When it comes to medical and recreational cannabis, there are advantages and disadvantages to having both types. Knowing the facts is essential before deciding whether to have marijuana in your life. You may regret your decision if you don’t understand all the details. Having marijuana can create several challenges for you, especially regarding employment and housing.
Every day, every person walks into this cannabis dispensary for the first time. One opens down the street, or you drive across town or even to another state to see it yourself.
Used as a medical treatment for centuries
Medicinal cannabis is one of the oldest plants in the world and has been used for medical purposes for centuries. Ancient Greeks and Indians believed it could cure diseases like inflammation, fevers, dysentery, and insomnia.
The first medical use of marijuana dates back to the fourth century. At the time, it was believed that cannabis could prolong life and improve judgment. A Greek historian, Herodotus, described the Scythians smoking the plant. It is now suspected that the plant was cultivated in Roman Britain.
Schedule I controlled substance
The federal government has categorized marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. While several states have legalized the drug’s medical use, it remains illegal to grow, sell, and use.
The rescheduling of marijuana from its current position as a Schedule I drug will not impact consumer availability. However, removing the drug from its scheduled status will be a boon for scientific research and help ensure patient access.
As of the time of writing, the DEA has yet to respond to a petition filed by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire to reschedule the drug. The FDA still needs to rescind its rejection of the petition.
Cannabis prohibition has a lengthy history in the United States. In 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act, which restricted possession of the plant to people who paid a steep tax, came into effect. This act was later repealed.
Addictive
Marijuana is a drug that can be highly addictive. Although it may be considered a safe substance, it can still negatively affect a person’s health and life. In addition, it can be tough to overcome marijuana addiction.
There are many reasons why people become dependent on marijuana. Among those reasons are the psychological and physiological effects.
Aside from the adverse effects of marijuana on the body, it also has the potential to be harmful to the brain. For example, long-term marijuana use can cause problems with memory, coordination, and mood. It can also interfere with learning and driving.
Although it can be challenging to stop using marijuana, there are several ways to prevent it from taking over your life. One of these ways is to get professional help. A good rehab center will include cognitive-behavioral therapy. These techniques are designed to identify problematic behaviors and help clients change them.
Make housing, employment, and healthcare more complicated
As cannabis use expands, so do the legal, financial, and social implications. From a business perspective, it is not as simple as allowing employees to have a joint on company time.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your employees from a drug-addled workplace. Although it may seem like a no-brainer, the federal government requires employers to have a drug use policy. Depending on your state’s regulations, there are also various limitations on your rights as an employer.
In the past year, New Jersey and Nevada have ruled on whether an employee can be fired for failing a marijuana test. While not the end-all-be-all, the court’s ruling did imply that some companies would be reluctant to face the expense of a lawsuit if one of their employees were a medical marijuana patient.
Marijuana laws
Marijuana laws have facilitated the passage of referenda to legalize adult cannabis use in several US states. While the law has helped to reduce the negative social consequences of marijuana, the policy also has its drawbacks. These include a lack of accessibility to marijuana products and criminalization.
For instance, states that allow medical marijuana do not permit the personal use of the drug. But the federal government still considers marijuana a Schedule I drug. It means that it is illegal to import or export state-legal marijuana.
In response to the legalization of marijuana, law enforcement agencies in some states have conducted raids on medical cannabis providers and growers.