California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Since then, many states have sought to follow California’s example. The process of legalizing medical marijuana in a state usually takes years, and proposed policies are often rejected multiple times. Legislators, or lawmakers, look at empirical (experiment-based) evidence and anecdotal evidence of marijuana’s benefits for people with different illnesses. They also consider the fact that some people might pretend to be sick as a front in order to obtain marijuana for recreational use. The legislators and voters then decide whether the benefits of providing medical marijuana outweigh the risks of possible drug abuse.

In order to obtain medical marijuana, a doctor must certify that a patient has a condition or illness that makes them eligible. These conditions vary by state but often include illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (MS), migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic injuries, or seizures. The number of patients who have obtained marijuana for medical purposes has increased significantly over the last two decades. However, distribution is limited to states where marijuana has been legalized for medical purposes and to situations where patients can afford to pay out-of-pocket, or without health insurance.

Option 1:

People have sought out medical marijuana for various medical conditions. One study found that, in 2016, 67.5% of medical marijuana patients reported using it for chronic pain, or pain that continues over a long period of time. What decimal is equal to 67.5%?

A. .0675

B. 67.5

C. .675

D. .00675

Option 2:

In 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report summarizing research on the effects of marijuana for patients with various conditions. There is strong evidence demonstrating that marijuana helps patients with some conditions, including multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, or nausea from chemotherapy. But for other conditions, there is little or no evidence. In the same study referred to above, 85.5% of patients reported obtaining medical marijuana for conditions where there is strong evidence that marijuana is effective.

In 2020, there were an estimated 2 million medical marijuana users in California. If the statistic above were accurate in California, which expression could be used to estimate the number of California’s medical marijuana users with a condition for which there is strong evidence that marijuana is effective?

A. 2,000,000,000 ÷ 0.855

B. 2,000,000,000 x 0.855

C. 2,000,000,000 x 0.0855

D. 2,000,000,000 ÷ 85.5