Since the approval of Proposition 215 in 1996, Californians have been legally able to use medical marijuana with the recommendation from a physician. However, a number of issues and discrimination surround medical marijuana use, even in 2018. Luckily, as time passes, more and more resources are being developed to provide education and awareness towards those who still harbor misconceptions about medical marijuana use.
Uses for Medical Marijuana
With the opening of dispensaries that sell medical marijuana in Palm Springs, access to cannabis is becoming easier, simpler, and safer. In the United States, CNN reports that medical marijuana is most often used for pain relief. However, numerous other benefits also exist. Medical cannabis can be used to treat:
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Painful muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis patients
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Loss of appetite in chemotherapy patients and patients with AIDS
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Epileptic seizures
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Bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions
Problems Still Exist
Although medical marijuana is legal in California and many other states, it is still possible for employees in some workplaces to lose their jobs if they use marijuana off the clock, even when it has been approved by a doctor. Recently, GreenState described the introduction of a new bill which, if enacted, would result in the first anti-discrimination law for patients who use therapeutic medical marijuana.
This stigma against users of medical marijuana is so prevalent that research has been conducted to examine the ways that users of medical marijuana process and perceive stigma, including ways that said stigma affects their socialization and interactions with others.
Fighting Back with Education
The West Coast Cannabis Club fights to end this stigma by promoting widespread education about medical marijuana in Palm Springs and the cannabis industry. Not only does the West Coast Cannabis Club make the highest quality medical cannabis more accessible, but it also strives to establish truths about medical marijuana use rather than allowing preconceived notions and assumptions to continue.
