Only alcohol beats Marijuana in being the most popular mood-altering and recreational drug used across the world. Drying and shredding of the ‘hemp’ plant is how marijuana is produced. It is the presence of a primary active ingredient called THC present in marijuana that causes conditions like loss of inhibition, elation and distorted sense of time. It may also result in temporary increase in visual sensibility and imaginative abilities.
Although marijuana is considered as one of the major addiction causing substances around the world, its medicinal values cannot be ignored. Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the United States Federal Law made it illegal to either buy, sell, possess, cultivate or use marijuana in the country. It was classified as a Schedule 1 drug meaning it had potential for abuse and no acceptable medicinal value.
But according to extensive research, Marijuana is one of the most therapeutically active substances having a lot of pathological benefits. When marijuana is used for medical purposes, in regulated dosage as a pathological drug, it is considered to have significant medical values for patients who suffer from cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. Despite smoked cannabis not being approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration under the federal government, a lot of research and studies have established the vast number of medicinal properties that the substance has manifested in pathological conditions.
The federal government of the United States of America has not legalized any usage of marijuana, even in the form of medicinal dosage. However, out of the 50 states in the Union, currently 13 states have passed laws for compassionate use of marijuana in the form of cannabis for medicinal therapy. These states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. But it must be kept in mind that the residents of the particular state are allowed to possess and use medical marijuana only within the state boundaries of their nativity. Apart from these, 17 other states and the District of Columbia have legislated to recognize the medicinal value of marijuana. But the state does not undertake to protect its citizens from federal legislation.
Medical Marijuana or MMJ cards are available to all residents of the 13 states of America where the compassionate use of cannabis is used for treatment. The residents can first get themselves registered to obtain a card. Once they are registered and are in possession of their card, they can avail the medical marijuana treatment services from the many marijuana dispensaries all across the state. These dispensaries provide services like round the clock evaluation services and consultation for treatment on the basis of marijuana therapy.
Summing up, though marijuana has intense addictive properties, regulated and controlled intake for medicinal purposes has some very effective results for patients with severe disorders.