The United States marijuana industry has come under attack and this attack is being fueled by false statements and claims from various members of the White House administration.

Yesterday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein added fuel to the fire when he appeared before the Senate and House Appropriations committees.

Rosenberg called marijuana an unlawful drug from a legal and scientific perspective, and said it is properly scheduled under Schedule I. He also said that the Cole Memo remains its policy for the moment and that there may be an opportunity to review it in the future.

Cannabis is an Effective Treatment for Millions in America

Currently, 30 states and the District of Columbia allow for use of medical cannabis. The medical cannabis industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people.

With almost 2 million patients across the country, the medical marijuana industry is just getting started and has already improved daily life for millions-on-millions of people across the globe.

Cannabis Legalization Provides Relief

Painkillers have become a serious issue in the United States. During the past 15 years, America has seen a tremendous growth in both the sales of prescription opiates and the number of people who die each year from abusing them. Researchers from the RAND Corporation and the University of California-Irvine (UCI) may have found the answer and that is marijuana.

The researchers discovered a reduction in the number of opioids related overdoses, as well as a reduction in number of admissions to addiction treatment center in states that legalized marijuana. The researchers also found that these states experienced significant reductions in both measures if they also legalized marijuana dispensaries.

A study conducted by the University of Georgia in 2016 reported a significant reduction in Medicare Part D prescriptions (the Medicare prescription drug benefit that subsidizes prescription drug costs) in states that have legalized medical marijuana, including an 11% reduction in pain-related prescriptions.

In 2014, a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association reported a 25% decline in accidental opioid deaths in states where medical marijuana is legal.

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