Blog Post 3
Gentry Scott
Professor Jenkins
PS 101
April 14, 2022
Medical Marijuana
Many states have passed laws legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. Alabama has also passed a law, but it is unlikely that medical cannabis will legally be available in the state before 2023. Though the law has passed, steps must now be taken to accept and review applications for growing and distributing marijuana as well as finalizing guidelines. Once medical marijuana is available, it will be legal to treat medical conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, and PTSD among others. The traditional methods of consuming marijuana by smoking or baking it into food are prohibited by the law. Patients will be able to legally consume marijuana as gummies, patches, or tablets among other forms. In addition to the rules outlined in the law, a patient would also have to be approved, registered, and pay an annual registration fee.
This law also applies to minors under the age of 19 as long as they have a designated caregiver who is authorized to buy and administer the drug. This portion of the law draws both support and opposition. There is also disapproval of the law because recreational use in the state is already an issue and a threat to public safety. To counter these concerns, legislators have included substantial consequences as part of the law. There is also concern that those who have been approved for medical marijuana use will resell the cannabis. Though, this could happen much like marijuana is distributed today, it is considered a felony and punishable by jail time. It is hopeful this would be a deterrent to such acts. Additionally, even though there are max daily dosages allowed by the law, it is a concern that those with chronic pain may take more than the allotted dosage.
Another concern is how the use of medical marijuana affects employee and employer rights. An employer does not have to allow the use of medical marijuana and can refuse to hire someone or even terminate someone using the drug. Employers can also implement drug testing policies against medical marijuana. On the flip side, employees may choose not to notify their employer if they begin using marijuana legally. An employer may not find out about marijuana use unless they implement a policy that requires the employee to disclose the information if a random drug test reveals the drug. In the workplace, the employer is better protected from recourse than the employee.
Those who support medical marijuana site benefits such as stimulating appetite for patients with eating disorders or conditions like HIV or cancer. It is also effective in relieving nausea as created by chemotherapy. Cannabis can also relieve pain and muscle tightness. There are also arguments marijuana is less addictive than prescription pain killers. Marijuana is also a natural medicinal plant.
Some of the arguments by those who oppose the legalization and use of marijuana include the potential for abuse and addiction. Marijuana also impairs driving skills and potentially increases the risk of wrecks. It is also reported that marijuana impairs short term memory and thinking. Also, though medical marijuana may assist with the treatment of some diseases, it may also introduce additional medical problems such as lung damage if smoked. However, this concern is not a concern covered by the law as smoking marijuana is not an approved method for medical marijuana. A portion of the population has difficulty in transitioning the use of marijuana from recreational use to being a prescribed drug. There are also recovering addicts who cannot risk the use of any recreational drug – even if for medical purposes.
Legalized marijuana use is still relatively new so there is limited data on the effectiveness of its use. Studies should be ongoing so that laws governing legal marijuana use can be updated and enhanced as research is conducted. Research is also needed to determine if there are other conditions that can be effectively treated by marijuana use. Those who are approved for medical marijuana should be diligent in using the cannabis as intended without abuse, carelessness, or redistribution. Users should be mindful of not driving while they are impaired. Like any medical treatment, the patient must be comfortable with the treatment plan and be involved in determining if medical marijuana use is the correct treatment for themselves. Regardless of the guidelines defined in the law, there is no fail proof way to make sure each person uses medical marijuana responsibly, however, the law is a good faith effort to provide an alternate form of treatment for patients who what to partake in medical marijuana will balancing the concerns of citizens who do not support the treatment method.
https://wbhm.org/2021/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-alabamas-new-medical-marijuana-law/