Even though in the United States medicinal marijuana is legal throughout the country, there is still a continued stigma for individuals who use marijuana. Unlike other prescription drugs, such as common painkillers and Opioids, medicinal marijuana is prescribed differently. According to the article, “Medical Marijuana: Does Cannabis Offer Health Benefits,” it states how medical marijuana can be easily abused, however all drugs can be easily abused when not taken regulatory measurements for the prescription, (2017). 

There is a constant stigma in movies, shows, and other media emphasizing the negative effects of Marijuana use however not much is said on the opioid crisis, which is at an all time high. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2019 there were around 50,000 deaths due to the overuse of opioids, which is commonly prescribed by medical professionals, (2021).  There are numerous ways in which medical marijuana can benefit multiple diagnoses, such as depression, Cancer, Seizures, neurological disorders, or for pain/sleep regulation. 

In the article, Medical Marijuana: Does Cannabis Offer Health Benefits, (2017), Elizabeth, a 53 year old female who is a survivor of cancer, underwent two lumpectomies. In the article she discusses her journey from utilizing radiation and suffering from anxiety, insomnia, and chronic back pain. She reviews her daily utilization of medical marijuana in order to relieve these side effects due to her breast cancer, stating that she uses a topical cream for her pain, and vapes to relieve her anxiety.  This article goes on to state specific examples of laws that demonstrate the increasing acceptance of medical marijuana in the United States.  The author provides information on which population generally uses marijuana by certain states. Older adults were the more common age bracket that used medical marijuana in those states, specifically Montana and Oregon. The author then provides a chart of the mass majority of voters in the United States who approve of medical marijuana (Mantel, 2017). 

According to the article, Chronic Pain Patients’ Perspectives of Medical Cannabis, the preferred way of taking marijuana was through a joint, pipe, or bong, which is illustrated in the previous video. This way of ingesting marijuana is commonly seen in movies, and TV shows, which is much more expensive than other types of medicinal marijuana, such as  topical marijuana, tinctures, edibles, and vaporizers (Mantel, 2017). Even though medicinal marijuana is largely available, it is important for primary care physicians and their patients’ understand different costs, and alternative ways they can ingest marijuana in order to benefit their condition. The video provides educational information on the difference between THC versus CBD. It also provides information on ways medicinal marijuana can benefit certain diagnosis, conditions, and replace other prescription drugs patients are utilizing currently.

In the article, Medical Cannabis for the Primary Care Physician (2019),  they give an example of a medical marijuana user who is 54, who has had chronic back pain, irritability, and insomnia. She then visits a dispensary to manage her symptoms, and would like an opinion from her primary care physician. This article states that even though certain areas of the country you do not need to go to your primary care physician in order to receive a prescription it is important to receive some input on the matter from them, because PCP’s know the basic pharmacology behind marijuana and therefore will suggest a strain that is right for the client (Slawek, Meenrajan, Alois, Comstock Barker, Estores, & Cook, 2019). The video below states the importance of understanding different strains of marijuana from a primary care physician’s  perspective who has prescribed previous patients medical marijuana, and discusses different laws that are current to 2021.  

References 

Mantel, B. (2017, July 21). Medical marijuana. CQ researcher, 27, 605-628. http://library.cqpress.com/

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, March 11). Opioid Overdose Crisis. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis. 

Piper, B. J., Beals, M. L., Abess, A. T., Nichols, S. D., Martin, M. W., Cobb, C. M., & DeKeuster, R. M. (2017). Chronic pain patients’ perspectives of medical cannabis. Pain, 158(7), 1373–1379. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000899 

Slawek, D., Meenrajan, S. R., Alois, M. R., Comstock Barker, P., Estores, I. M., & Cook, R. (2019). Medical Cannabis for the Primary Care Physician. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 10, 215013271988483. https://doi.org/10.1177/2150132719884838