Marijuana Gets Mixed Reviews

With legalized medical marijuana spreading from state to state across the US, there is a growing debate about whether or not the drug is safe and effective in treating certain ailments. The drug remains on the federal government’s Schedule 1 list of substances with no known medical use, but some say that will need to change in the coming years as its use gains popularity in the medical community.

Head Of Public Health Optimistic

On Wednesday, the US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy appeared open minded about the possibility that marijuana could be used as a medical treatment in an interview with CBS. He noted that preliminary research suggests that the drug could be helpful in managing some medical conditions; and that such information will likely drive legislation governing marijuana use. While he said more research would be needed for conclusive results, Murthy predicted that more states will probably legalize medical use in the coming year.

Colorado Says Proceed with Caution

However, in states where both medical and recreational use is allowed, there is a growing number of critics who say the drug’s danger isn’t being clearly communicated to the public. On February 1, a panel of experts in Colorado released a report detailing some of this risks that marijuana usage carries in order to educate the state’s population on the drug’s negative effects.

The report cautioned that usage among teens and young adults was linked to poor academic performance and some memory impairments that last nearly a month after usage, but also suggested that psychotic disorders like schizophrenia could be tied to heavy usage early in life.