California was the first state in the United States to adopt a medical cannabis legalization measure. Voters approved California Proposition 215 in 1996. Since that time, 39 other states have adopted medical cannabis legalization measures, as well as Washington D.C.
Additionally, two dozen states in the U.S. have adopted adult-use cannabis legalization measures. Washington D.C. has also approved recreational cannabis legalization. Overlapping cannabis policy modernization measures in the U.S. have somewhat obscured the line between medical use and recreational use. However, a recent survey of cannabis consumers provides some insight.
“A whopping eight in 10 marijuana consumers say they use cannabis, at least in part, as an alternative to traditional prescription drugs, according to a new poll.” reported Marijuana Moment in its original coverage. “The survey from the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD, which was shared exclusively with Marijuana Moment, asked cannabis consumers a simple question: “Do you use cannabis as a replacement for prescription medication?””
“Of the 485 respondents, 79.6 percent affirmed that they did, in fact, use marijuana as a substitute to pharmaceuticals, compared to 20.4 percent who said they did not.” the outlet also reported.
“Many longitudinal studies report a decline in patients’ use of conventional medicines, specifically opioids, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleep aids, following their use of cannabis. Consumers also frequently report substituting cannabis for alcohol, tobacco, and other controlled substances.” stated NORML in a recent news release regarding medical cannabis use.
In addition to jurisdictions in the U.S., medical cannabis policy modernization is spreading to other parts of the globe. The most recent example can be found in Slovenia, where lawmakers in the European nation recently approved a medical cannabis measure that will dramatically improve safe access for suffering patients.
Cannabis opponents will no doubt continue to try to paint medical cannabis users as ‘doing so to hide their recreational use.’ However, as the recent NuggMD survey data indicates, most consumers consume cannabis for one or more medical purposes, including in jurisdictions where recreational use is permitted.