fields of green

More importantly, there are clear political implications. When federally funded research shows that cannabis can have positive mental health benefits, it serves as fuel for legalization momentum and can help push for the rescheduling of marijuana later on through the Controlled Substances Act. Unfortunately, cannabis is still considered a Schedule 1 substance which, in other words, says that it has no accepted medical use.

More importantly, before trying to tell people that cannabis use is linked to psychosis, researchers need to determine first who already is prone to psychosis or who has a problem, prior to their cannabis consumption. When you look at things this way, then people who have a greater risk for psychosis can be identified beforehand. The government can then use this information to craft public health campaigns that would educate those at risk, reducing the occurrence of cannabis-related psychotic episodes.

Last Tuesday, lawmakers unanimously voted to pass a bill that would have made cannabis legal and regulated nationally. The proposal represents the initial phase of legalization. The proposed decision would lay the foundation for legally selling cannabis, guaranteeing that tax revenue is shared among communities and may be used to fund things like education and public health. On a 31-2 vote, the Chamber of Representatives First Committee approved the legislation introduced by Rep. Carlos Ardila.