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I put this in "Mental Health" because that's where most substance use threads seems to go. I don't want it in "politics & other controversies" because I don't want any arguing about whether or not we each believe in medical marijuana.
But I've been getting the unofficial impression that with the increased availability of medical marijuana, that a lot of simple mj "abusers" are now getting their pot through the medical marijuana route.
In my unscientific observation, I've seen a few threads here on C-D about some friend or family member who doesn't work, sponges off others for money, and blows all his money on medical marijuana. Then I recently had a co-worker talking about a friend who is now spending large amounts of money on medical marijuana, and putting himself and his family into serious financial trouble as a result. This guy evidently was a casual pot user in the past--maybe used 1-3 times a week, from what the co-worker said, but is now completely dependent and his work and family life is suffering. I've also heard third-hand stories about people legally getting medical marijuana for a bona fide medical condition, and then turning around and selling it.
Most of us know or have known pot heads in our lives, so I wondered if a lot of these pot heads are now:
1.) claiming to have a medical condition and getting an Rx for medical marijuana from a lazy or unscrupulous doctor, or
2.) getting medical marijuana from a person who medically qualifies for it, but doesn't necessarily use it all.
Then, still in my unscientific observation, I was watching a pretty good movie recently called "50/50" in which a young guy is in treatment for cancer and qualifies for medical marijuana, and his pot head friend takes advantage of it and gets high with him all the time. (Don't get me wrong, that was just one part of the movie, not what the whole thing was about--actually a decent movie, but I digress). So I thought, maybe this really is a "thing" people should look at.
So after mulling it over a bit I just quickly checked to see if there has been an increase in mj abuse in states with legal medical marijuana. I'm not hooked into an academic library, so don't have access to all the scholarly journals, but I did find this just by googling: Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: Investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence
This is a pretty respected journal. This was a 2011 survey of 68,000 individuals aged 12 and up. They found that states with medical marijuana laws had higher rates of mj use, and mj abuse/dependence. The increased rates of mj abuse dependence were found to be statistically related to the higher rates of use in those states.
And here's a 2012 study of teens in substance abuse treatment, finding that many of them have gotten marijuana from someone who has qualified for it medically. They refer to this as "diverted medical marijuana." The population was 164 teens in Colorado who were already getting substance abuse tx. The results found that 74% of them have used someone else's medical marijuana. Medical marijuana use amo... [J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI
So what do you think? Again, please, let's not argue about pro-cannabis/anti-cannabis, or pro-medical marijuana/ anti-medical marijuana. Just, what has been your experience?
Do you know people who were pretty much just stoners who now get their weed via the medical mj route? Do they get an Rx, or do they get it "diverted" from someone who qualifies? Please disguise identities of course. Do they seem to smoke more now that they have this legal source? Or do they pretty much smoke as much as they did when they had to buy it illegally?
Do you have links to any scientific studies that say that the increased availability of medical marijuana does or doesn't increase the likelihood of abuse?
Doing any sort of scientific study which relies on interviewing marijuana users and getting accurate information would be quite a challenge to say the least!
I've heard some pretty bizarre comments from those folks (like the government has listening devices in every TV set top box). Also any information which might influence their continued use of marijuana will be twisted toward a position which supports their viewpoint. Many of the claims they make are simply not true.
For example if you ask if a pregnant lady should be smoking marijuana while pregnant, they will start quoting all sorts of information saying that marijuana is actually good for the baby! (Twisting facts.)
Or if you point out that marijuana causes memory problems and a low sex drive in men, they will argue to the end of time that those things are not true.
Anyway you will not get any factual information out of marijuana users unless it supports their "cause"!
Those I know smoke just as much medical marijuana as when they were buying it off the street.
The one good thing about the medical marijuana is it is "home grown", so criminal drug dealer types are not able to add other drugs like PCP, angel dust, formaldehyde, or whatever to it.
Then state governments are collecting fees for marijuana licenses. That is MUCH better than criminal types doing so. They are going to smoke it anyway, might as well collect "taxes" and do something positive with that money.
Those I know smoke just as much medical marijuana as when they were buying it off the street.
The one good thing about the medical marijuana is it is "home grown", so criminal drug dealer types are not able to add other drugs like PCP, angel dust, formaldehyde, or whatever to it.
Then state governments are collecting fees for marijuana licenses. That is MUCH better than criminal types doing so. They are going to smoke it anyway, might as well collect "taxes" and do something positive with that money.
I agree with the above...and also that... in no way does the "availability of medical marijuanas increase the prevalence of abuse"...to think that, is to also believe that marijuana has no real use, such as a pain killer, or relaxant...It's a veeery useful herb that shouldn't be any more illegal than any other herbs we grow in our gardens. As adults we should have that choice...and if it's denied by the state it doesn't mean that people will just quit using it..it just means that my good (and very old) friend (always been a law abiding man) with severe arthritis is now considered a criminal, something he's willing to risk, because the MJ is the only "drug" that gives him some relief.
Like I said, I don't want this thread to be an argument about marijuana. Yes, there are people who need it medically, and I'm supportive of that. But we can't deny that a lot of people are now getting "diverted medical marijuana"--meaning people who just want to get high are getting it from people who have medically qualified for it.
I don't see that as a problem...why would it be?, better that, than the legal alcohol, which is more dangerous and also used for the "high"...I DO deny that medical marijuana is to blame for increased use (if there is ) of this wonderful weed, I don't believe that just because a "drug" becomes more easily available, more people will indulge. You either do or you don't...in european countries where it's legal to buy, there's been no huge increase in use..
I just don't like paying for it (via Medicare/Medicaid) when the people who really need it aren't using it and "diverting" it to people with no health problems who just want to get high.
I just don't like paying for it (via Medicare/Medicaid) when the people who really need it aren't using it and "diverting" it to people with no health problems who just want to get high.
Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for medical marijuana.
Is that accurate? I'll look up Medicare D.
But what about all the states? States can elect to pay for something and not use Federal Medicaid funds to pay for it.
(update)
What a relief. You're correct! As of now, Medicare D does not cover it, and in the states I looked up with medical mj, their state Medicaid programs don't cover it (yet).
I'm still concerned about people who legally get it "diverting" it to abusers.
Last edited by Tracysherm; 07-25-2013 at 01:43 PM..
Is that accurate? I'll look up Medicare D.
But what about all the states? States can elect to pay for something and not use Federal Medicaid funds to pay for it.
(update)
What a relief. You're correct! As of now, Medicare D does not cover it, and in the states I looked up with medical mj, their state Medicaid programs don't cover it (yet).
I'm still concerned about people who legally get it "diverting" it to abusers.
Then your concern really has nothing to do with mental health. It's a legal question, or possibly a politics and/or debate question.
Abusers of ANY drug, will do whatever they find either necessary or efficient (depending on extent of abuse), to get their drug. Whether it's legal or not. The only thing you might find, is that it's easier to collect data on abusers of prescribed drugs, because prescribe drugs are logged and reported. Illegal drugs are only reported if the drug is confiscated. If a dealer isn't caught, then the existence of his illegal drugs are not reported.
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