Medical marijuana has been a debated issue between health care and the laws for over fifty years in the United States, with intense legal, regulatory, and scientific conflicts starting in the early 1970s following the controlled Substances Act of 1970. When most common peoples think of marijuana, they picture a rebellious teenager smoking weed out of their window, however marijuana has more forms and uses then to “just get high.”

As of 2023, a broad range of medical marijuana products became legal in thirty-eight states and a couple of United States territories, however it stayed illegal under federal law. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, making it illegal to own, medical use or not. However, starting with California in 1996, many states have forgone this law and allowed medical use of marijuana.

Medical Marijuana uses the cannabis plant or chemicals in it to treat symptoms or conditions. This can help with, chronic pain relief, reduce nausea, PTSD, epilepsy, sleeping issues, and mental health conditions. Doctors commonly prescribe medical marijuana to patients with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell, Tourette’s, autism, and many different sicknesses or disorders to up the patient’s quality of life. While medical marijuana can cause euphoria and altered senses, this does not compare to the up of the patient’s quality of life when compared to chronic pain, PTSD, or epilepsy.