Marijuana, despite some recognized adverse effects, is progressively gaining acceptance by the public and lawmakers for both medical and recreational uses. In Pew and Gallup polls, approximately 65 percent of Americans favor legalization, and in one study nearly 70 percent of physicians believed that medical marijuana should be available, and over half believed it should be legalized.
Marijuana has demonstrated therapeutic benefits for a number of conditions including chronic pain, recalcitrant epilepsy, nausea, and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. There are probable benefits in inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, and glaucoma, and in stimulation of appetite in cancer patients. Much more research is needed.
Adverse effects include some risk of psychological addiction and mild physical addiction with withdrawal symptoms similar to nicotine. There can be emotional disturbances, some driving impairments, and cognitive and memory difficulties with heavy use, but these are largely reversible. A major concern is adverse effects on adolescent brain development, and although there is some observational evidence, it is principally based on non-clinical indications of brain physiology changes. There is no evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug any more than alcohol can be considered so.
Thirty-three states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have legalized medical marijuana. Eleven states (including Michigan and Illinois) and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use. Ohio approved medical marijuana in 2016.
The acceptance clearly crosses political party lines evidenced by the states that have passed legalization statutes and referendums. Voters in Florida approved a medical marijuana referendum with a 71 percent majority.
As one might expect, the conservative Indiana legislature is not presently politically ready for legalization of medical marijuana. But in one recent poll, 73 percent of Indiana voters favored legalization for medical purposes. Accordingly, one would predict that legalization of medical marijuana is inevitable. An Indiana law should include strict regulation, meaningful medical supervision, limitations on quantities that can be possessed, and formation of a state commission of medical professionals that would issue and update legitimate evidenced-based indications for medical use.
Legalization of recreational use is also currently not realistic in Indiana. Decriminalization is. Note that the Marian County prosecutor has ended prosecution for possession of small quantities of marijuana. Fifteen additional non-marijuana states have decriminalized marijuana. Decriminalization generally involves reducing the offense of personal-use possession of small quantities from a felony or misdemeanor to an infraction. There would be no arrest, prison time, or criminal record much like minor traffic violations.
Marijuana is just not heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. It’s not a narcotic and is probably safer than alcohol; it should be legally treated as such. Convictions and imprisonment and the resulting marginalization and negative consequences to future employment, educational, and other opportunities are not justified from either a moral or cost-to-society standpoint. Resources can be saved in the law enforcement, corrections, and judicial systems and better spent fighting more serious drugs and crimes. Decriminalization has not resulted in increased use.
Both the American Academies of Family Physicians and Pediatrics have recommended the decriminalization of marijuana. As more states embrace both medical and recreational uses, federal illegality and treatment as a Schedule I controlled substance (like heroin) will increasingly become untenable.
Our society is clearly moving towards legalization of marijuana, especially for medical use. Marijuana is far from a harmless substance. But much like the forbearance for tobacco and alcohol or the repeal of Prohibition, the public is willing to accept marijuana as a legal substance and tolerate its untoward effects.
Marijuana, despite some recognized adverse effects, is progressively gaining acceptance by the public and lawmakers for both medical and recreational uses. In Pew and Gallup polls, approximately 65% of Americans favor legalization, and in one study nearly 70% of physicians believed that medical marijuana should be available, and over half believed it should be legalized.
Marijuana has demonstrated therapeutic benefits for a number of conditions including chronic pain, recalcitrant epilepsy, nausea and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. There are probable benefits in inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia and glaucoma, and in stimulation of appetite in cancer patients. Much more research is needed.
Adverse effects include some risk of psychological addiction and mild physical addiction with withdrawal symptoms similar to nicotine. There can be emotional disturbances, some driving impairments, and cognitive and memory difficulties with heavy use, but these are largely reversible. A major concern is adverse effects on adolescent brain development, and although there is some observational evidence, it is principally based on non-clinical indications of brain physiology changes. There is no evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug any more than alcohol can be considered so.
Thirty-three states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have legalized medical marijuana. Eleven states (including Michigan and Illinois) and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use. Ohio approved medical marijuana in 2016.
The acceptance clearly crosses political party lines, evidenced by the states that have passed legalization statutes and referendums. Voters in Florida approved a medical marijuana referendum with a 71% majority.
As one might expect, the conservative Indiana legislature is not presently politically ready for legalization of medical marijuana. But in one recent poll, 73% of Indiana voters favored legalization for medical purposes. Accordingly, one would predict that legalization of medical marijuana is inevitable. An Indiana law should include strict regulation, meaningful medical supervision, limitations on quantities that can be possessed, and formation of a state commission of medical professionals that would issue and update legitimate evidenced-based indications for medical use.
Legalization of recreational use is also currently not realistic in Indiana. Decriminalization is. Note that the Marian County prosecutor has ended prosecution for possession of small quantities of marijuana. Fifteen additional non-marijuana states have decriminalized marijuana. Decriminalization generally involves reducing the offense of personal-use possession of small quantities from a felony or misdemeanor to an infraction. There would be no arrest, prison time, or criminal record, much like minor traffic violations.
Marijuana is just not heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. It’s not a narcotic and is probably safer than alcohol; it should be legally treated as such. Convictions and imprisonment and the resulting marginalization and negative consequences to future employment, educational, and other opportunities are not justified from either a moral or cost-to-society standpoint. Resources can be saved in the law enforcement, corrections, and judicial systems and better spent fighting more serious drugs and crimes. Decriminalization has not resulted in increased use.
Both the American Academies of Family Physicians and Pediatrics have recommended the decriminalization of marijuana. As more states embrace both medical and recreational uses, federal illegality and treatment as a Schedule I controlled substance (like heroin) will increasingly become untenable.
Our society is clearly moving towards legalization of marijuana, especially for medical use. Marijuana is far from a harmless substance. But much like the forbearance for tobacco and alcohol or the repeal of Prohibition, the public is willing to accept marijuana as a legal substance and tolerate its untoward effects.
Dr. Richard Feldman is an Indianapolis family physician and the former Indiana State Health commissioner. Send comments to [email protected].
Marijuana, despite some recognized adverse effects, is progressively gaining acceptance by the public and lawmakers for both medical and recreational uses. In Pew and Gallup polls, approximately 65% of Americans favor legalization, and in one study nearly 70% of physicians believed that medical marijuana should be available, and over half believed it should be legalized.
Marijuana has demonstrated therapeutic benefits for a number of conditions including chronic pain, recalcitrant epilepsy, nausea and spasticity in multiple sclerosis. There are probable benefits in inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia and glaucoma, and in stimulation of appetite in cancer patients. Much more research is needed.
Adverse effects include some risk of psychological addiction and mild physical addiction with withdrawal symptoms similar to nicotine. There can be emotional disturbances, some driving impairments, and cognitive and memory difficulties with heavy use, but these are largely reversible. A major concern is adverse effects on adolescent brain development, and although there is some observational evidence, it is principally based on non-clinical indications of brain physiology changes. There is no evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug any more than alcohol can be considered so.
Thirty-three states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have legalized medical marijuana. Eleven states (including Michigan and Illinois) and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use. Ohio approved medical marijuana in 2016.
The acceptance clearly crosses political party lines, evidenced by the states that have passed legalization statutes and referendums. Voters in Florida approved a medical marijuana referendum with a 71% majority.
As one might expect, the conservative Indiana legislature is not presently politically ready for legalization of medical marijuana. But in one recent poll, 73% of Indiana voters favored legalization for medical purposes. Accordingly, one would predict that legalization of medical marijuana is inevitable. An Indiana law should include strict regulation, meaningful medical supervision, limitations on quantities that can be possessed, and formation of a state commission of medical professionals that would issue and update legitimate evidenced-based indications for medical use.
Legalization of recreational use is also currently not realistic in Indiana. Decriminalization is. Note that the Marian County prosecutor has ended prosecution for possession of small quantities of marijuana. Fifteen additional non-marijuana states have decriminalized marijuana. Decriminalization generally involves reducing the offense of personal-use possession of small quantities from a felony or misdemeanor to an infraction. There would be no arrest, prison time, or criminal record, much like minor traffic violations.
Marijuana is just not heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. It’s not a narcotic and is probably safer than alcohol; it should be legally treated as such. Convictions and imprisonment and the resulting marginalization and negative consequences to future employment, educational, and other opportunities are not justified from either a moral or cost-to-society standpoint. Resources can be saved in the law enforcement, corrections, and judicial systems and better spent fighting more serious drugs and crimes. Decriminalization has not resulted in increased use.
Both the American Academies of Family Physicians and Pediatrics have recommended the decriminalization of marijuana. As more states embrace both medical and recreational uses, federal illegality and treatment as a Schedule I controlled substance (like heroin) will increasingly become untenable.
Our society is clearly moving towards legalization of marijuana, especially for medical use. Marijuana is far from a harmless substance. But much like the forbearance for tobacco and alcohol or the repeal of Prohibition, the public is willing to accept marijuana as a legal substance and tolerate its untoward effects.
Dr. Richard Feldman is an Indianapolis family physician and the former Indiana State Health commissioner. Send comments to [email protected].
