Medical Marijuana’s Major Drawback
Throughout the course of this blog, we have examined some of the major benefits that marijuana
offers as a medical treatment. Its ability to treat numerous diseases, conditions, and symptoms
are a major pro in the argument for medical marijuana. Its incredible safety when compared with
many current drugs is another notable benefit. But despite all its wonderful benefits as a medical
treatment, it is impossible to ignore a major drawback to medical marijuana: the sensation of
feeling “high”.
When marijuana is smoked, a user feels the sensation of what is called a high. With a marijuana
high comes intensified sensation, as in the skin becoming more sensitive to stimuli such as heat
and cold. The common side effects of a high include a distorted perception of reality, an altered
sense of time, a feeling of disassociation, an onset of hunger, and an increased heart rate, among
others. Sometimes, a user can feel a loss of control or overwhelming anxiety and paranoia during
the course of the high, which usually lasts for between two and three hours.
The feeling of a high is notably uncomfortable for many patients. Many find the concept of an
altered perception or distorted sense of reality to be frightening, and others simply do not feel
like themselves when under the influence of marijuana. This is an important and major drawback
to medical marijuana, as the feeling of a high is directly correlated with the effectiveness of the
drug.
So, while we examine and recognize the many benefits of medical marijuana, it is important to
consider some of the cons that come with the substance. As with any medication, medical
marijuana isn’t the best option for everybody in every situation. However, we at Medicine Gone
Green still stand by the idea that a patient, along with their primary physician, should have the
right to evaluate their treatment options and make the decision as to what medication they feel
would be most effective in their case. Many patients will find the benefits of marijuana to
outweigh the cons such as a high, and others will feel the opposite, but they all deserve the legal
right to choose.