MURFREESBORO, March 7, 2017– With the Tennessee General Assembly in full swing, the issue of medical marijuana will be coming to the forefront. Whether one is on the hill, in the community, or on the campus of MTSU, opinions and emotions on the topic range from a definitive “no” on any marijuana use to legalizing any and all forms and uses of cannabis. Regardless of where one stands on the issue, the opinions and arguments for and against make for some interesting conversations. Our Campus Connection provides a look into the issue and the opinions of the community.
All too often, when the topic of medical marijuana arises, many people conflate the liberty issue of recreational use with the medical issue involving the chemical cannabinoids found in cannabis. A survey of District 48 which looked to separate the two issues produced an interesting result amongst respondents. While comments ranged from not legalizing cannabis in any form to legalizing all forms and taxing it, of note , the majority of respondents were opposed to any legalization of recreational use and were opposed to smoking of cannabis for medicinal purposes. However, when asked about cannabinoids, the chemicals in cannabis, such as THC or CBD being used for research or medicinal purposes, an overwhelming majority of respondents supported those measures. Based on the survey of District 48, while not scientific, one could conclude that many see potential medicinal value in the cannabinoids, but reject any smoking or recreational use of marijuana.
According to an analysis done by the Pew Research Center, support for the legalization of marijuana has sharply increased in the past several years, particularly in the millennial generation. On MTSU’s campus, sentiments by many students seem to follow the same trend. While college culture is known to be more excepting of recreational smoking, many students have considered the issue of its assumed medicinal properties.
Quinlan Odom, a senior at MTSU, considered the following stance for her view on the drug: “For me, personally, I do believe in the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. I suffer from diagnosed anxiety which tends to result in severe panic attacks. I had been prescribed Lexapro and was a diligent user of that medication. I found, however, that it didn’t soothe the anxiety. Rather, it attempted to mask it.” She believes that the calming affects associated with cannabis use could provide a solution for a problem otherwise incredibly detrimental to her academic pursuits.
One adult student advocated medicinal uses explaining that, “My nephew has been suffering from epilepsy since he was about 8 years old. He has been on several different medications and, now, he is even on a special diet. All of this is an attempt to get his epilepsy under control. Yet, sadly, his seizures have become worse and more frequent. Many studies have shown that marijuana has positive affects when it comes to dealing with epilepsy. As it stands, due to the legality of marijuana, my nephew does not have access to that potential life changing medicine. Instead, he has to continue trying ineffective methods. Legalizing marijuana, at least medical marijuana, would mean he has a chance at taking his life back.”
There is consideration to be made for the legalization of the use of the chemicals found in marijuana for medical treatment. Marijuana and all the cannabinoids and chemicals found in marijuana are currently classified as Schedule 1 drugs. The Drug Enforcement Agency defines Schedule 1 as “A drug or other substance that has a high potential for abuse. The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical treatment use in the U.S.” While cannabis and all the chemicals in the plant are illegal, cocaine, a much more dangerous drug, is a Schedule 2 drug and is legal for defined medical purposes in all states as it has local anesthetic and vasoconstrictive properties.
Cannabis, and all the cannabinoids in it, are in a catch 22 due to being labeled Schedule 1. Being illegal makes it near impossible to do medical studies which, in turn, makes it difficult to prove medicinal benefits and disprove the rationale for classifying cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug. At the Federal level, a bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus has been formed and Congressman Thomas Garrett (R-Virginia) sponsored a bill to remove cannabis from the Federal Controlled Substance Act. Even nationwide advocacy groups like the Epilepsy Foundation support ending the Schedule 1 restrictions to increase access to research and treatment options.
“Marinol which is a drug with synthetic THC and medical cocaine are legal in all 50 states,” stated Representative Bryan Terry, MD. “One would think that relaxing the restrictions on research or even placing cannabinoids in the Schedule 2 category would make sense. Israel is leading the world in cannabinoid research. We have universities, hospitals, scientists, and patients in the U.S. willing to research the use of cannabinoids in PTSD, Crohn’s Disease, neuropathy, amongst other diseases states. Potential effects of cannabis on youth brain development, as well as other potential side effects are always a concern. But given observed benefits to some individuals, it’s time we, at least, advocate for research and rescheduling the cannabinoids.”
The reprieve on the illegality on at least the cannabinoids that have been linked to medical benefits could form a temporary compromise. It would, in the minds of some students, provide for those who have found the drug beneficial without completely legalizing what many still consider an illicit drug. Several students in favor of legalizing the drug acknowledged that this would be a welcomed step for those combating issues they feel are not well treated through other medications.
Overall, it seems that MTSU campus life echoes the national trends in regards to marijuana usage. A vast majority of those interviewed did not initially differentiate between the legalization of marijuana itself and the legalization of the chemicals in the drug. When questioned, most expressed that legalizing the associated chemicals was a start. However, those students who were pressed ultimately sided in favor of the drugs legalization, at least medically, so long as it could be made to benefit both health and revenue.