POLICY ANLYSIS PROJECT PART 11

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Walden University *

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Medicine

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Dec 6, 2023

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POLICY ANLYSIS PROJECT PART 11 The Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes Daniel Usman Master of Public Health, Walden University PUBH 6127: Public Health Policy, Politics, and Progress Dr. Berthline Rendel Isma

Option 1: Legalize the possession of cannabis sativa for recreational use Legalize and decriminalize the personal possession of cannabis sativa and its derivatives for leisure purposes. Legalizing and decriminalizing the possession of cannabis sativa and its products is the first step the state should take in establishing safe access to marijuana. This approach also calls for the commutation of marijuana possession sentences, as the bulk of inmates in the prison system were there for relatively minor cannabis offenses. Decriminalization would not only significantly cut state spending related to cannabis prohibition (see Miron 2020), but it will also free up resources for law enforcement to focus on other crucial state issues. This alternative will necessitate state constitutional revisions because it is now unlawful in the state to possess cannabis and its derivatives for recreational purposes. Due to partisan bills with the option of decriminalization in the state assembly and senate, the implementation of this option should be less difficult. Since many of the persons who are prosecuted for possession of marijuana are members of minority groups, there is strong evidence that legalization will advance equity. A legal cannabis production and sales process will be established in Indiana through this option as well. Small companies and farmers will benefit from the creation of jobs as a result of this. Given that

neighboring states have legalized cannabis to differing degrees, Indiana will draw in investment from these states. It is noteworthy that a significant portion of the budgets of Indiana's businesses go toward importing the raw materials required for their operations (Bieber 2022, Gillespie 2022). As a result, the legalization procedure will enable medical marijuana enterprises to easily get cannabis sativa. It is commonly known that consuming cannabis recreationally impairs young people's cognitive development and makes them addicted (Hall 2017, Hall and Solowij 1998). Because of this, legalizing cannabis for recreational use runs the risk of causing medical emergencies linked to alcohol and other substances. The state must provide the necessary funds for such a medical emergency. According to Wilkinson et al. (2016), legalization of marijuana has raised public health concerns about acute marijuana intoxication's effect on driving abilities and youngsters inadvertently consuming marijuana products. Another issue with marijuana is the possibility for because of its misuse and potential to serve as a gateway drug for more powerful narcotics like meth, cocaine, heroin, and phencyclidine (Kane & Yacoubian, 1999) Option 2: Regulate recreational cannabis usage like alcohol Studies indicate that the effects of cannabis on human health are comparable to, if not less than, those of alcohol and other banned substances (Hall and Degenhardt 2009, Lemyre et al. 2019). As a result, laws governing the use of alcohol should also apply to the recreational use of cannabis, suggesting that marijuana use has the same negative effects on health as alcohol use. The law governing the sale, consumption, and promotion of alcohol must be somewhat modified to implement this option (Mosher, 2009). The option will entice companies and investors to operate in the state. As was previously indicated, the marijuana sector will bring in money for the state and provide jobs not just for farmers but also for

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distributors and small businesses in the area. Legalization of marijuana would also allow consumers to buy safe products from licensed manufacturers, reducing the amount of fatalities that occur from people purchasing marijuana that has been chemically laced with other harmful substances (Kilmer, 2019). On the other hand, this could exacerbate already-existing medical concerns in the nation. Marijuana is claimed to produce cumulative effects, just like alcohol and tobacco. Research has indicated a correlation between the initiation and worsening of psychological disorders such as psychoses and schizophrenia and usage of cannabis (Hasan et al., 2020). Many of the harmful effects of drugs on health, such as addiction and dependency, psychosis, and cognitive impairment, worsen when drug use begins in adolescence (Meier et al., 2012). According to Ferguson and Boden (2008), there is a correlation between cannabis use in adolescence and the initial years of adulthood and several adverse social outcomes, such as joblessness, reduced earnings, and decreased life and romantic satisfaction. Option 3: Amends existing law of medicinal use of cannabis sativa plants and its derivative. It is recommended that the state define medical marijuana to include edible cannabis or cannabis combined with food products. To pursue this option, Act 52 must be modified. As it now stands, "anyone may buy, sell, and possess CBD oil, provided that it complies with labeling regulations and contains no more than 0.3 percent THC." An amendment of this kind ought to (i) provide a process for the legal cultivation and distribution of cannabis plants for medicinal purposes, and (ii) tailor the amount of THC and CBD to the individual and their condition. This amendment will support the amount of THC that patients require while also generating employment for small business owners and farmers. This amendment will allow Indiana to make money, since neighboring states have different laws regarding

cannabis. Medical professionals, not the state, will decide how much THC and CBD are required for a given medical purpose. The main issues with this approach are related to the legalization of medical marijuana, including the possibility of abuse and the drug's addictive qualities (Hubbard et al., 1999). Furthermore, marijuana is regarded as a Schedule I drug and is associated with a high risk of psychological dependence, which raises moral concerns for those who practice their faith (Hoffmann, 2014). Recommendation Amends existing law of medicinal use of cannabis sativa plants and its derivative. Even while Indiana allows the use of CBD oil with less than.3% THC, it would be advantageous for the state's residents and economy to extend this rule to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The most common use of medical marijuana in Indiana is for pain relief. Those who cannot travel outside of Indiana for medical reasons are now denied access to medical marijuana and must go to neighboring states in order to obtain it. Not strong enough to relieve severe pain, like post-surgical agony, marijuana is highly helpful for the chronic pain that millions of Americans suffer from, especially as they age. One of its draws is that it is undoubtedly safer than opiates because it is impossible to overdose on and can be used in place of NSAIDs in cases when patients are unable to take them due to kidney or upper gastrointestinal problems (Ivker, 2017).

Through licensing and control of medicinal marijuana cultivation and distribution, legalization of the drug can generate more cash for the state. Concerns about marijuana usage and addiction, its propensity to damage short-term memory, impair cognitive function, and create lung problems due to smoking are common when it comes to the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. (Petti & Gupta, 2022). Health practitioners, who will be writing prescriptions for medical marijuana, can address these issues. These issues can be resolved with appropriate evaluation, dose monitoring, and follow-up care. Physicians already have a lot on their plates; this isn't an additional effort or stress. Like many prescription medications, only physicians oversee their use. Patients will have the option to utilize medical marijuana if doing so goes against their moral convictions. A growing body of research is demonstrating the medicinal benefits of the cannabinoids found in marijuana plants (Koppel et al. 2014). More patients will have access to medical marijuana if they choose to use it to treat their conditions, and the state will save money by not having to pay for the arrest and incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders if a state registry is established to oversee and license medical marijuana dispensaries (Raphael & Stoll 2013).

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References Fergusson, D. M., & Boden, J. M. (2008). Cannabis use and later life outcomes. Addiction, 103(6), 969- 976. Gupta, M., & Petti, T. (2022). Focus on rural adolescent cannabis use and abuse: ignored epidemiologic trends, unique risks, long-term concerns, and hope. CNS spectrums, 1-4. Hall, W. (2017). Alcohol and cannabis: Comparing their adverse health effects and regulatory regimes. International Journal of Drug Policy, 42, 57-62. Hall, W., & Solowij, N. (1998). Adverse effects of cannabis. The Lancet, 352(9140), 1611-1616. Hall, W. (2017). Alcohol and cannabis: Comparing their adverse health effects and regulatory regimes. International Journal of Drug Policy, 42, 57-62. Hasan, A., von Keller, R., Friemel, C. M., Hall, W., Schneider, M., Koethe, D., ... & Hoch, E. (2020). Cannabis use and psychosis: a review of reviews. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 270(4), 403-412. Hoffmann, J. P. (2014). Religiousness, social networks, moral schemas, and marijuana use: A dynamic dual-process model of culture and behavior. Social Forces, 93(1), 181-208.

Hubbard, J. R., Franco, S. E., & Onaivi, E. S. (1999). Marijuana: medical implications. American family physician, 60(9), 2583. Ivker, R. (2017). Cannabis for chronic pain: A proven prescription for using marijuana to relieve your pain and heal your life. Simon and Schuster. Kalant, H. (2001). Medicinal use of cannabis: history and current status. Pain Research and Management, 6(2), 80-91.

POLICY ANLYSIS PROJECT PART 11

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