There is no arguing with the fact that marijuana has a vital role to play in the future of medicine. As more studies prove the benefits it offers, a growing number of people in the United States are enrolling in medical marijuana programs. Current numbers show that the total surpassed 2.97 million through 2020. That is more than quadrupling the number of people enrolled in 2016, according to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. And the program is just set to continue growing.
These programs enable participants to buy marijuana for medical use. Although marijuana is still illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act, the National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 37 states, D.C., and four U.S. territories had legalized marijuana for medical use as of February last year. All you need to access it is a recommendation from a doctor that will allow you to obtain a valid card or certificate.
Helping people live pain-free
There are plenty of reasons people choose to use medical marijuana. Although state laws vary on which health conditions qualify someone for participation, researchers found that the most common ailment cited by current participants is chronic pain (noted by about 61 percent of enrollees). As chronic pain can be devastating to a person’s overall quality of life, the role that medical marijuana has played in helping them live happier and healthier lives cannot be overstated.
Depending on their state’s law, other conditions that may qualify people for participation include multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, AIDS, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Arguments in favor of using medical marijuana
Of course, conventional western medicine has other treatment options for many of these conditions; often, marijuana is seen as a complementary treatment. Reasons people are choosing to incorporate into their regime include the fact that:
- It is safer than many other treatments: Marijuana is safer than other medications prescribed to treat pain, like Opioids, which are highly addictive and typically not recommended for long-term use.
- You have options: You do not need to smoke cannabis for its benefits. Products such as cannabidiol oil (CBD), topical pain relief treatments, edibles, and other non-smoking applications are now available.
- It’s natural: People have used marijuana for centuries as a natural medicinal agent with good results.
A more holistic approach to wellbeing
Speaking of going natural, medical marijuana is part of an increasingly robust area of thinking that believes in the body’s ability to heal and help itself with the assistance of gentle natural remedies. As it stands, nearly one-third of Americans say they use alternative health approaches, also known as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Medical marijuana fits into this framework and is among alternative/complementary fields that have been proven as effective as mainstream medicine for certain treatments.
Accessing medical marijuana
As a result, it is no surprise that people are eager to take advantage of these alternatives. And luckily, it isn’t hard to do. To enroll in a medical marijuana program, people must simply get a doctor’s referral and sign up on their state’s registry. Then, for a fee, they are given a card or certificate that allows them to buy medical marijuana from an approved dispensary. It may be available in various forms: pill, powder, liquid, oil, and dried flower.
If you’d like to learn more, get in touch with a certified marijuana doctor in your region to discuss your options.
Organized first US LASIK course. Popularized terms LASIK and PRK. Published first textbook chapters written on myopic and hyperopic LASIK techniques.
Pioneer in corneal lamellar transplantation. First textbook chapter on modern lamellar corneal transplants.
Pioneer in correction of Presbyopia using excimer and Femtosecond LASER’s.
Created clinical training program with Waterloo University (Canada). The addition of fifteen volunteer Canadian eye doctors per year enabled my practice to become one the largest private donators of medical and surgical charity in the US between 2000-2013. In 2011, started looking at the marijuana business and continue my activity within this sphere up to now.
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