Introduction
A registered voter and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner wants to make a statement regarding the MORE Act, S.2227, which aims to end the criminalization of marijuana. The nurse wants to emphasize the importance of this law, which will give many of my patients new treatment options. Currently, studies are underway that prove the effectiveness of the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of disorders associated with increased anxiety (Sarris et al.,2020). Cannabis has a positive effect on the treatment of stress disorders and sleep disturbance. The underlying belief is that the use of medical cannabis is a step forward and an opportunity to return to everyday life for many patients.
S.2227 Legislation
The MORE Act stands for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment, and Expungement Act. This law is intended to end the criminalization of adult cannabis use. The MORE Act is a step towards criminal justice reform, designed to establish social justice and provide opportunities for economic development.
The MORE Act is currently under consideration by Congress. The law will allow the removal of arrests and convictions to stop criminal prosecution for crimes related to cannabis. The bill also proposes the creation of an oversight department to ensure social justice (Congress, 2019). The MORE Act will end discrimination against cannabis users and open up new possibilities for the medical use of cannabis.
California Current Public Policy Addressing Marijuana Usage
Marijuana use in California is currently regulated by the Medical and Adult Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, MAUCRSA. Marijuana laws in California allow the possession, consumption, and cultivation of marijuana for personal use. Marijuana has been legal for medical use since 1996, and recreational use was approved in 2018 (Reed et al., 2020). Despite the legalization of medical and personal adult marijuana use, people still face discrimination and stigmatization for marijuana use.
Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana refers to the use of the plant or its chemicals to treat various medical conditions. The marijuana plant contains chemicals known as cannabinoids that affect the human body; cannabidiol is predominantly used in medicine. For example, medical marijuana is beneficial in the treatment of mental disorders. Cannabinoids have powerful properties that can reduce anxiety. It is necessary to study further the effect of marijuana on the human body and the introduction of clearly regulated dosages for various conditions.
Pros and Cons of Recreational Usage
Recreational marijuana refers to adult use for non-medical purposes. The legalization of the use of marijuana has both supporters and opponents. The first argument for the full legalization of marijuana is the stimulating economic effect. The legal marijuana industry can generate substantial revenue for the country’s economy through taxes, which can be utilized to further societal development.
The second argument for legalizing the use of recreational marijuana is to reduce consumption by minors. The less marijuana is criminalized, the less willing children and teens will be to try it. Seeing conscious adult consumption, minors will not reach for the forbidden. Finally, the legalization of marijuana will allow the government to control the shadow market.
The legalization of recreational marijuana causes controversy and debate. The main argument of opponents of legalization is the fear that marijuana will create a smooth transition to drug use since it causes addiction. People fear that the costs of marijuana trafficking will far exceed tax revenues. Opponents of the reform believe that marijuana is dangerous to society, increasing the number of people with an addiction, leading to drunk driving, and causing economic losses.
Nursing Organization’s Stances
The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports the medical use of cannabis. ANA (2022) considers it urgent to review the legal status of marijuana to conduct clinical trials and inform healthcare providers and patients about the effectiveness of its use. Marijuana can and should be used as a means of relieving symptoms associated with various diseases.
Current legislation hinders the development of new, practical treatment approaches in the field of medicine (ANA, 2022). To address the issue of the medical use of marijuana, the American Cannabis Nurse Association (ACNA) was formed. The last statement underlined the positive impact of removing marijuana from the list of prohibited substances (Cannabis Nurses, 2022). Both society and the state will benefit from the decriminalization of marijuana.
Stakeholders
Decriminalizing marijuana will allow American society to move forward. First, it is necessary to consider the general public benefit of adopting the bill. Society will benefit as it opens the way for progressive new research. Patients will receive new, effective ways to relieve symptoms of diseases.
Due to a new approach, medical organizations will expand the range of their services and increase the number of clients. Nurses will be able to provide better and more highly qualified care. The state will receive new tax revenues and will be able to control the shadow market, which will lead to a safer society.
Financial Implications
The legalization of marijuana has financial benefits for the state. In 2021, states that legalized marijuana for personal consumption earned $3.7 billion (MPP, 2022). Firstly, the policy will create new jobs, stimulating the economic development of the regions, which will lead to an overall increase in labor income. As the industry continues to grow rapidly, spin-off industries will emerge, ensuring employment and a steady improvement in financial well-being.
Marijuana legalization offers investment opportunities while improving the economy. The more states that legalize cannabis, the lower the cost of enforcement is likely to be. The decriminalization of marijuana will lead to fewer incarcerations and government money savings. The legalization of marijuana benefits medical users, but the cost of such services will increase with an increase in the number of users.
Position Support
The MORE Act, S.2227, must be voted on to ensure the continued development of American society. Since nurses are the leading promoters of change, their voices must be taken into consideration (Disch & Kingston, 2021). Nurses can provide daily evidence of the need for change (Zalon et al., 2019).
It is necessary to legalize marijuana, as it will allow millions of patients to alleviate the course of diseases. Further research will expand the medical applications of cannabinoids, providing an opportunity to create progressive treatments. American society must strive to improve the well-being of citizens, so the MORE Act S.2227 must be passed.
Takeaway Points
The legalization and decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level may seem controversial. However, legalization is the only path to social stability since previous bans have led nowhere. The passage of the MORE Act, S.2227, will reduce discrimination against marijuana users. The law will facilitate further research in this area, leading to the development of innovative treatments. Society, government, patients, and medical staff will benefit from the MORE Act S.2227.
References
ANA (2022). ANA Position Statement: Therapeutic Use of Marijuana and Related Cannabinoids. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 27(1), 1-15. Web.
Cannabis Nurses (2022). ACNA Position Statements. Web.
Congress. (2019). S.2227 – 116th Congress (2019-2020): MORE Act of 2019. Web.
Disch, J., & Kingston, M. (2021). Using activism to get nurses on boards. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 45(3), 208-218. Web.
Marijuana Policy Project. (2022). Cannabis Tax Revenue in States that Regulate Cannabis for Adult Use. MPP. Web.
Reed, M., Kioumarsi, A., Ataiants, J., Fedorova, E. V., Iverson, E., Wong, C. F., & Lankenau, S. E. (2020). Marijuana sources in a medical marijuana environment: dynamics in access and use among a cohort of young adults in Los Angeles, California. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 27(1), 69-78. Web.
Sarris, J., Sinclair, J., Karamacoska, D., Davidson, M., & Firth, J. (2020). Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review. BMC psychiatry, 20(1), 1-14. Web.
Zalon, M.L., Patton, R.M., Ludwick, R. Nurses Making Policy: From Bedside to Boardroom. (2019). Springer Publishing Company.