It was officially declared that the legalization of medicinal marijuana will be issue number seven on the Arkansas ballot this year. As of now, all cannabis is illegal in Arkansas, but if this new law is passed it will be legal to use cannabis only if prescribed by a doctor.

Some studies claim this substance can be used to heal and reduce symptoms of many health issues. To list some common uses for THC prescription: epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain, nausea, cancer, glaucoma, and many others.

Medical marijuana can also aid in reducing the use of prescription drugs, which has become an increasingly dangerous epidemic in America over the past decade due to substance abuse.

Half of the states have already legalized the use of marijuana for either medical or recreational purposes. California was the first to pass this law in 1996. Seventeen other states have “low THC, high CBD” laws. CBD is a different strain of marijuana, and the oil in it is extracted for medical purposes in states with those laws.  Arkansas doesn’t have any of these clearances.

Currently, if you are found with marijuana in Arkansas, you could face a number of different consequences. These consequences could vary from paying fines and taking drug abuse classes to being placed into a state prison to serve a sentence. The severity may depend on the number of times you have been caught, how much marijuana you have been caught with, and other factors. Proponents of this issue say the  legalization of this substance would free up prison space and allow the police to focus on jailing more dangerous criminals, as cannabis is not typically viewed as a dangerous drug.

A counter argument to legalizing medical marijuana is that excessive use can cause symptoms of chronic bronchitis. Marijuana is largely associated with tobacco and alcohol, and studies have claimed that a person who smokes weed is more likely to try other drugs than a person who has never tried it; however, this doesn’t directly mean that cannabis is a gateway drug. Although researchers have been unable to prove there is physically addictive properties to smoking marijuana, users who smoke it may eventually become mentally addicted to it. Corporations may view the legalization of medical cannabis as a way to make a profit. Other negative effects of marijuana are that it may increase anxiety or paranoia in the user. In some cases, it can cause schizophrenia if the user isn’t used to the THC (However, smoking a strain of marijuana with a lower THC level and higher CBD can decrease symptoms of schizophrenia). Marijuana temporarily affects the short-term memory.

If you are or will be at least 18 on November 8, please remember to register so you can vote.