Department of Justice
The FBN, the agency that enforced and issued the first marijuana federal marijuana regulations is no longer around but marijuana as a whole, including medical marijuana/cannabis, is considered a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it has no medical value according to the CSA and still to this day “there is no way to cultivate, possess, transport, or use cannabis—even with a doctor’s prescription, unlike many opiates that state and federal drug laws were originally meant to address—without violating federal law” (Fitting, 8) because several other federal agencies still act and enforce federal drug laws under the Department of Justice.
The federal government should legalize the substance in all fifty states for those in need. Although medical marijuana has been proven by several studies and tests that the substance is overall better than opioids, such as Hydrocodone, the use of the cannabis is still constricted due to federal policy restrictions. As you can see in previous data, medical marijuana is proven to give better results and little to none harmful side effects or risks. Opioids allow for greater risk of addiction, abuse, unauthorized usage, easy access, and possibly even death. Medical marijuana has proven that with the use of the substance correctly, nothing can go wrong and those risks are not applicable.
Medical Cannabis Dispensary
Although medical marijuana reduces the chances of opioid related hospitalizations and has been proven to be the better option, it is still looked down upon due to its reputation of recreational use. Using any type of medication to reduce pain, emotions, etc. can be dangerous. Relying on any substance to feel numb and make the pain go away is reckless and can lead to serious harm. Medical marijuana is much harder to obtain, find, and is much more expensive. Employers may look down upon those that use the substance which could possibly put a job at risk. Opioids have a greater chance of being bought over the counter within the same week than finding a medical cannabis dispensary and spending the extra cash, which some may not have. However, medical marijuana may have specific downfalls but is still statistically proven to be better than opioids due to their little to none risks of being addictive.
Eventually the people will come to realize and trust the statistics of researched and tested data that medical marijuana/cannabis is not bad and allows greater outcomes and no risks for those in need of the pain relieving substance compared to addictive and abused opioids. Medical marijuana is not addictive, has no risk of patients becoming addicted, has no outcomes of marijuana related hospitalizations and is safer and more trustworthy compared to opioids. The substance has reduced opioid related hospitalizations. The medical substance overall should become legalized in all fifty states, allow easier access to those in need, and eventually overcome opioids as a whole.
