A new 400-page report was recently released on the potential benefits and detriments of cannabis use. The study was presented by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, after they sifted through over 10,000 clinical studies on the matter. They concluded that cannabis does have a number of verifiable uses for medicinal purposes and this is backed-up by solid scientific data.
These findings further go to strengthen the notion that cannabis shouldn't be regarded as a Schedule I narcotic.
The recent report itself was authored by a panel of health experts and they found that cannabinoids are effective and potent pain relievers. They concluded that smoking cannabis is not likely to cause any throat cancer, lung cancer, or mouth cancer, but they did conclude that smoking it might reduce the birth weight in pregnant
They also discovered that regular use of cannabis might also contribute to the onset of psychological disorders like schizophrenia. But there is little evidence to support the notion that smoking the plant makes you any less intelligent over time. And likewise, there isn't much evidence to support the belief that cannabis can be linked to heart attacks or strokes, or that it is any sort of gateway drug.
How much more evidence is needed in order to sway the nonsensical views held by those who still advocate for prohibition against this plant? The state refusing to accept reality and embrace the truth on this matter, is a decision which is causing harm to millions of people; it causes people unnecessary pain and it prevents progress.
It wasn't that long ago when President Obama himself publicly stated that he didn't believe legalization of cannabis was a good way to grow the economy. And WHAT A FOOL. Because for those states that have embraced acceptance of this plant, they've seen booming business for their economy. Colorado alone has seen over $1 billion in sales.
Criminalization of this plant costs billions of dollars every year - and what does society gain from it?
In a "free country" shouldn't the individuals be given the freedom to make decisions about their own lives? Meaning, shouldn't they be given the freedom to make mistakes?... Do we own our own bodies? Or does someone else own our body? And if we own our own bodies then shouldn't we get to decide what goes into that body? Whether that be hamburgers, booze, cigarettes, or cannabis? Perhaps one day we will be able to grasp some sense of civility to the point where we can endorse the freedom for individuals to ingest a plant if they want to.
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Sources:
https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/13/massive-meta-study-confirms-the-health-benefits-of-cannabis/
http://www.sciencealert.com/11-key-findings-from-one-of-the-most-comprehensive-studies-on-the-health-effects-of-marijuana