California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in 1996. In the almost quarter century since, dozens of states have joined California. The drug is still a Schedule I drug under federal law, but Washington is signaling they may be willing to change that.
The one thing about medical marijuana that is hard to deny is its prevalence. Every state that gets on board reduces the number of states resisting. It appears as though medical marijuana is here to stay. And as long as this is the case, there are some tough questions we must ask ourselves if we intend to be consistent about everything from drug use to medical care. Below are five such questions.
1. What Is the FDA’s Role?
To date, the FDA has only approved two cannabinoid medicines. They are recommended for treating the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. A third drug, the cannabidiol known as Epidolex, has been approved by the FDA for treating two forms of epilepsy.
So what is the FDA’s role? Do we want or expect them to approve medical marijuana before patients can use it? Dozens of states have already answered ‘no’. They believe consumers should have the right to choose for themselves. That’s fine. But then why do so many states bristle at the idea of PRP and stem cell injections, insisting that that they are not FDA approved?
2. How Should Efficacy Be Established?
Hand-in-hand with the FDA question is the secondary question of efficacy. Before the FDA will approve a new drug therapy, the therapy must be proven both safe and effective. If it is not effective, approval may be fleeting. We have a long history of insisting that efficacy be proved scientifically. Yet most of the evidence in support of medical marijuana’s efficacy is mostly anecdotal.
3. Should Doctors and Patients Be Allowed to Decide?
Next up, perhaps the government should not be involved in the medical marijuana question all. Perhaps the only opinions that really matter are those of doctors and their patients. But if that’s the avenue we are going to take, it must be consistent across all of medicine.
Patients in marijuana-friendly states can get medical marijuana cards from organizations like Utahmarijuana.org. Said cards give them access to cannabis without a prescription. Should doctors and patients not have the same freedom to make all medical decisions without government interference.
4. Are We Willing to Do Real Research?
Very few of the purported benefits of medical marijuana have been proven with scientific research. There is good reason for that. Research has been limited over the years due to marijuana’s status as a Schedule I drug. It now looks like Congress is friendly to more research.
Assuming research picks up in the coming years, are we willing to conduct legitimate research and accept the results regardless of what they are? There are two sides to the medical marijuana debate; one of them will be unhappy with the data.
5. Is Full Decriminalization the Real Goal?
The vast majority of legitimate medical marijuana users are undoubtedly sincere in their desire to use the drug to find relief from a debilitating medical condition. There are no arguments there. But given how medical marijuana lobbying and legislation have played out, one cannot help but wonder if the real goal – at least from a political standpoint – is full decriminalization.
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We have to face the possibility at some point. And if that is truly what’s going on, we all have to ask ourselves how we feel about it. It is a slippery slope that begs caution.
