
Medical marijuana is potentially a billion dollar industry, but it also has the potential to save the public millions on health care. Marijuana is utilized by users, to seek the benefits from the two chemicals it contains, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and Cannabinol (CBD). THC is the chemical that typically delivers a psychoactive effect to its users, while CBD is the chemical which contains most of the health benefits of the plants. Currently, marijuana is considered a schedule-I narcotic by the Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) which places it in the same category as heroin and LSD (National Academy of Sciences). The real question surrounding the drug today is, does marijuana hold the same risks with regular use as some of the other narcotics in its class? Many will say no, however, there is a general lack of knowledge putting a standstill on the advancement of medical marijuana that would eventually grant legal status to the drug. In order for the United States to make legitimate strides to prove the effectiveness of medical cannabis, there needs to be a major emphasis on research. The recent elections in Florida, North Dakota, and Arkansas joined the rapidly growing group of states that have legalized marijuana for medical use (Thompson). In result of these structural changes, states such as Colorado have been pulling in more tax money than almost ever before. Colorado brought in more than 1 billion dollars in tax revenue from marijuana sales (Hessen). Based on these facts, this proves that the research could be entirely funded by itself. If the federal government backed the research of medical marijuana, it would emerge as a new miracle drug and aid to boost the national economy.

The legal status of Marijuana is highly debated in different levels of American government; however, the use of medical marijuana is currently legal in 28 states and Washington D.C. (Thompson) This occurs from medical marijuana being legalized on solely a state level, due to the lack of FDA approval, keeping its legality questioned on the federal level. Currently the Food and Drug Administration requires evidence from at least two randomized clinical trials before it gains approval to become a prescribed drug (Mead). Some argue that the current lack of conclusive evidence is result of government regulation making the clinical study difficult. As mentioned, Marijuana is currently a schedule-I drug under the FDA standards; they have yet to loosen their restrictions and push marijuana to a schedule-II substance because due to the lack of supported evidence, in the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of marijuana (Deepak Cyril, Ranganathan). The FDA has recently approved more and more research studies, which has given way to break-troughs such as using CBD in the treatment of epilepsy (Kohn). It is not a matter of if the field of medical cannabis will grow, but when. Its growth depends on gaining access to more extensive research, which is sure to come in the years ahead. As the nation take steps forward towards widespread medical use of cannabis, there must be a further

emphasis on government regulation. The standards for qualification must be set firm, and the drug must be monitored and used as any other medically prescribed substance.

Medical marijuana has an extensive list of uses for treatment, usually presented as a safer alternative to the current standard of treatment. One of the most common uses of medical marijuana currently, is for patients suffering from the adverse effects of chemotherapy (American Cancer Society). Specifically, helping to lessen the symptoms these patients have with their pain, nausea, and vomiting. A significant number of AIDS patients have also found use of medical marijuana for an appetite stimulant (Academy of Sciences). There is evidence that has linked medical marijuana use, for treatment of other specific pain syndromes, for example the spasticity from multiple sclerosis. Cannabis has also been highly recommended as a nonspecific subjective relief. It may not treat an ailment, but further give relief to a patient. Patients suffering from PTSD, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell disease, psoriasis, and epilepsy have seen positive results from medical cannabis use. Marijuana could replace or lower the required dosage of opioids or benzodiazepines, helping patients avoid substance abuse (Ingramham). In short, medical marijuana can be effective in lessening pain, muscle spasticity, and neurological disorders. Another reason for extensive evaluation and study of medical marijuana, which will continue to give way to more benefits of marijuana and its properties.

Though there is an extensive list of alternative treatments associated with medical marijuana, there are negative effects said to be associated with the regular use of marijuana. One of the most argued negative effects that surrounds medical marijuana, is that chronic use of marijuana can cause cognitive impairment and damages, “particularly white matter, where cannabinoid 1 receptors abound (Evidence Reviewed, Abstract)”. The brain is at risk of impairment with chronic use and the abuse of the substance,

but this goes back to the necessity for proper regulation of the drug. Medical marijuana is very easy to build a tolerance to, and at its current status, there is not much guidance on dosages for patients with continual use. Other than the unapparent health effects of medical marijuana, marijuana use is associated with laziness, memory loss, and a lack of motivation (Jama). This could be highly avoidable with proper-guided use of the drug, as it would be strictly used for its benefits, rather than a patient using it for recreational use. Patients wishing to use medical marijuana as a medical alternative must be aware of these claims. A patient should take proper steps to educate themselves on the product before trial use. The federal government’s support of research would implicate better regulations on the product, giving the public more knowledge and awareness on how to properly use the substance. This will help ensure there is less chance for user error and abuse, and more availability for the positive health benefits to be shown and described by the users.

The largest issue in the development of medical marijuana and it’s uses, are the current limitations of research keeping much of the drugs uses, benefits, and properties in the dark. The federal government must show support and a desire to regulate cannabis study, which would allow there to be a national standard for medical marijuana use. This does not mean they must make legal change on the federal level, but begin to fund and formulate a societal standard from the top down, this is an extension of the major federal regulation on the clinical studies of medical marijuana. Every state that has legalized the use of marijuana for medical conditions established the standard for medical marijuana in their respective state. This sentence is really confusing so reword it or make it more fitting for the paragraph This has lead to it consistencies in the qualifications and standards for medical marijuana use (Jama). The inconsistency of treatment by state, has made it hard for advocates to constantly argue on behalf of medical marijuana.

Beyond the limitations of current federal standards, when studying marijuana, its properties can be difficult to pinpoint but there have been some major strides. Unlike other FDA drugs, with one or two active constituents, “marijuana is a complex of more than 400 compounds including flavonoids and terpenoids and approximately 70 cannabinoids other than tetrahydrocannabinol” (Jama). The extent of marijuana's properties makes it a difficult process for researchers to study individual cannabinoids. Unlike other FDA drugs that have a uniform composition, the composition of cannabis preparations vary based on CBD and THC content (Jama). Though research in the field is limited, there have been a variety of breakthroughs with medical cannabis in recent years. The greatest success of these breakthroughs was the development of CBD and the treatment of Dravet Syndrome in a child from Colorado, named Charlotte. This girl found life-changing success in treatments from a special strain of cannabis called “Charlotte’s Web”. This strain was designed to be high in CBD and low in THC, making it possible to take the majority of negatives effects, such as the “high” associated with smoking cannabis, out of the consumption. The general idea of the strain, was to minimize as much of the plant as possible with the emphasis of the product being health related. As for Charlotte, she was suffering from

up to 300 grand mal seizures a week, after hundreds of failed treatments over the first five years of her life (Pickert). She began taking CBD oil in her food twice a day, and this has kept her seizures down to two or three a month, usually in her sleep. She was the first of now 41 patients who have been able to find benefits from using this specific strain to treat epilepsy and cancer (Kohn). This is a simple breakthrough, and is not seen as conclusive evidence, but it shows genuine evidence that the health properties of marijuana have shown life changing benefits in the medical field.

In recent years, we have been able to get an idea of the economic impact that medical marijuana sales have given way to. Of the 28 states and District of Columbia, that have legalized medical marijuana, ten states and D.C. have levied some form of tax on the substance (Trumble, Sarah and Nathan Kasai). The average sales tax is about 6.3%, with the highest being 8.4% (California) and the lowest being 2.9% (Colorado) (Trumble; Kasai). The average estimated tax revenue came out to be over $12.76 million per state, with a total of $76.57 million in combined tax revenue (Total and averages taken from six states with reported revenue). However, California brings in the most at $59-109 million from medical marijuana sales, as Rhode Island has the smallest return at $428, 659 (Hessen). Referring to the broad estimate of California’s revenue, the state has not been able to keep track of medical marijuana specific revenue since nearly 2009, due to the vast and growing number of approved dispensaries throughout the state (Hessen). If the federal government were to legalize and tax all 50 states for medical marijuana distribution, the government would see over $638 million in revenue with a 6% standard sales tax. At 6% sales tax, there is significant room for increase in this as each state roughly would bring in another million dollars per 1% increase, meaning that the industry would be bringing in over $850 million at 8% sales tax. Just the medical marijuana industry could be developed into a

billion dollar industry and far beyond that with more steps forward.

Beyond bringing in money as tax revenue, a recent study has found medical marijuana to be the more financially accessible form of treatment than expensive prescription pills (Bradford). In this study, performed by David and Ashley Bradford, they found that the public had saved $165 million in Medicare costs by using medical cannabis as an alternative medicine. Doctors in those states were prescribing as many as 1,826 fewer doses of pain pills. This pattern remained consistent with up to six more conditions recommended for treatment with cannabis; 562 fewer for anxiety, 541 less for nausea, 519 less for psychosis, 486 fewer for seizures, 362 less for sleep disorders and 265 fewer doses for depression. The journal reveals that a further study found that doctors continued to prescribe pharmaceutical pills for conditions not recommended for treatment with medical marijuana. This finding implies that the public is using marijuana for medical use and not just for recreation. The general public has responded legislature thus far and begun using cannabis for medical reasons and they have seen genuine savings. The amount of tax revenue possible from medical marijuana sales is endless, if the new patterns in legislature continue. The federal government could modestly tax medical cannabis sales, and still save the general public close to half a million from health care with reclassification as a schedule II or III substance.

Medical cannabis could change the way we see modern health and bring in billions from tax revenue with the proper support on the federal level. People must respect that the substance is for medical use and cannot be abused, and that it is a safer and less addictive alternative to

prescription pills. Through the years people have been evolving their views on medicine, they have learned and adopted safer and more effective treatments. Medical Cannabis may be effective for some current treatments, but with proper research and trials, we could see a number of new and efficient medical implications of marijuana. At this moment, the DEA has not yet changed its position on the substance, but they have made claims of future aid (Mead). In time, it is to be believed that we will see the emergence of medical cannabis as a common and effective treatment to ailments, and this will change modern day health care forever.
