Introduction
Implementing addictive substances for medicinal purposes is one of the major concerns raised by scholars worldwide. Even though some drugs possess clinical qualities that can contribute to the patient’s overall health, scientists still debate if allowing the use of mild stimulants should be permitted at federal and state levels (Lamonica et al., 2016). Medical marijuana is deemed one of such controversial substances, utilization of which was recently legalized by the US government. This action is believed to have various ramifications for multiple populations, from younger generations to chronically ill patients. Recent research broadly supports the benefits of categorizing marijuana as a medicinal drug, providing evidence for its complete legal validation (Kim et al., 2016). Although there are crucial issues linked to the introduction of novel guidelines, the general profits substantially outweigh potential disadvantages prompting governments all over the world to follow the method of medical cannabis utilization. Permitting the administration of medical marijuana is a necessary policy that should be sustained on various governmental levels.
Medical Uses of Marijuana: Historical Overview
Throughout decades several addictive substances were suggested by scholars as practical and efficient methods of rehabilitation. As such, medical marijuana was often used as a favorable medicine until the 1930s, proving itself as a beneficial treatment for specific conditions (Boeri & Lamonica, 2017). Cannabis was widely employed by both clinicians and enthusiasts as a coping or pain relief method, which provided little to no dependency threat. As a therapeutic tool, marijuana was mostly used in battling symptoms of cancer and AIDS, resulting in the necessary reduction of painful experiences, nausea, and anxiety (Boeri & Lamonica, 2017). The legal system majorly supported this movement, with multiple laws condoning the implementation of this drug in different circumstances. Thus, medical cannabis was perceived as a positive instrument by both clinical and governmental institutions.
The opposing viewpoints on marijuana implementation are primarily related to the anti-marijuana propaganda that was enacted in the 1930s and influenced the opinions of the scholars and the public. As this substance was labeled dangerous and addictive, the perceptions of its profits have changed significantly, leaving slight legal possibilities of researching and disproving the attitude created (Bridgeman & Abazia, 2017). Influenced by the anti-narcotic legislation and subsequent movements towards the prohibition of the drug, marijuana became an illegal and threatening stimulant regardless of initial scientific evidence (Bridgeman & Abazia, 2017). Therefore, the adverse effects of cannabis use were promoted by legislation and federal restrictions due to the campaigns that occurred during that historical period. In the current age, it is necessary to adopt new policies and regulations that highlight the positive influence of marijuana, presenting this drug as a beneficial addition to standard rehabilitation programs.
Marijuana Recommendations for Disease and Pain Management
An incredible advantage of marijuana treatment is considered to be its effect on manifestations of pain and discomfort that often follow adverse illnesses. In such cases, it is necessary to prescribe medication that can effectively manage remarkable amounts of painful experiences while only slightly affecting the patients’ condition and abilities. Most approaches to resolving this issue rely on opioids, a powerful substance that was shown to handle negative symptoms through sedation and alleviation of negative symptoms (DiDiodato et al., 2021). However, given the potential strength of this medicine, it can also originate numerous side effects which expose patients to grievous outcomes, from opioid abuse to delirium (DiDiodato et al., 2021). Even though careful manipulation of administered doses can significantly decrease the possibility of such developments, there is a large body of evidence suggesting that consequential ramifications will still be present (Tanco et al., 2019). Altogether, research advocates for the development of a more practical solution, which can negate the necessity to prescribe highly potent substances.
A prospective answer was found in the field of drug-related studies, which attempt to highlight the characteristics of various addictive stimulants. In comparison to opioids, which can also produce significant dependency, marijuana possesses smaller levels of addiction possibility, as well as presents lower numbers of devastating side effects (Shi, 2017). Often used as a treatment for cancer and aids, cannabis might be an exceptional replacement for opioids, to be administered to patients with severe manifestations of pain and discomfort. Additionally, marijuana also alleviates nausea and elevates overall mood, which is a crucial factor for individuals treated with intoxicating medications (Shi, 2017). As a mild drug, cannabis fully retreats from the system in a short amount of time, signifying a smaller potential for further addiction and negative symptoms.
The potential gains of substituting opioids with marijuana were thoroughly discussed in numerous clinical studies. Researchers state that individuals treated with cannabis develop more positive results regarding pain management and overall well-being, in contrast with patients who use traditional rehabilitation methods, namely opioid substances (Shi, 2017). These findings were reported to refer to diverse instances of conditions that result in any kind of painful manifestations (Powell et al., 2018). It appears that controlling dosages of marijuana and observing demonstrations of negative symptoms is exceptionally more effortless than attempting to negate adverse consequences of opioid use. Overall, it is evident that cannabis can serve as a practical substitute too dangerous opioid substances accounting for reduced appearances of multiple destructive ramifications.
Battling Risks of Elevated Cannabis Use in Adults and Youth
A major concern connected to legalized marijuana utilization is the possible rise of cannabis addictions among affected populations, especially adolescents. Theoretical approaches argue that relaxing search restrictions and sanctioning this drug’s administration might substantially increase narcotics dependency rates for numerous individuals, creating a threat for multiple society members (Mauro et al., 2019). Of particular interest are the addiction habits of young people who are believed to be extremely susceptible to external influence and policy changes (Sarvet et al., 2018). Nevertheless, empirical evidence shows that these predictions are largely misguided, as dependency estimates tend to fall after relevant guidelines have been implemented (Han et al., 2018). Figures demonstrate no significant statistical difference between marijuana use before and after policy enactment for adult populations, presenting that there is no crucial risk of elevated addiction rates.
A corresponding tendency is observed in attitudes towards marijuana use and actual narcotic misuse in youth. A pattern similar to adults was detected in younger generations by Sarvet et al. (2018), who state that legal modifications do not negatively affect cannabis abuse in youth. Contrary to some expectations, dependency habits statistics can even decline after such changes, meaning that the introduction of these measures can significantly contribute to the issues of marijuana mistreatment in various populations.
Sufficient education on the subject of cannabis abuse seems to be a prospective strategy for controlling possible detrimental outcomes associated with the authorization of medical marijuana. Scholars note that the combination of necessary public accessible narcotic courses and alleviation of strict cannabis prohibitionists results in the creation of positive trends that do not increase the potentiality of stimulant misuse (Sarvet et al., 2018). At the same time, individuals can receive safer treatment against severe diseases, especially those connected to painful manifestations.
Relaxing Governmental Policies in View of Contemporary Research
As times changed, the knowledge regarding marijuana and its potential slowly began to change. Current investigations conducted under multiple circumstances prove the positive effects of medicinal cannabis established almost a century ago (Boeri & Lamonica, 2017). Federal and state legislations in the US begin to address the benefits of marijuana prescriptions by reducing the legal pressure and permitting clinicians to administer this drug, greatly enhancing the patients’ well-being and treatment outcomes (Kim et al., 2016). Although not officially legal in all states, marijuana becomes more and popular among doctors and clinicians who advise its use and report evidence in support of its multiple advantages.
In order to implement marijuana prescriptions, it is imperative to reshape the governmental policies existing. Although medicinal uses of cannabis were already deemed legal in several states, further alterations are needed to create a clear understanding of prescription guidelines for the benefit of doctors and health care providers. According to scholarly investigations, contemporary legislation regarding dispensing medical marijuana lacks significant elements that allow clinical professionals, medical marijuana distributors, and patients to effectively administer, issue, and receive desired medication (Lamonica et al., 2016). Existent laws and recommendations appear to be highly confusing for the named parties due to the absence of regulations’ transparency, stakeholder communication, and education. Given the complicated and enclosed process of marijuana distribution, most dispensary organizations withdraw from including cannabis in their products, reducing the amount of this medical drug available to the general public (Lamonica et al., 2016). The need to avoid challenging complications becomes a crucial factor in reduced marijuana allocation, necessitating the change in contemporary limitations.
As federal and state policies become more relaxed, clinicians are allowed to advise their patients to include medicinal cannabis in their treatment plans. However, a vital obstacle to the practical administration of this substance is the restricted communication between distribution companies and medical professionals who are not encouraged to prescribe the drug. After years of marijuana prohibition, it is necessary to construct an efficient message of interaction between health care workers and dispensary intrapreneurs, ensuring that doctors are aware of the stimulant availability (Boeri & Lamonica, 2017). Changing the current laws and openly permitting clinicians to administer cannabis is a necessary step in enhancing the patients’ well-being.
Social Considerations in Marijuana Policies
An essential part of this discussion is dedicated to societal attitudes towards lessened control over marijuana administration. Management of the expectations presented by the members of various communities is a crucial element that should be examined when implementing novel laws, especially if a sensitive topic is addressed. Given previous historical events, diverse populations regard cannabis as a dangerous drug similar to other addictive chemical substances, for example, MDMA (Tanco et al., 2019). Nevertheless, there are significant distinctions between these narcotics which should be available to the public knowledge. Social impressions of different medications can gruesomely impact a patient’s desire to use particular substances and discourage them to take some types of medicine (DiDiodato et al., 2021). Introducing new regulations that highlight marijuana’s easiness of utilization and potential benefits might help shape more positive beliefs about this drug, opening an extra pathway for rehabilitation.
Social repercussions regarding stimulant use may differ significantly, from instilling positive effects to providing an environment for narcotics abuse. Some scholars advocate that strict governmental policies should be enacted in order to lower the crime rates connected to marijuana abuse, as some patients might use medicinal cannabis as an excuse to continue their addictions (Mauro et al., 2019). Even though there is a necessity to control for such scenarios, additional research offers an insight into this issue, reporting that rates of violent felonies decrease substantially as less heightened regulations are constructed (Shepard & Blackley, 2016). Overall, there is a positive relationship between the legalization of cannabis and reduced numbers of criminal activities.
Conclusion
To conclude, the necessity to implement federal and state-level changes to medicinal marijuana policies aimed at relaxing existing regulations has been thoroughly discussed in this paper. Multiple advantages intimately linked to the utilization of cannabis and clinical treatment scenarios are presented by multiple scholars who highlight the changes that occur after relevant guidelines have been enacted. From a historical perspective, marijuana has been used as a successful method of rehabilitation for a significant amount of time before political alterations caused a substantial shift in regulations applied, shaping a negative attitude towards the stimulant described. The benefits of this drug’s administration, namely remarkable efficiency of pain management, demonstrate the need to lessen the governmental restrictions and allow for the prescription of medicinal marijuana. Furthermore, the theoretical negative effects of such legislation, for example, increased narcotics abuse, have been shown to decline in accordance with modifications enacted, demonstrating additional positive impacts of the aforementioned changes. Altogether, medical cannabis should be permitted for prescription on state and federal levels, thus profiting the patients’ quality of care and well-being.
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