In America today there is much debate as to whether medical cannabis should be legalized. There are many positive outcomes of legalizing medical marijuana and it should be legalized. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 stopped all legal selling and using of cannabis, which is also known as marijuana. This act was later replaced by the Controlled Substances Act in the 1970s. Cannabis was placed in the most restrictive category of the act. Prior to these restrictions cannabis was used in most medicine.

Some states have started legalizing marijuana use for medicinal and recreational uses, but 38% of the states have not, Kansas being one of them (drugpolicy.org). Medical marijuana should be legalized because of the many benefits it possesses.

According to medium.com, CBD, a cannabinoid of marijuana, can be used to treat certain illnesses or pain. This can be derived from either hemp or marijuana. Hemp derived CBD is legal in all states, whereas marijuana derived CBD is fully illegal in Kansas, South Dakota and Nebraska. You can buy cannabis oil with 0% THC in Kansas now, but there is still medicine that can help people that you can not get if you live in certain states.

According to FDA.gov “The FDA has not approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug for any indication. The agency has, however approved one specific drug product that contains the purified substance cannabidiol for the treatment of seizures.” This drug is called Epidiolex and it contains CBD. CBD is an active chemical of marijuana that can help reduce pain, controlling epileptic seizures, and possibly treating mental illnesses or addictions (drugabuse.com).

CBD does not produce the “high” that other cannabinoids do, so it is not often used recreationally. What is the harm of legalizing that? If the drug can not be used for recreational purposes, and it could help someone live a fuller life, then that person should be given a chance to truly live.