Anna Conte was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy before she turned one. Each day, she would suffer from hundreds of seizures. Over the years, her parents sought access to the latest medications, but nothing seemed to help. Her parents decided they wanted to try medical cannabis—or marijuana—because anecdotal evidence suggested it had helped other patients with similar conditions. However, the Contes lived in New York where medical marijuana was illegal. The Contes succeeded in pressuring New York legislators to change the law, but their success came too late. New York approved medical marijuana in June 2014, just a month before Anna died at the age of 9. Later, Anna’s mother said no one should die “because of a ZIP code.”

Since then, policies surrounding the availability and distribution of medical marijuana have changed significantly. As of 2020, medical marijuana has been legalized in 35 states and the District of Columbia. In order to obtain medical marijuana in these states, patients need a doctor to confirm that they suffer from an eligible condition. Once patients have the necessary paperwork, medical marijuana must be purchased at a licensed dispensary, and it won’t be covered by health insurance, unlike many other medications.

Despite changes in state law, marijuana is still an illegal Schedule I drug according to the U.S. government; Schedule 1 is a category for drugs that have the high potential for abuse and do not have an accepted medical use. The conflict between state and federal laws has caused confusion and disagreement in some cases. For example, once California legalized medical marijuana, government agents sought to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws by raiding dispensaries and making arrests. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) cited anecdotes of doctors who wrote recommendations for medical marijuana for thousands of patients as proof these medical dispensaries were a front for selling a drug used recreationally most of the time.

Some legislators believe that evidence for the medical benefits of marijuana is purely anecdotal and refuse to vote to legalize it. Critics of medical marijuana believe that it is just a front for people who want to use marijuana for fun and that it may cause harm. They worry that people will drive while using marijuana, leading to dangerous car accidents. They also say marijuana is addictive and can lead to using more dangerous drugs. Finally, critics worry about long-term health effects; for example, smoking marijuana is bad for users’ lungs and immune systems. Critics believe that seeing marijuana as a medicine sends the wrong message to kids, in particular.

Other doctors believe the benefits of marijuana outweigh the risks of using it. Supporters cite the range of illnesses that can be eased by marijuana—from nausea associated with chemotherapy to post-traumatic stress disorder. They argue that marijuana was used as a medicine for centuries until the 1900s and that other countries, such as Canada and Italy, allow medical marijuana. Also, supporters argue that allowing medical distribution will decrease crime, since those seeking to help loved ones will not have to purchase it illegally.

What do you think? Should everyone have access to medical marijuana, regardless of their age or location?