Is Marijuana Addictive? 5 Problems Caused by Marijuana Legalization

Potential Problems

Here are just a few:

• Little research available on the medical efficacy of marijuana on different: Though there is now a big push to fund studies on marijuana use in the treatment of certain ailments as well as research directed toward developing a THC pill that would allow for the standardization of care and an elimination of risks associated with ingesting smoke on a regular basis, we have little to go on right now. These studies will take years – many, many years – and in the meantime, patients are left with little in the way of hard evidence to guide their medical choices regarding the drug. With a prescription, patients are on their own to figure out which type of marijuana, in what form, and at what dose and frequency will best help them to manage their medical health symptoms. There is no other medication on the market prescribed this way.

• Possible increase in marijuana addiction: Marijuana is an addictive drug, and increased use of the substance will likely increase the rate of addiction. When an estimated 9 percent of people who experiment with or use marijuana develop a dependence upon the drug, it’s clear that more people using it will translate into more cases of addiction. All the problems that go along with addictive use of any drug are likely to follow as well, including health problems, financial problems, and relationship issues.

• Increased rates of medical emergency related to marijuana use: In the states where marijuana has been legalized for recreational use, there has been an increase in admissions to the emergency room. People eating too many servings of a marijuana-laced edible, combining marijuana with other substances, and getting behind the wheel while under the influence all contribute to the medical emergencies behind the increased ER visits. Hospital admissions may also increase in the coming years as patients continue chronic use of marijuana, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes.

• Uncharted territory in terms of protecting the community through appropriate regulations: This is the Wild West in terms of legislation regarding the legalization of marijuana. Simply removing criminal penalties for the purchase, possession, use, and distribution of the drug is not enough. New laws need to be created for taxation purposes, safety standards in the production and packaging of marijuana products, and determination of what constitutes “safe” amounts of the drug in the blood when the marijuana user does something like drive a car. These issues take time, and once new regulations are created, they may be adjusted after a trial period to ensure that everyone’s safety is taken into consideration and that the community as well as the user are protected.

• Possible increase in teen and child access to marijuana: More people having prescriptions for medical marijuana or access to marijuana for recreational uses means that more of the drug is available. People have it in their homes, and this increases access to those who would abuse the drug, begin or maintain addictions, or potentially overdose if they get ahold of the wrong substance and take too much. The latter issue, especially among children and teens, is of huge concern in many communities. Though it is illegal to prescribe the drug to anyone under the age of 18 and for minors to use it recreationally, some children are finding their parents’ marijuana products and eating them (if marijuana edibles) or experimenting with their use. Drug use of any kind during the teen years can cause a multitude of problems, including increased risk of substance abuse problems in adulthood, decrease in cognitive functioning, slowed emotional and psychological growth, and more.