The Medical Marijuana Debate: Medical Marijuana Laws, Pointless?

The Medical Marijuana Debate: Medical Marijuana Laws, Pointless?
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Marijuana as Medication

The prescription of medical marijuana has currently become a common part of medical practice in many states. A total of 13 states have approved the use of medical marijuana as a prescription medication for patients to lessen the symptoms caused by their illnesses. 4 out of the 13 states use dispensaries to provide access to the medical marijuana selling it to patients with valid prescriptions for the drug making it accessible on a daily basis with no limits set on the amount to be purchased. Many people who oppose medical marijuana are accepting of it’s use for patients that are very ill with diseases such as HIV and AIDS and cancer but not for people with common health issues. Though medical marijuana has been approved in certain states for some time now, there is now a national medical marijuana debate. Many are wondering what is this country coming to?

Medical Marijuana?

Medical Marijuana Controversy

Even though medical marijuana has been recognized since 1996, it has become “big” now and the rules are being bent to benefit both patient and doctor but may also be hurting patients and the communities. Many doctors are using this as an advantage because of the large percentage of patients flocking in for appointments in order to obtain their “all access” cards. They are provided a piece of paper or card verifying their approval by an MD to purchase medical marijuana legally.

Why is it becoming a problem? Some doctors may be looking into the practice of medical marijuana for the money. One doctor is reportedly making $2500 a day prescribing medical recommendations for medical marijuana in the Los Angeles area. It is legal because the state of California has made it legal for the purpose of use as medicine, but doctors are knowingly bending the rules prescribing this drug to people who can treat their ailments with pain relief medications and therapy. Patients with minor ailments such as insomnia, depression and other non-terminal illnesses are walking away with these cards. These cards are allowing people to purchase marijuana legally as well purchase food items cooked with marijuana and purchase small marijuana plants to grow. As far as medical marijuana laws go, patients are able to drive with the marijuana transporting it in the car as long as they are able to present their prescription and patient ID to authorities should they get pulled over.

While the choice to treat with marijuana is controversial, the use of it to induce hunger and relaxation in cancer patients is more understandable than the prescription of the drug for every ache and pain. It is also disturbing as information about medical marijuana is confidential as is most information kept as medical records is, therefore employers are not aware if their employees are users or possibly under the influence of medical marijuana while on the job.

Prescription Abuse

The right to choose your medication is understandable and even for terminally ill patient’s, benefits from marijuana could be accepted as a last resort to helping a patient who cannot produce an urge to eat. But the problem with this idea is that it is not being regulated and probably now the most abused prescription written in the states in which it is allowed.

Many times no tests are taken, no medical records for proof of medical condition or examination is given before the prescription is written out. The doctors that provide prescriptions usually provide medical marijuana recommendations as their only service. Most doctors that are legitimate and highly respected refrain from prescribing medical marijuana even though they legally have the right to become certified to be able to do so. They may also want to avoid losing patients because of their decision to support the prescription of marijuana and don’t want to get caught up in the medical marijuana debate. Many doctors know that medical marijuana based on studies probably does more harm than good in patients who do not already have a huge threat to their health by present illness. It is also known that marijuana is highly addictive and reputable doctors try to refrain to prescribing medications that have a high rate of addiction. Even though medical marijuana laws are actually protecting the patients most of the time, marijuana is still federally illegal, so many of these marijuana dispensaries are being raided by the federal authorities and have to fight to stay in business.