The Overwhelming Case for Legalizing Medical Marijuana Around the World

Medical marijuana should be legalized all over the world and here is why.

There are millions of people all over the world dealing with chronic pain who must take all sorts of really toxic and addictive medications that are not very effective and are very addictive. Still they do it because it is the only way they can function because the alternative is constant pain.

They are all looking for alternatives to these awful medications, and are open to try anything that gives results and does not have the negative side effects they are currently dealing with.

Perhaps the best option on the table is medical marijuana.

Yes, Marijuana is not only a drug used to get people high. Medical marijuana is also a very effective medication that more and more people are finding helps with their pain symptoms, giving them a higher quality of life and avoiding the negative side effects.

The main problem is the additive and destructive and addictive nature of these opioid based drugs. In short, people get on them and their lives get ruined. The result has been an epidemic of drug addicts who cannot get away and find themselves needing more and more stronger drugs to fight their pain. Today there is an epidemic of opioid drug abuse and it effects all ages and all income brackets.

Medical marijuana can end the cycle of opioid drug abuse that is gripping so many people in places like the US. This epidemic starts with these legal pain killers and then often leads to harder drugs like heroin which is a stronger opioid. Before you know it hard working people are dealing with street drug dealers to ease their chronic pain.

The problem has gotten so bad in fact, that in the new US federal budget there is $8 billion dollars specifically to fight an opioid epidemic in the US. Other countries are having similar challenges with prescription drugs leading to heroin abuse. By the way, has been listed as the most addictive and destructive illegal drug.

More and more people are applying and getting approval to use medical marijuana and studies are showing that those who get the chance to use it overwhelmingly report positive results with no negative side effects. Happily it appears that governments are listening. In the US 29 states currently allow the use of medical marijuana and 6 more are considering to allow it next year.

The increased use of marijuana also seems to decrease the use of toxic opioid pain killers as well. Here is information from a U.S. News report on the topic:

“Fewer people are using opioids in states that have legalized medical marijuana, according to a study published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health that bolsters advocates' claims that marijuana can substitute for more deadly drugs.

The study, which examined data from 1999 to 2013, found an association between a state legalizing medical marijuana and a reduction in testing positive for opioids after dying in a car accident, particularly among drivers ages 21 to 40.

Previous studies have found that opioid overdoses went down after medical marijuana laws were enacted, but this study was geared at opioids use more generally. Researchers noted that those who tested positive may have been taking opioids as a doctor prescribed, and the use of the drug was not necessarily a contributing factor to the vehicle crash.” from US News.

Around the world, more and more countries are allowing marijuana for medical purposes. In some cases they only allow the use of CBD oil which is an extract that does not contain any THC which is the substance in marijuana that makes you high. CBD oil is having the same positive effects on patients and mare and more countries are adopting laws that allow its use even if they prohibit marijuana, the plant.

It appears that as times goes on, medical marijuana will be accepted worldwide for the treatment of chronic pain and other illnesses. At that time those who are suffering from these conditions will have a better option for treating themselves.

Let’s hope that this day comes soon, because no one should have to live with chronic pain if it can be avoided and no one should have to choose between constant pain or being a drug addict. So when these laws come up for a vote in your country or state, do the right thing and vote yes for medical marijuana use. When you do, you will be improving the quality of someone's life.

Do you use medical marijuana, know anyone using medical marijuana, or someone who needs it? Please let me know in the comments below.