With the current Trump administration in the White House, you may have a bleak outlook on the role that cannabis will play in our country’s future. And who could blame you? Historically, republicans have not exactly championed the use of medical Cannabis let alone its recreational use. Despite the politics surrounding the benefits of of Cannabis, I truly believe that Cannabis is going to light up America’s future.
More States Are Coming On Board
So far this year, at least 12 states have legislation in the pipe to legalize… you guessed it, pot. The continual introduction and passage of various legislation is a positive sign that the old stigma of reefer-madness is nearing an end and that legalization is not a pipe-dream. Even the federal government may be coming on board. In 2017 the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 was introduced to congress with bipartisan support. If passed, this act will remove Cannabis from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) Schedule I classification. (While on the surface, the de-scheduling of Cannabis seems promising, it would have significant implications for the current industry. See Cascade High’s owner James Schwartz’s article in Dope Magazine, The End of Cannabis Small Business: How the Pharmaceutical Industry is Preparing to Take Over Cannabis.
More People Are Cool with It
The continued introduction of “marijuana legislation” is not the only promising news of a bud-friendly future. Recent nationwide polls have shown that the majority of Americans support the legalization of Cannabis. A poll conducted by the PEW Research Center found that 61 percent of Americans favor legalization. Another poll by Fox News found that 59 percent of voters are in support of legalization. Both of these polls show that support of legalization has more than doubled since 2000.
It’s Helping People
As Cannabis gains acceptance, the therapeutic values of the various cannabinoids that it contains are being embraced. This has led to groundbreaking studies that have shown the amazing benefits of these cannabinoids. For example, studies have shown that cannabidiol has shown promising results in controlling seizures in people who suffer from various forms of epilepsy. It’s heart-breaking to think about how many people who suffer from epilepsy have been, and continue to be, denied this treatment. Fortunately, cannabis is gaining acceptance for its medicinal properties and there are even ACCME and ANCC accredited institutes that offer courses in medical cannabis education, such as The Medical Cannabis Institute.
Sure, the future of Cannabis in the U.S. may seem hazy at the moment, but when you consider how much the public’s perception has changed in the past fifteen years, it’s easy to see that Cannabis’ role in our nation’s future is almost a certainty. There’s a tide of change coming and it’s not a matter of if, but when it will be accepted.
