Recreational Marijuana in Florida

Recreational Marijuana in Florida

Debates on the issue of legalizing marijuana for either medicinal or recreational use has increased in the recent past. States are continuously enacting legislation and policies that either authorize or prohibit the use of marijuana. The existing controversies are associated with whether its use is safe for individuals. The paper provides an annotation of four articles that contribute to the topic of whether marijuana should be legalized in Florida for recreational purposes.

Brennan, M., & Weber, L. (2017). Should marijuana be legalized?. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(2), 116-117. Retrieved 25 March 2020, from https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(16)30757-7/pdf.

Brennan and Weber (2017) considered legalizing marijuana as a controversial aspect that should be subjected to extensive discussions. The article acknowledged the fact that there are both reasons for and against marijuana use for recreational purposes. The article indicated that marijuana is similar to other drugs, and it has disadvantages and benefits. Brain development issues, addiction, and inadequate fetus development problems were highlighted as some of the drawbacks. Consequently, Brennan and Weber (2017) highlighted that it should be legalized because it provides relief to individuals regarding emotional and physical pain. However, the authors acknowledged the existence of inconsistencies and controversies regarding the legalization of marijuana.

Howell, K., Washington, A., Williams, P., Mathis, A., & Luque, J. (2019). Medical marijuana policy reform reaches Florida: A scoping review. Florida Public Health Review, 16(15), 128-133. Retrieved 25 March 2020, from https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1230&context=fphr.

Howell et al. (2019) discussed the policy reforms in Florida that are associated with the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. The article indicated that it is primarily used for the treatment of chronic pain and other psychological issues. The authors highlighted that there are psychological, financial, and insurance barriers that inhibit the use of recreational marijuana among the people in Florida. The physicians in Florida encounter difficulties in the administration of recreational marijuana to the patients. The material recommended that appropriate policies should be implemented to increase the health facilities offering such services as well as public education on stigmatization.

Pacula, R., & Smart, R. (2017). Medical marijuana and marijuana legalization. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 13(1), 397–419. Retrieved 25 March 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6358421/pdf/nihms-1006453.pdf.

The authors indicated that marijuana policies had undergone an evolution in distinct states. However, Pacula and Smart (2017) agreed that there are inadequate evidence and literature that address the effectiveness of marijuana policies. As a result, the states have been making decisions based on insufficient proof of its usefulness regarding recreational marijuana. The article highlighted that there are inconsistencies in marijuana laws and the evaluation of such policies. The material explained that there exist variations regarding policies, population allowed, and consumption of the products. The authors suggested the need to have heterogeneity in evidence when it comes to the use of recreational marijuana so that it can inform further policy reforms in specific states. Inconsistencies cripple the plan of allowing marijuana to be used for recreational purposes.

Wilkinson, S., Yarnell, S., Radhakrishnan, R., Ball, S., & D’Souza, D. (2016). Marijuana legalization: Impact on physicians and public health. Annual Review of Medicine, 67(1), 1-15. Retrieved 25 March 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283339622_Marijuana_Legalization_Impact_on_Physicians_and_Public_Health.

Wilkinson et al. (2016) focused on legalizing marijuana and its implications on the population’s health as well as physicians. The authors acknowledged that marijuana is increasingly being used in many states for recreational purposes. The material indicated that it is primarily used as a pain reliever in aspects such as chemotherapy and multiple sclerosis. The article highlighted that despite increasing legalization, the existing clinical evidence on the same is not sufficient. Wilkinson et al. (2016) depicted that marijuana legalization has resulted in public health problems. It includes impairment in driving, unintentional marijuana use by children, and increased use of other drugs, including opioids. Other associated issues highlighted include addiction, pulmonary diseases, and psychosis. The inadequate clinical correlation between legalization and health implications have made it difficult for physicians to administer recreational marijuana.