In November, 2000 Coloradoans voted pro amendment 20 therefore legalizing Medical Marijuana, since then nearly 105,000 people have been registered Medical Marijuana cards. This amendment came after a long debate which has not ceased to this day. Medical marijuana has become a widely prescribed drug in Colorado for many symptoms including chronic pain and stimulating appetite in anorexia. The use of Medical Marijuana isn’t limited to those who are in true need of the medicinal effects of the drug. The law passed for Medical Marijuana has opened lots of opportunities for increased recreational use of marijuana. The law legalizing Medical Marijuana has brought about an array of social issues that question the true value of Medical Marijuana.
Smoking cannabis has a wide variety of negative health effects and aspects that limit its use as an effective prescribed medication. The smoke from cannabis weakens one’s immune system which for those who are experiencing debilitating illnesses is not recommended. The use of smoked marijuana has many risks involved because it is a smoked drug which is a very primitive way of drug ingestion. There is no way to regulate the doses or the way that it is administered. The inconsistencies of this medical marijuana make it less effective as a legitimate drug. There are over four hundred chemicals commonly found in marijuana in variable amounts which aren’t chemically designed to help relieve pain and other symptoms. Although marijuana does have medicinal benefits, oftentimes there are allergies or side effects of other prescribed medications that can complicate patient’s situations. The issue is not that marijuana cannot be an effective medicine because its usefulness has obviously been explained by its legalization, yet the law is being abused and has become more available to those who are vulnerable to recreational usage of pot. Those who are taking abusing legal Medical Marijuana are doing a disservice to those who worked to get the amendment passed to and use their marijuana for medicinal purposes. These users ruin the public’s view on the validity of Medical Marijuana. If the drug was limited to those who are using it correctly then there would be no argument against it as there is for the rest of the medicines offered on the market.
The drug itself is not necessarily harmful for one’s health but the impact that it has on our youth and society raises alarm. The drug has a large following of recreational users which is only growing due to easier accessibility. There are now more Medical Marijuana dispensaries in Colorado than there are Starbucks. There are over seven hundred dispensaries in Colorado which poses the question how many dispensaries are really necessary? Nearly every block along Broadway there are multiple dispensaries. This is not an ideal situation to raise a child in; it’s just as easy for them to walk to the corner dispensary as it is for them to walk to the corner convenient store. The recreational use of Medical Marijuana has developed into a social and trivial event. Aspen is holding an event to celebrate the legitimacy of Medical Marijuana. This is something that would only take place regarding pot. When was the last time you heard of a celebration for any other painkiller? It is groups and events like this that expose the weaknesses of the Medical Marijuana bill. The people that are abusing this drug are tainting the legitimate uses of medical pot and those who are rightly using it.
The advertising used for Medical Marijuana products mirror that of those used in companies that aim towards a young audience. Advertising using juvenile images aims towards a younger audience who are more easily swayed into the recreational usage of marijuana. Advertisements for medical pot reflect its recreational use. Instead of a detailed description of doses and ingredients, a label that states should not be handled by kids and a catchy name and design decorate a Medical Marijuana packages. The minimized medical aspect of Medical Marijuana has struck fear in doctors who fear negative attention from the skeptical intentions of those who are using the drug. There are doctors who refuse to prescribe Medical Marijuana because of how unregulated the drug is. There is a fear that prescribing Medical Marijuana will lead to be fraudulent prescriptions and disapproval from the government which are real possibilities, yet there are doctors who are willing to prescribe pot to anyone who comes in complaining of a multitude of symptoms. I personally know students at the University of Denver who possess Medical Marijuana cards to support their recreational use. A mysterious case of nonexistent Scoliosis is enough to facilitate a med card. It is not only people illegally dealing their own prescriptions that opens the door for our youth to obtain pot, there are doctors who are abusing this law and making it possible for unworthy candidates to have access herbal medicine. This is the issue that we are facing trying to keep Medical Marijuana in the hands of those who need it.
The legalization of Medical Marijuana gives those who are dealing illegally a window to operate large scale operations such as that busted in Broomfield, where the largest marijuana dealing operation was busted using copied medical records as cover. Legalization of drugs lowers the social awareness of the negative effects of drugs and reduces the anti-drug stance that is possessed by the general society. When kids are deciding whether to try pot or not and it’s not an illegal substance for those who use it as medicine; it lends itself to the thought that it is harmless though it is an illegal substance to the healthy public. All states have a law regarding a person operating a motor vehicle cannot be under the influence of drugs. This is standard for other prescription drugs. Medical marijuana users are pushing against a law that would pose a level of THC that would be a legal limit to drive. The inability to monitor doses of marijuana and the way it is administered makes it even more dangerous to drive while under the influence. The roads are a public place that can pose to be lethal. If one isn’t allowed to drive on other prescription drugs then why would we allow Medical Marijuana users to drive under the influence?
The regulation of Medical Marijuana does have benefits for those who are truly in need of the drug, but is that worth the health and best interests of our society. The use of Medical Marijuana seems to have a high cost for a generally inefficient form of medication. When it comes to the public good versus that of a small percent of the population do the pros outweigh the cons? The laws regarding Medical Marijuana either need to be reversed or they need to be severely modified to closely monitor the people who are using Medical Marijuana and the intent that those individuals have.
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