Marijuana is known for its positive effects on human health. On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that legalizes marijuana at federal level. Individual states will be able to shape their own policies in cannabis field.
According to a report published on CNBC, thanks to the Democrats that keep 234 seats, the bill has a great chance of successful approval. The Republican Senate, headed by Mitch McConnell, who is an open opponent of legalization of marijuana, will check the wording of the law.
New Legislation
So far, 11 states in the US and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for recreational use and 33 states have approved marijuana as a prescription drug.
The new legislation allows individual states to create their own cannabis rules.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, more than half of drug arrests in the US were executed due to marijuana. The bill includes a 5% tax on cannabis products to provide training and legal assistance to those most affected by the war on drugs.
“The criminalization of marijuana was a mistake,” said Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, DN.Y.
Marijuana as a Medicine
Dozens of studies point to the beneficial effects of certain cannabis components, especially cannabidiol (CBD), which can help combat many diseases.
Cannabis has immunomodulatory properties (capable of regulating immune functions) and effects on excitotoxicity, suggesting that it could play a role in disease control in ALS (amyotropic lateral sclerosis), known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Patients with bipolar disorder report that marijuana is more effective than conventional drugs, showing significantly better neurocognitive performance, especially in terms of attention rates, processing speed and working memory.
Cannabidiol prevents breast cancer cell proliferation. It is effective against nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. THC and CBD extracts are effective for pain relief in patients with advanced cancer.
Cannabis extracts have improved the incurable neurogenic symptoms such as pain, worsening of bladder control, muscle spasms and spasticity.
Source and credit: https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/peer-reviewed-studies-on-medical-marijuana/, https://truththeory.com/2019/11/20/breaking-house-committee-approves-bill-legalizing-marijuana-at-federal-level/, Depositphotos
