Medical Marijuana May Help Manage Pain and Reduce Crime Rates

Many people are misinformed about marijuana due to its history of demonization, including anti-cannabis propaganda pushed by pharmaceutical companies, as well as its federal classification. Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug, just like heroin, LSD, peyote and ecstasy. These are defined as having a high potential for abuse and currently having no accepted medical use for treatment in the United States. Regarding marijuana, this classification is categorically false.

According to the Mayo Clinic, marijuana has been shown to be effective in managing pain and other symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy , glaucoma, MS, PTSD and side effects of medications prescribed to cancer patients. Additionally, a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that cannabis is just as effective, if not more so, than opioid medications, while significantly reducing the risk of addiction and completely eliminating the risk of fatal overdose compared to opioids. This is why almost 50 states have already legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington, two states that have legalized recreational marijuana, have actually seen a decrease in crime since legalization, according to a 2020 study published by the Journal of Drug Issues.

As with many social issues, people have personal reasons for taking positions on marijuana. To those who object to it for personal or religious reasons, I encourage you not to use it. But advocating against its medical availability while our fellow Kentuckians struggle with pain and opioid addiction is far more harmful.