Struggles Medical Marijuana Patients Must Overcome | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Struggles Medical Marijuana Patients Must Overcome

As if their disease or pain isn't bad enough

54
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.
an image of taylor swift standing center stage surrounded by her backup dancers in elegant peacock esque outfits with a backdrop of clouds and a box rising above the stage the image captures the vibrant aesthetics and energy of her performance during the lover era of her eras tour
StableDiffusion

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

82948
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

9874
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments