Understanding Medical Marijuana
It should be noted that this article is for information purposes only and should not, under any circumstances, be accepted as legal advice or health advice.
Understanding the status of medical marijuana can be a challenge for the mightiest intellects. If you're expecting this article to give a succinct summary of the legal position with regard to medical marijuana - be prepared to be disappointed.
The position in the USA today is so complicated that is possible to argue that nobody anywhere really understands it. Possibly even someone like Stephen Hawking would struggle to get to grips with the nightmarish complexities and muddle created by various administrations, policymakers and the legal establishment.However, this article wouldn't be up to much if it simply gave up and said "this is all too complicated for me - I'm going home". So, here we go with an attempt summarize the position as it stands at the time of writing.
Looking backwards
It's possible to have an interesting stroll down memory lane and start raking up all sorts of unlikely conspiracy theories. Interesting as that might be, it doesn't really get us anywhere.
The position is simply that, for various reasons whether right or wrong, US society branded marijuana and medical marijuana as being illegal and undesirable for much of the 20th century. Illegal marijuana was certainly a major plank in the development of the so-called underground culture of the mid-late 1960s and 70s. The use of recreational drugs, including marijuana by that culture during those years, has continued to prejudice the perception of many in terms of the debate relating to medical marijuana. Even in the 21st century, that undesirable legacy from those decades continues to cloud the debate in some circles.
The 21st century USA position
In some states, the use of medical marijuana is now tolerated (though it remains technically illegal). In other states it is legal under state law though it remains illegal under federal law.
In the majority of states, marijuana remains illegal even when used for medical purposes, both in terms of local state jurisdiction and federal law. It would be possible to have a huge pseudo-legal debate and explanation at this point, but the simple reality is you can only really understand the position by checking with your own state government sources. In fact, you may even find variations within a state in terms of how rigorously or otherwise local area law enforcement agencies tend to enforce local state law on the subject. This position is, of course, ludicrous. Yet, as the old saying goes "we are where we are" and you will just have to work within the legal position in the area you live in.
Medical marijuana - does it work?
This is another question that appears to be far trickier than it might seem at first glance. It's never possible to give comprehensive comments relating to the analgesic properties of any substance. For example, some people only have to pop an aspirin to find that their severe headache or muscular pain instantly disappears. Others, by contrast, find aspirin ineffective and resort to things such as ibuprofen or any one of several other over-the-counter medicines.
The same may be true for medical marijuana. Some people suffering debilitating and painful diseases clearly obtain relief through the use of the substance while others may not. Some medical experts point out, possibly accurately, that there is little clinical evidence to support the efficacy of marijuana when used in symptom relief. Some go further and claim that even where it does offer benefit, this is only in terms of the placebo effect. Well, perhaps so, yet if someone is obtaining real relief from symptoms, they may not care very much whether the effect is one of placebo. They may care even less that the remedial properties cannot be replicated in clinical studies. Ultimately, all they care very much about is the fact that they are obtaining relief.
Overall, it looks as if this debate has some considerable way to go before a rational solution is found. Until such a time, the use of medical marijuana may remain controversial and illegal in much of the United States.
Understanding the status of medical marijuana can be a challenge for the mightiest intellects. If you're expecting this article to give a succinct summary of the legal position with regard to medical marijuana - be prepared to be disappointed.
The position in the USA today is so complicated that is possible to argue that nobody anywhere really understands it. Possibly even someone like Stephen Hawking would struggle to get to grips with the nightmarish complexities and muddle created by various administrations, policymakers and the legal establishment.However, this article wouldn't be up to much if it simply gave up and said "this is all too complicated for me - I'm going home". So, here we go with an attempt summarize the position as it stands at the time of writing.
Looking backwards
It's possible to have an interesting stroll down memory lane and start raking up all sorts of unlikely conspiracy theories. Interesting as that might be, it doesn't really get us anywhere.
The position is simply that, for various reasons whether right or wrong, US society branded marijuana and medical marijuana as being illegal and undesirable for much of the 20th century. Illegal marijuana was certainly a major plank in the development of the so-called underground culture of the mid-late 1960s and 70s. The use of recreational drugs, including marijuana by that culture during those years, has continued to prejudice the perception of many in terms of the debate relating to medical marijuana. Even in the 21st century, that undesirable legacy from those decades continues to cloud the debate in some circles.
The 21st century USA position
In some states, the use of medical marijuana is now tolerated (though it remains technically illegal). In other states it is legal under state law though it remains illegal under federal law.
In the majority of states, marijuana remains illegal even when used for medical purposes, both in terms of local state jurisdiction and federal law. It would be possible to have a huge pseudo-legal debate and explanation at this point, but the simple reality is you can only really understand the position by checking with your own state government sources. In fact, you may even find variations within a state in terms of how rigorously or otherwise local area law enforcement agencies tend to enforce local state law on the subject. This position is, of course, ludicrous. Yet, as the old saying goes "we are where we are" and you will just have to work within the legal position in the area you live in.
Medical marijuana - does it work?
This is another question that appears to be far trickier than it might seem at first glance. It's never possible to give comprehensive comments relating to the analgesic properties of any substance. For example, some people only have to pop an aspirin to find that their severe headache or muscular pain instantly disappears. Others, by contrast, find aspirin ineffective and resort to things such as ibuprofen or any one of several other over-the-counter medicines.
The same may be true for medical marijuana. Some people suffering debilitating and painful diseases clearly obtain relief through the use of the substance while others may not. Some medical experts point out, possibly accurately, that there is little clinical evidence to support the efficacy of marijuana when used in symptom relief. Some go further and claim that even where it does offer benefit, this is only in terms of the placebo effect. Well, perhaps so, yet if someone is obtaining real relief from symptoms, they may not care very much whether the effect is one of placebo. They may care even less that the remedial properties cannot be replicated in clinical studies. Ultimately, all they care very much about is the fact that they are obtaining relief.
Overall, it looks as if this debate has some considerable way to go before a rational solution is found. Until such a time, the use of medical marijuana may remain controversial and illegal in much of the United States.
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