Sufficient Evidence Archive

The use of Marijuana for medical treatment has been under consideration for several decades. However, within the past ten years, the push has intensified, and a number of states have legalized Medical Marijuana. The push has not gone through the normal evidence-based scientific research where the substance is tested under many conditions in order to identify and minimize any side effects and the research ends with an approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The process to legalize Marijuana for medical use has taken the legislative route with persistent public advocacy and media advertisement. The process might create the appearance that the legislation was written for a segment of the society already self-medicating. Such a reversal of roles leaves the need for serious research to be conducted to examine the true benefits and risks of Marijuana issues over various periods of time among differing populations (Fitcharies and Eiserberg). Nonetheless, in 2017 West Virginia became the 30th state to legalize Medical Marijuana, and New Hampshire voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of the drug.