Written by Christopher Meyer | 6:28 pm on December 23, 2011
In all of the discussions that take place about marijuana’s role in our society and in our culture, recreational versus medicinal use of cannabis is often at the forefront of the conversation.
A recent Gallup poll showed 50% of Americans support legalization while 70% support making cannabis medically available.
What is the important difference for the 20% of those who favor making cannabis available medically, but do not wish to give access to adults? What about cannabis recreation is undesirable? Is there ever a time when cannabis use can be both recreational and medical?
Presumably, since the distinction is made for cannabis, the consumption of alcohol and tobacco is done under the recreation umbrella, despite cigarettes once being recommended by doctors and alcohol being prescribed medically as a way to circumvent prohibition.
If we judge the quality of recreation by the benefits that it provides to the body and mind, by the level of restoration it provides, then marijuana is by far the better option. Compared to the damage done by alcohol and cannabis, recreation involving cannabis, in terms of risk versus benefit, is by far a better choice in terms of long-term health.
Alcohol and tobacco stress the body with their toxicity. The compounds in cannabis closely mimic and regulate the body’s immune response and communications pathways, effectively reducing spasticity, inflammation, and conditions where the immune system itself is causing damage such as rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, if stress is a leading factor in aging and illness, then cannabis recreation which relieves that stress has medical benefits whether or not the user intends to receive them.
The medicinal properties of cannabis don’t disappear because of the intent of its user. The neuroprotective and anti-oxidant properties still help to prevent damage done by stress and aging. Cannabis ingested for its mental effects still fights tumors and remains as safe as if it were being used for medicine.
The fact that alcohol and tobacco are available ‘recreationally’ isn’t exposed to the same scrutiny as the recreational use of marijuana. Yet, it’s rational to suppose, since cannabis is valuable medically, it is actually a more beneficial form of recreation.
Cannabis judged for the company it was forced to keep
Such persistent opposition and making distinctions about cannabis users are the last remaining vestiges of the criminalization of cannabis use. Sentences uttered by advocates of legal marijuana lose credibility because of categorization with other ‘illicit’ drugs that do actually pose a danger. It’s a marriage that prevents cannabis from being recognized for its value.
Cannabis is judged by the company it keeps. For the naïve, without going through the effort to research whether claims are true, it is easy to paint recreational users of marijuana as addicts after a ‘cheap high’.
Yet, recreation that reduces stress and relaxes the body should be enough to legally allow those wishing to renew themselves in that manner safe access. The medical benefits are a bonus.
Cannabis users value it because the effects are beneficial whether they recognize them as medical or not. The buzz provided by alcohol and tobacco have greater negative long-term consequences, and tax our health care system far more.
If the effects of cannabis being cheap mean they have little risk and few side effects, then that ‘cheap high’ is much more preferable than the expense of alcohol and tobacco.
Comments (0)
No comments yet.
