As pro-pot supporters continue the push for marijuana legalization, a new international report finds that medical cannabis—which is often the prelude to recreational legalization, because of its purported health benefits—is unlikely to help most people suffering from chronic pain. The report, based on three dozen medical cannabis studies, says that although it might help some people, there’s not enough evidence for the drug to be widely recommended for those with chronic pain. In fact, researchers were quoted as saying the benefits are “quite modest,” debunking the argument that medical pot is a panacea for a variety of ills, as supporters continually claim. The guidance is important, as 36 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical uses of cannabis. Another problem, they noted, is that even if patients decide to try medical cannabis, there are so many products, formulations, and varieties to choose from, but no definitive information on which components are most effective at treating certain symptoms.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health’s 2020 Monitoring the Future Study finds that college-age adults are using marijuana more than ever before. Among college students, 44 percent reported using marijuana in 2020 compared to 38 percent in 2015. This represents the highest levels of marijuana use recorded since the 1980s. There was also a significant increase in the use of hallucinogens—including LSD and psilocybin—among college-age kids, according to the annual survey. Some good news: while pot use was thriving, college students reported significantly lower alcohol use, with 56 percent imbibing compared to 62 percent in 2019, and a decrease in binge drinking to 24 percent from 32 percent.
And finally, marijuana legalization was touted as a way to promote social equality and economic equity among populations of color who were disproportionately discriminated against during the failed war on drugs. But guess what? It isn’t working out that way. Instead of providing benefits to people of color who want to get into the cannabis industry, many Black Americans—who were four times as likely to get arrested on cannabis charges—are finding the riches out of reach. In many states, the licensing process is difficult to navigate and favors those with more access to capital, such as big weed companies.