis Across The Country
Until it is no longer a front to the federal law, the fight for medical cannabis will continue to win over the country state by state. It is still a relatively new development, but it has already made its mark on being one of the safest prescriptions for chronic pain management.
