The risks and rewards of medical marijuana have been debated for quite some time.

Marijuana and mental health treatments have intersected for centuries, primarily being used for both the psychological and the physical. According to the National Library of Medicine, marijuana was medically used by patients in 400 AD and began popping up in the United States in 1850 as a patent medicine.

It wasn’t until 1996 that California became the first state to use marijuana for medical purposes with a physician present, under ‘The Compassionate Use Act’. It soon spread across the country and slowly became more normalized. 

However, that leads to the question of whether medical marijuana is actually helping with managing medical conditions or if it comes with more risk.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, many medical marijuana users suffer from severe pain and fall between the ages of 31 and 40. These individuals turn to the traditional pharmaceutical route before moving to alternative medicine.

Using marijuana for medical purposes means learning how to balance the way it is used and questioning whether it has more benefits on a case-by-case basis.

One downside to using medical marijuana is building a higher tolerance, which leads to more frequent usage and a higher dependency, rather than relying on other methods alongside marijuana. Many have also noted that medical marijuana often provides short-term release, meaning it is not always a long-term solution, and is used more sparsely for imminent pain.

However, that does not mean there are no positive reasons for using it. The National Library of Medicine states that many adults who experience nausea from chemotherapy, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis use oral cannabinoids or cannabis for immediate pain relief. 

Cannabis is known most for being recreational, and while many adults partake in it for that reason, there is an alternative method paving the way for many who need better and stronger alternative methods to heal. 

If you are 21 years and older, using marijuana for medical purposes is an alternative worth looking into. However, it is important to understand the effects of marijuana and how it can affect the body, and it’s just a balance of whether the pros outweigh the cons.