Medical Marijuana Card Research Paper

There has been a lot of debate on whether or not marijuana should be legal for medicinal purposes in all fifty states. Many people believe that marijuana is an unsuitable substitute for many of the medications we have today. On the other hand, many researchers have conducted extensive studies that have shown how beneficial medicinal marijuana can be. Many states have already picked up on this, and have laws set in place to allow the use of medicinal marijuana. Medicinal marijuana has a wide variety of uses, and should be allowed for medicinal purposes in all fifty states.

State and federal law are in direct conflict in this situation and although the state will not take action against those that they have given the ability to sale and distribute marijuana for medical purposes but the problem that exists with this is that the federal law does not allow the sale of marijuana and they will take action against those that have state permission to establish one of these medical marijuana stores. At the federal level, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, where Schedule I substances are considered to have a high potential for dependency and no accepted medical use, making distribution of marijuana a federal offense (NCSL, 2014).

Marijuana or Cannabis is a hallucinogenic drug that contains a very high amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It can be used for both medical and recreational reasons, but it is currently illegal in most states in this country. This drug has been illegal for the majority of this country's history, and just recently several states like Washington, California, and New York have passed laws so that people with medical issues are able to consume this drug for their own medical needs

Medical marijuana has been one of the most controversial topics in politics for years regardings its legalization and any possible benefits. Marijuana is commonly referred to as the “gateway drug” and has been thought to be what causes the downfall of our youth in today’s society. This has caused Marijuana to earn a bad reputation due to the immense surrounding propaganda and bias opinions. Cannabis is the scientific name of the plant which is absolutely natural and free of chemicals, but the psychoactive components in the plant has been proven to be of medical use. If medical marijuana is prescribed correctly it has the potential to help thousands of patients due to the variety of benefits it can medically provide. Medical Marijuana should

Medical Marijuana Marijuana is medicine. It has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of ailments. Marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) was legal in the United States for all purposes - industrial and recreational, as well as medicinal until 1937. Today, only eight Americans are legally allowed to use marijuana as medicine. NORML is working to restore marijuana's availability as medicine.

To gain access to medical marijuana you must contact or arrange an appointment with your medical specialist. It is established that doctors are not importing amounts of medical marijuana at a time just to give to their patients in need, they are ordering and importing it on a patient-by-patient basis. The process involves many approvals through the states and the Therapeutic Goods Association. These factors all depend on whether the drug is available from overseas. Research and reports show that there is a possibility that an industry to produce medical marijuana is arising soon in

When you weigh the pros and cons of consuming marijuana, it seems confusing that the drug would sit alongside some of the others in that DEA list. The most controversial point about medical marijuana like many other medicinal substances out there is that it has its uses. It’s the potential abuse of this substance that has many questioning its necessity.

Marijuana is so popular and used all over this society, marijuana has been restricted ("Medical marijuana for pain and depression"). There are 20 states including Washington D.C. that has made medical marijuana legal. Eighteen states required proof of residency to be prescribed for medical marijuana. A patient can get so much medical marijuana as long they have a medical card. In order to receive a medical card, you have to a condition that requires having this therapeutic substance. Amsterdam is a place you can go to get marijuana without getting prescribed. Amsterdam has coffee shops that a person can purchase marijuana and also have variety of marijuana.

In today 's society the legalization of medicinal use of marijuana is becoming more common amongst the states. There are 24 states that recognize and accept patient registry or ID cards for medicinal use. Out of these 24 states, California is the only state to not have a specification on the condition you have to have to get prescribed a patient ID. Epilepsy is the main condition that the other 23 states recognize as a condition worthy of prescribing the use of medicinal cards. Of the 24 states only Colorado and Washington allow citizens to use the drug recreationally.

With more studies being completed, along with states legalizing medical marijuana the acceptance for this once “harmful” drug is increasing. There are twenty-eight states that have legalized marijuana for medical use. The first state to legalize marijuana was California back in 1996 ("What Are the Non-smoked Ways to Use Marijuana Medically? - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org"). Within then the other twenty-seven states have followed, setting possession limits. Each state has compiled a list of approved conditions allowing patients to obtain marijuana for medical purposes. Patients also must register with the state and pay a registry fee before they are allowed to start treatment, this fee varies state to state. Some states accept other states’ registry ID card while other state do not. There are a general estimate of 2,604,079 nation wide users of medical marijuana.

Disadvantages of medical marijuana can range from side effects with medications, increased psychosis, and public health issues. In addition, those in California have to be residents to obtain a medical marijuana identification card. In order to qualify for a medical marijuana identification card, one has to have a debilitating medical condition. According to Cohen (2010), a debilitating condition means: cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or treatment for such conditions. The identification card also calls for physicians to comply with these regulations. The physician must have a good standing license to practice in California, take responsibility of the patient's care, disclose a medical examination on the patient beforehand, document the serious medical condition and how medical marijuana is necessary, and have the patient sign consent and copies of his or hers medical records (California Medical Association, 2011). Physicians also have to look at the health risk that their patient might face if prescribed medicinal marijuana. According to the California Medical Association, 9% of adults become addicted to cannabis. This can lead to cognitive deficits that can range from impaired memory to the inability to learn. This article also indicated that long-term use can increase risk of developing schizophrenia due to

Since government funding is not permitted, private dispensaries are generally set up to administer marijuana prescriptions with varying levels of restrictions ranging from strict to almost nonexistent (Kleber & Dupont, 2012). Physicians may issue a “marijuana card” to patients who apply for drug treatment programs within their authorized state of residence and processed for approval or denial (Harding, 2013). Conventional pharmacies cannot administer marijuana prescriptions; therefore insurance companies do not cover it. Patients have the option of having a personal supply (if approved in their state) or the use a dispensary facility.

It’s another thing entirely to talk to your doctor about it since some doctors are not comfortable prescribing medicinal marijuana. Most often, they just don’t know enough about it.

The Colorado state government had to scramble to keep up with all the applications. A visit with a physician had to include a full discussion of medical history. The doctor would deliver application paperwork to the patient certifying a serious illness, and the endorsement to use medical marijuana. Colorado requires registration for a nominal fee, and a patient receives the state-issued identification card. Colorado requires yearly renewals of MMJ cards. In some cases, a person's regular doctor could assist in filling out the paperwork, but it is easier to make an appointment with the doctors associated with MMJ. Many providers still refuse to write a prescription for medical marijuana. Research shows fewer problems and fewer medication interactions with MMJ, than other high-priced drugs produced by pharmacological companies. Is it easy to get the card? Yes, it is easy when one has the proper

No, individuals are not given “prescriptions” but a doctor’s “recommendation” and apply for a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC), which is renewed annually.