# Medical Marijuana **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882 "2017-06-01T21:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/21 "2017-06-02T15:52:00Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > So lets say you live in the state of Colorado and your doctor prescribed Marijuana as treatment for whatever condition you may have. Would you take it? Would you ask for a different prescription? I can’t. I own firearms. And yes, the Federal government means it when they ask about Marijuana use on the Form 4473 (Question 11e, IIRC). They even revised the form to make that question explicit, and bolded the text. _Edit_: Yup. 11e. [Form 4473](https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/4473-part-1-firearms-transaction-record-over-counter-atf-form-53009/download) (PDF) ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/22 "2017-06-02T16:51:36Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > So lets say you live in the state of Colorado and your doctor prescribed Marijuana as treatment for whatever condition you may have. Would you take it? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![yellow\_sausage\_bandit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yellow_sausage_bandit/32/394_2.png) [@yellow\_sausage\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellow_sausage_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/23 "2017-06-02T16:59:58Z")
No, I’m likely to be predisposed for psychosis, and I definitely don’t want psychosis. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/24 "2017-06-02T17:04:13Z")
> [@Tranquilis](#): > > I can’t. I own firearms. And yes, the Federal government means it when they ask about Marijuana use on the Form 4473 (Question 11e, IIRC). They even revised the form to make that question explicit, and bolded the text. > > _Edit_: > Yup. 11e. [Form 4473](https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/4473-part-1-firearms-transaction-record-over-counter-atf-form-53009/download) (PDF) They question still leaves a little wiggle room. I haven’t smoked Marijuana in about a year, so I think I could honestly say I’m not currently an “unlawful user.” I’m not saying I won’t have some tomorrow. Nor does the form require that I abstain in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/25 "2017-06-02T17:59:10Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > They question still leaves a little wiggle room. I haven’t smoked Marijuana in about a year, so I think I could honestly say I’m not currently an “unlawful user.” I’m not saying I won’t have some tomorrow. Nor does the form require that I abstain in the future. I daresay that lawyers can have a lot of fun wiggling in that room - But the BATFE is notoriously lacking in humor, and I can’t afford to spend a lot of money on lawyers. It’s easier and safer to just not go there. Mind you, my mother has her MMJ Card from the state of Delaware, and I’ve seen some of the cannibinoid products do womders for her pre-cancerous skin lesions (Like: Completely suppress!), but the Gov’t doesn’t care if cannibinoid products are utterly lacking in THC - Still on the Schedule (Damn you, Dick Nixon!). So, nope. I’ll stay on this side of the law, even if the law is stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Modesty\_Blaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/26 "2017-06-02T18:49:15Z")
I’m in Arizona with a chronic pain issue. I don’t want opioids because I would be addicted in a week. I would abuse them, no question - severe pain will do that. I acquired my “green card” a few years ago. I use medical marijuana every day, for pain, sleep and anxiety. I buy high CBD products, usually because I like to function. I had to go to a “marijuana doctor” to get approved. I’m pretty sure a “regular” doctor can’t prescribe it in AZ. Someone said upthread that they heard medical marijuana isn’t that good. You heard WRONG. That shit is gooooooood. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/27 "2017-06-02T19:19:57Z")
4473 is about purchase, not possession. Though I don’t think Tranquilis is done buying. I don’t know about AZ, but regular doctors could prescribe they just probably won’t while some doctors specialize in it. The process at least in other states is trivial; claim any number of ailments. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/28 "2017-06-02T20:30:14Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Pretty much everywhere, “medical” marijuana is exactly the same stuff as the recreational, it just comes cheaper and with fewer taxes. I’m not completely disagreeing with you, but I know a few, uh, connoisseurs, and they say the medical stuff is lower-grade. It makes sense because there are so many varieties in the weed store and since it’s illegal federally, the government probably isn’t invested in too much research. But I’ll reserve judgment until I’m in the position again of needing either, which will hopefully be never. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/29 "2017-06-02T20:38:52Z")
When I got my card in MI, the doctor came in to the weed shop and did mass “diagnoses” for the entire group that had signed up for this particular date. It was so fucking ridiculous, all anyone had to do to “qualify” for a “diagnosis” that could be “treated” with marijuana was pony up $60. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/30 "2017-06-02T20:41:33Z")
Another thing, in MI at least, the “black market” weed is almost totally comprised of medical marijuana that is being sold illegally by someone who can legally obtain it. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/31 "2017-06-02T20:41:43Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > When I got my card in MI, the doctor came in to the weed shop and did mass “diagnoses” for the entire group that had signed up for this particular date. It was so fucking ridiculous, all anyone had to do to “qualify” for a “diagnosis” that could be “treated” with marijuana was pony up $60. And how many of those people have since OD’d? Zero? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/32 "2017-06-02T20:42:55Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > And how many of those people have since OD’d? Zero? OD’d from weed? Have you ever smoked weed before? ETA: the closest I can think of as far as weed oding is when an unsuspecting person consumes more via edible than they intended. But “OD” in this sense is just being waaaay too high. No life threatening risks. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/33 "2017-06-02T20:45:09Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > OD’d from weed? Have you ever smoked weed before? If you read my first post in this thread you wouldn’t have to ask. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/34 "2017-06-02T20:46:06Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > If you read my first post in this thread you wouldn’t have to ask. 😉 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/35 "2017-06-02T20:51:29Z")
Oregon speaking up here: I know growers, and there is no difference in quality between medical and recreational weed at all. The same strains can go for either. Buds from the same plant might go to different sources. It’s all good quality. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882/36 "2017-06-02T21:45:13Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I’m not completely disagreeing with you, but I know a few, uh, connoisseurs, and they say the medical stuff is lower-grade. It makes sense because there are so many varieties in the weed store and since it’s illegal federally, the government probably isn’t invested in too much research. But I’ll reserve judgment until I’m in the position again of needing either, which will hopefully be never. Presumably meaning that many recreational users are seeking out THC, while high CBD is more common for medical use (though as noted above, THC appears to have medical benefits). There is nothing qualitatively different, but there are different preferences or trends. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana/787882.md?page=1)