From Medicine to Tax Revenue: The Case for Decriminalizing Cannabis

The law that I would change if I had the ability would be to federally decriminalize cannabis. I think it’s more medicine than it is a street drug. I don’t want big pharma to get the sole rights to manufacture it. It would be nice if small farmers could grow it, and small shops could sell it and the states earn the money from the taxes on it. The taxes could be used to fund public services from the state.

Different states have given the green light to medical marijuana for a bunch of conditions, but what’s covered can vary based on where you’re at. The list includes stuff like severe pain, muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, nausea from cancer treatments, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, ALS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, migraines, anorexia, wasting syndrome, IBS, and PTSD. However, it’s worth noting that the scientific backup for using weed for many of these conditions isn’t exactly rock solid. That’s partly because it’s tough to study something that’s still illegal at the federal level, even if states are cool with it. Plus, cannabis is usually aimed at easing symptoms rather than curing the diseases themselves.

Medical marijuana, thanks to the cannabinoids it contains, can mimic the body’s own chemicals involved in stuff like appetite, memory, movement, and pain management. Here’s the lowdown on its advantages:

1. For Chemo Side Effects: It’s pretty solid at keeping vomiting under control for folks undergoing chemotherapy. The FDA has even approved two THC-based drugs for this.
2. Pain Relief: It’s got a modest track record for dialing down pain related to nerve damage, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Muscle Spasms: People with multiple sclerosis might see some muscle spasm relief, but the evidence is thinner for those with spinal cord injuries.

Beyond these, medical marijuana might help with:

• Sleep Issues: For those with sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis, it could be a short-term sleep aid.
• HIV/AIDS Symptoms: It might boost appetite and fend off weight loss.
• Tourette’s Syndrome: Could reduce tics.
• Anxiety and PTSD: Some folks with social anxiety or PTSD might find symptom relief.

I would mostly use it to treat my insomnia. The cannabinoids in marijuana, particularly THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating various bodily functions, including sleep.

THC is known for its psychoactive effects and can induce sleepiness, which might help people fall asleep faster. CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive and is thought to have calming effects, which could help with falling asleep and staying asleep, especially for those who suffer from anxiety or stress-related insomnia.