NURBN 1005 - Research: Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana & its Impact

This essay argues for the legalization of medicinal marijuana, primarily due to its potential to reduce the over-prescription of opioids for pain relief, addressing the opioid crisis. The analysis draws on research indicating that cannabis laws are associated with decreased opioid use, overdose admissions, and overdose-related deaths. While acknowledging concerns about addiction and misuse, the essay emphasizes the importance of harm reduction strategies, such as patient education and physician screening, to mitigate these risks. The role of public health policy in disseminating accurate information about the medicinal benefits of marijuana is also highlighted. The essay concludes that legalization should be accompanied by appropriate policies to prevent substance abuse, particularly among adolescents, and suggests implementing drug monitoring programs and educating patients about the potential adverse effects of marijuana use and diversion.

Running head: RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASED PRACTISED
RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASED PRACTISED
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1RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASED PRACTISED
Answer 4 (Conclusion):
From the overall arguments made regarding legalization of marijuana, it can be
concluded that marijuana should be legalized because of its benefit in reducing inappropriate
medical prescribing for pain relief. The opioid crisis or the overdose of opioid for pain relief
is one of the major public health crisis and Vyas, LeBaron and Gilson (2018) gave the
indication that by using cannabis or medical marijuana as an alternative therapy for pain
management, the problem of prescription opioid medication (POM) can be resolved. This
was proved by the examination of state cannabis use laws and policies in US and reviewing
its impact on POM use and associated harm. The systematic review of research literature
revealed that cannabis law and policy was associated with decreased POM use. The analysis
of the cannabis related law also revealed that cannabis law was associated with reduced
admissions for opioid overdose and overdose related deaths. Hence, the evidence provided
give rationalize the need to legalize cannabis and use it as a useful substitution for addressing
the opioid crisis in health care setting.
Despite the above justification for legalization of marijuana, one of the challenges is
that it might lead to issues related to addiction and misuse of the drug. It may have
implications on the substance abuse related burden in health care. Once marijuana is legally
available, it might increase availability and social acceptance of marijuana among adolescents
(Cerdá et al., 2015). However, appropriate implementation of harm reduction strategies such
as educating patients about medical marijuana may help to obtain more benefit rather than
harm from treatment. Hopfer (2014) argues that the legalizing marijuana would create
additional challenges, however this can be addressed by taking proper approach to address
perceptions related to the use of marijuana. The role of physicians will be important in this
regard as they can play a role in screening adults and providing clear message regarding the
medical use and adverse effect of marijuana. In addition, a well-developed and coordinated

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public health policy response will also be necessary so that claims of medicinal benefits of
marijuana are clearly disseminated among target audience.
Hence, it can be concluded that legalization of marijuana should come up with
appropriate policy related to effective use of the drug too. This is necessary to eliminate the
problem of substance abuse because of overuse of marijuana among adolescents.
Salomonsen-Sautel et al. (2012) gave idea regarding the increase in medical marijuana use
among adolescents by investigating about the frequency of marijuana use among adolescents
in substance abuse treatment. The study revealed that 74% adolescents had used someone
else’s medical marijuana. The study also revealed the possibility of diversion of medical
marijuana. This issue gives the implication to implement appropriate drug monitoring
programs. Physicians can be encourage to provide proper education regarding the addictive
and deleterious properties of marijuana before prescribing it to patients. Best practice
strategies like assessing for possible risk of diversion and discussing with patients regarding
the serious ill-effect of diversion can be done to address challenges associated with
legalization of marijuana.

3RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASED PRACTISED
References:
Cerdá, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K. M., Galea, S., & Hasin, D. (2012). Medical marijuana laws in
50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical
marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug and alcohol
dependence, 120(1), 22-27.
Hopfer, C. (2014). Implications of Marijuana Legalization for Adolescent Substance
Use. Substance Abuse : Official Publication of the Association for Medical Education
and Research in Substance Abuse, 35(4), 331–335.
http://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2014.943386
Salomonsen-Sautel, S., Sakai, J. T., Thurstone, C., Corley, R., & Hopfer, C. (2012). Medical
Marijuana Use among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment. Journal of the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(7), 694–702.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2012.04.004
Vyas, M. B., LeBaron, V. T., & Gilson, A. M. (2018). The use of cannabis in response to the
opioid crisis: A review of the literature. Nursing outlook, 66(1), 56-65.