What is Medical Cannabis?

Medical cannabis, also known as medical marijuana, is a form of treatment that uses the cannabis plant or its active ingredients to help manage symptoms or treat certain conditions. Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

There are several components to a well thought-out policy on medical cannabis:

1. Legalization and regulation: Medical cannabis should be legalized and regulated by the government to ensure that it is used safely and appropriately. This can involve setting limits on the amount of cannabis that can be possessed and consumed, and establishing rules for how it can be grown and distributed.
2. Access: Patients should have access to medical cannabis if it is recommended by their healthcare provider as part of their treatment plan. This may involve setting up a system for patients to obtain medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries or other sources.
3. Research: There should be ongoing research into the effectiveness and safety of medical cannabis to help guide its use and ensure that patients are receiving the best possible care.
4. Education: Healthcare providers and the general public should be educated about the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis to ensure that it is used safely and appropriately.
5. Quality control: Measures should be in place to ensure that the cannabis being used for medicinal purposes is of high quality and free of contaminants. This can involve testing and certification processes to ensure that the cannabis meets certain standards.

Overall, a well thought-out policy on medical cannabis should take into account the potential benefits and risks of this treatment option, as well as the needs and concerns of patients, healthcare providers, and the general public.

You can read NORML's Core Attributes of a Patient-Centric, Medical Cannabis Regulatory Program here.