Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLegalization ProsConsScientific Evidence
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Legalization Pros
Cons
Scientific Evidence
The pros and cons of legalizing marijuana are still being debated. Today, 38 U.S. states and the District of Columbia allow for the medical use of marijuana.A growing number allow recreational use.
However, as a Schedule I controlled substance, marijuana is illegal under federal law. This Drug Enforcement Administration designation means that marijuana is considered to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” It also limits medical studies into the potential benefits ofcannabis.
This article explains the positions of those who want to legalize marijuana as well as the arguments of those who do not want to see marijuana legalized.
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The Pros of Legalizing Marijuana
Americans overwhelmingly support the legalization of marijuana. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 88% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. Of those, 59% say it should be legal for medical and recreational use, and 30% say it should be legal for medical reasons only.
Several possible health benefits of medical marijuana have been proposed:
Arguments in favor of using medical marijuana include:
Recreational MarijuanaMarijuana is legal for recreational use in 20 states and the District of Columbia. In 20 other states, marijuana has been decriminalized. This means there are no criminal penalties in these states for minor marijuana-related offenses like possession of small amounts or cultivation for personal use.
Recreational Marijuana
Marijuana is legal for recreational use in 20 states and the District of Columbia. In 20 other states, marijuana has been decriminalized. This means there are no criminal penalties in these states for minor marijuana-related offenses like possession of small amounts or cultivation for personal use.
Medical Marijuana and IBS Relief
The Cons of Legalizing Marijuana
Those who oppose the legalization of marijuana point to the health risks of the drug, including:
Scientific Evidence Remains Limited
In the past, clinical trials to determine if marijuana is effective in treating certain conditions have been restrictive and limited. However, as medical marijuana becomes more common throughout the world, researchers are doing more studies.
Expert reviews of current research continue to say more studies are needed.In addition, many hurdles involve controlling the quality and dosing of cannabis with what is legally available to researchers.
One review of research noted that the long-term effects of cannabis are still unknown.Without more research into dosage and adverse effects, scientific evidence of risks and therapeutic effects remains soft.
Researchers need to evaluate marijuana using the same standards as other medications to understand whether it is valuable for managing any conditions.
Until the federal government downgrades marijuana from a Schedule I drug, widespread clinical trials are unlikely to happen in the United States.
Summary
Medical marijuana is increasingly available in the U.S. It is often used to treat chronic pain, muscle spasms, nausea, and vomiting, and to increase appetite. However, it can affect thinking and memory, and increase the risk of accidents, plus smoking it may harm the lungs and lead to cancer.
More studies are needed to understand the benefits of medical marijuana. However, unless the federal government removes it as a Schedule I controlled substance, research, access, and legality will remain complicated.
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15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Conference of State Legislatures.State medical cannabis laws.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.Pew Research Center.Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal for recreational or medical use.Badowski ME.A review of oral cannabinoids and medical marijuana for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a focus on pharmacokinetic variability and pharmacodynamics.Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.2017;80(3):441-449. doi:10.1007/s00280-017-3387-5Filippini G, Lasserson TJ, Dwan K, et al.Cannabis and cannabinoids for people with multiple sclerosis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD013444. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013444American Cancer Society.Marijuana and Cancer.Hill KP.Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems: A clinical review.JAMA.2015;313(24):2474-83. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6199Choo EK, Feldstein Ewing SW, Lovejoy TI.Opioids out, cannabis in: Negotiating the unknowns in patient care for chronic pain.JAMA. 2016;316(17):1763-1764. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.13677Corroon J, Sexton M, Bradley R.Indications and administration practices amongst medical cannabis healthcare providers: a cross-sectional survey.BMC Fam Pract.2019;20(1):174. doi:10.1186/s12875-019-1059-8The Council of State Governments.State approaches to marijuana policy.Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.The Effects of Marijuana on your Memory.Ghasemiesfe M, Barrow B, Leonard S, Keyhani S, Korenstein D.Association between marijuana use and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open.2019;2(11):e1916318. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16318Preuss U, Huestis M, Schneider M et al.Cannabis use and car crashes: A review.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643315Deshpande A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Zoheiry N, Lakha SF.Efficacy and adverse effects of medical marijuana for chronic noncancer pain: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Can Fam Physician.2015;61(8):e372-81.Hill KP, Palastro MD, Johnson B, Ditre JW.Cannabis and pain: a clinical review.Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017;2(1):96-104. doi:10.1089/can.2017.0017Additional ReadingMaida V, Daeninck PJ.A user’s guide to cannabinoid therapies in oncology.Curr Oncol.2016;23(6):398-406. doi:10.3747/co.23.3487Meier MH, Caspi A, Cerdá M, et al.Associations between cannabis use and physical health problems in early midlife: A longitudinal comparison of persistent cannabis vs tobacco users.JAMA Psychiatry.2016;73(7):731-40. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0637
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Conference of State Legislatures.State medical cannabis laws.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.Pew Research Center.Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal for recreational or medical use.Badowski ME.A review of oral cannabinoids and medical marijuana for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a focus on pharmacokinetic variability and pharmacodynamics.Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.2017;80(3):441-449. doi:10.1007/s00280-017-3387-5Filippini G, Lasserson TJ, Dwan K, et al.Cannabis and cannabinoids for people with multiple sclerosis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD013444. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013444American Cancer Society.Marijuana and Cancer.Hill KP.Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems: A clinical review.JAMA.2015;313(24):2474-83. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6199Choo EK, Feldstein Ewing SW, Lovejoy TI.Opioids out, cannabis in: Negotiating the unknowns in patient care for chronic pain.JAMA. 2016;316(17):1763-1764. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.13677Corroon J, Sexton M, Bradley R.Indications and administration practices amongst medical cannabis healthcare providers: a cross-sectional survey.BMC Fam Pract.2019;20(1):174. doi:10.1186/s12875-019-1059-8The Council of State Governments.State approaches to marijuana policy.Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.The Effects of Marijuana on your Memory.Ghasemiesfe M, Barrow B, Leonard S, Keyhani S, Korenstein D.Association between marijuana use and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open.2019;2(11):e1916318. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16318Preuss U, Huestis M, Schneider M et al.Cannabis use and car crashes: A review.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643315Deshpande A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Zoheiry N, Lakha SF.Efficacy and adverse effects of medical marijuana for chronic noncancer pain: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Can Fam Physician.2015;61(8):e372-81.Hill KP, Palastro MD, Johnson B, Ditre JW.Cannabis and pain: a clinical review.Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017;2(1):96-104. doi:10.1089/can.2017.0017Additional ReadingMaida V, Daeninck PJ.A user’s guide to cannabinoid therapies in oncology.Curr Oncol.2016;23(6):398-406. doi:10.3747/co.23.3487Meier MH, Caspi A, Cerdá M, et al.Associations between cannabis use and physical health problems in early midlife: A longitudinal comparison of persistent cannabis vs tobacco users.JAMA Psychiatry.2016;73(7):731-40. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0637
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Conference of State Legislatures.State medical cannabis laws.United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.Pew Research Center.Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal for recreational or medical use.Badowski ME.A review of oral cannabinoids and medical marijuana for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a focus on pharmacokinetic variability and pharmacodynamics.Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.2017;80(3):441-449. doi:10.1007/s00280-017-3387-5Filippini G, Lasserson TJ, Dwan K, et al.Cannabis and cannabinoids for people with multiple sclerosis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD013444. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013444American Cancer Society.Marijuana and Cancer.Hill KP.Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems: A clinical review.JAMA.2015;313(24):2474-83. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6199Choo EK, Feldstein Ewing SW, Lovejoy TI.Opioids out, cannabis in: Negotiating the unknowns in patient care for chronic pain.JAMA. 2016;316(17):1763-1764. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.13677Corroon J, Sexton M, Bradley R.Indications and administration practices amongst medical cannabis healthcare providers: a cross-sectional survey.BMC Fam Pract.2019;20(1):174. doi:10.1186/s12875-019-1059-8The Council of State Governments.State approaches to marijuana policy.Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.The Effects of Marijuana on your Memory.Ghasemiesfe M, Barrow B, Leonard S, Keyhani S, Korenstein D.Association between marijuana use and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open.2019;2(11):e1916318. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16318Preuss U, Huestis M, Schneider M et al.Cannabis use and car crashes: A review.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643315Deshpande A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Zoheiry N, Lakha SF.Efficacy and adverse effects of medical marijuana for chronic noncancer pain: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Can Fam Physician.2015;61(8):e372-81.Hill KP, Palastro MD, Johnson B, Ditre JW.Cannabis and pain: a clinical review.Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017;2(1):96-104. doi:10.1089/can.2017.0017
National Conference of State Legislatures.State medical cannabis laws.
United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.
Pew Research Center.Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal for recreational or medical use.
Badowski ME.A review of oral cannabinoids and medical marijuana for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a focus on pharmacokinetic variability and pharmacodynamics.Cancer Chemother Pharmacol.2017;80(3):441-449. doi:10.1007/s00280-017-3387-5
Filippini G, Lasserson TJ, Dwan K, et al.Cannabis and cannabinoids for people with multiple sclerosis.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD013444. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013444
American Cancer Society.Marijuana and Cancer.
Hill KP.Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems: A clinical review.JAMA.2015;313(24):2474-83. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6199
Choo EK, Feldstein Ewing SW, Lovejoy TI.Opioids out, cannabis in: Negotiating the unknowns in patient care for chronic pain.JAMA. 2016;316(17):1763-1764. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.13677
Corroon J, Sexton M, Bradley R.Indications and administration practices amongst medical cannabis healthcare providers: a cross-sectional survey.BMC Fam Pract.2019;20(1):174. doi:10.1186/s12875-019-1059-8
The Council of State Governments.State approaches to marijuana policy.
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.The Effects of Marijuana on your Memory.
Ghasemiesfe M, Barrow B, Leonard S, Keyhani S, Korenstein D.Association between marijuana use and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open.2019;2(11):e1916318. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16318
Preuss U, Huestis M, Schneider M et al.Cannabis use and car crashes: A review.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643315
Deshpande A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Zoheiry N, Lakha SF.Efficacy and adverse effects of medical marijuana for chronic noncancer pain: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Can Fam Physician.2015;61(8):e372-81.
Hill KP, Palastro MD, Johnson B, Ditre JW.Cannabis and pain: a clinical review.Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017;2(1):96-104. doi:10.1089/can.2017.0017
Maida V, Daeninck PJ.A user’s guide to cannabinoid therapies in oncology.Curr Oncol.2016;23(6):398-406. doi:10.3747/co.23.3487Meier MH, Caspi A, Cerdá M, et al.Associations between cannabis use and physical health problems in early midlife: A longitudinal comparison of persistent cannabis vs tobacco users.JAMA Psychiatry.2016;73(7):731-40. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0637
Maida V, Daeninck PJ.A user’s guide to cannabinoid therapies in oncology.Curr Oncol.2016;23(6):398-406. doi:10.3747/co.23.3487
Meier MH, Caspi A, Cerdá M, et al.Associations between cannabis use and physical health problems in early midlife: A longitudinal comparison of persistent cannabis vs tobacco users.JAMA Psychiatry.2016;73(7):731-40. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0637
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