Struggles Medical Marijuana Patients Must Overcome
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Struggles Medical Marijuana Patients Must Overcome

As if their disease or pain isn't bad enough

50
Struggles Medical Marijuana Patients Must Overcome
Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images

The legalization of marijuana is a political issue many have an opinion on. Should it be legal? If so, for whom? Currently, there are 25 states and DC that have legalized marijuana for medical use. The benefits these patients are receiving are unbelievable, however, the hurdles they must jump through are outrageous.

First off let me start with the social stigma of smoking marijuana, or its common nickname "weed". For my generation, millennials, people who smoke weed are generally not frowned upon. Sure, I myself choose not to smoke and I don't associate with people who do, however, I don't think any lesser of someone who smokes it. The opposite is true for our older generations. In their eyes, they grew up being told weed is the "devil's grass" and how terrible it is.

It's hard to change someone's opinion, it just is. It's extremely hard if they've gone 60+ years with the same viewpoint. A major struggle that medical marijuana patients must overcome is the negative social stigma many American's believe.

To make matters worse, they are under constant attack due to the fact marijuana is not legal on the federal level. Currently, there is a federal law that protects medical marijuana patients in states where it is legal. Sadly, that law is expiring in September, three weeks to be exact. This law prevents the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) along with other agencies from spending money to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. This bill must be renewed annually, by September 30th, and currently, congress has no desire to add it to their agenda.

Not only does this law prevent the federal government the ability to stop allowing states to pass their own marijuana laws, it also prevents them from going after users complying with their state's law.

On top of that, medical patients are now being told they can not buy guns. Last week, an appeals court in Nevada ruled that prohibiting medical marijuana patients from gun ownership does not violate their Second Amendment rights.

Their reasoning is that: "marijuana has been linked to 'irrational or unpredictable behavior'". According to federal law, gun purchases are prohibited to anyone under an uncontrolled substance or who is considered an addict.

Marijuana users are required to answer 'yes' to the background check question "are you a user of, or addicted to a substance". A 'yes' answer means the person selling the gun can not finish the transaction. If a patient chooses to lie and say 'no', however, they could be punished with a felony and up to five years in prison.

Travelingas a medical marijuana patient is nearly impossible. Not every state will accept your home state's medical card. If traveling out of state, the patient must do intensive research to learn the laws of the state they are traveling to and whether their medical card will be accepted.

Trying to fly somewhere? Don't even think about it since marijuana is still considered a dangerous drug in federal eyes. The only way to travel with medical marijuana is with a car, and you must be driving through a state where they allow medical use.

Where can I medicate? In many states where medical marijuana is legal, it's stated that marijuana can only be consumed or smoked on private property. This causes problems when traveling even within the patient's home state. If they're staying in a hotel, where can they medicate? Do they awkwardly ask the hotel owner if it's ok to medicate on their property? Well, now they have to deal with the negative social stigma again.

It's expensive! Yes, at most marijuana dispensaries there is a discount for medical patients, however, it is still expensive. An ounce of marijuana can cost anywhere between $200-$400. For some, an ounce may last a week. For others, it may last three to four weeks. This doesn't include the initial start up costs that are required in order to purchase the equipment and products required to smoke marijuana in a healthy and safe way.

I must mention, for some patients marijuana is actually a cheaper alternative. When we consider the hundreds or thousands of dollars some prescriptions add up to, marijuana is the way to go.

The long waitlist . Many medical-legal states require a patient to meet with a state doctor at a marijuana clinic in order to gain a medical card. The problem is that the waitlist to see these doctors can be a month to a year. There's simply not enough doctors willing to meet with marijuana patients.

Medical marijuana can be a miracle drug to users who truly suffer from disabling pain, nausea, Epilepsy, Cancer, and many other diseases. It's important to understand that many users did not choose the "marijuana life", they are forced to. They've often tried every prescription drug and treatment currently available and have yet to find relief. Marijuana is the last resort for many medical patients. They should not be frowned upon, treated poorly, or have basic rights stolen from them. Marijuana is a life-saving medicine. Marijuana is our future.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

47567
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

30154
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

954235
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

170826
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments