The Pharmaceutical Industry Vs. Cannabis

        There is a major scam concerning the pharmaceutical industry. I have noticed it from research and experience. All prescriptions have something in common: they leave patients coming back for more. This is what I will be discussing in this blog post.  

        I have seen my eye doctor do this firsthand. When I was 8, I had to start wearing glasses. I picked mine out (they were really embarrassing, now that I think of it) and I wore them. Maybe half a year later, I had to go back for a stronger prescription. This happened about four times when my mother decided that we weren't going to that eye care place anymore; it was getting expensive. So, we went to another eye care place, and the doctor there didn't change my prescription for two years! However, when he finally did and I needed another frame, their prices literally started at $300, which is really expensive.

        The first doctor made more money because we always had to keep coming back, whereas the other doctor simply got a bunch of money, but once at a time.

        The reason why doctors always want their clients coming back to pay is so that they can make as much money as possible. Also, it ensures that there are people to treat, which creates job security. So, they screw up the stuff they give out to clients. It's a thing, I'm not crazy. Look it up.

 Recently, I've been listening to this song, not only to memorize the lyrics, but because Ben is saying something incredibly important about medicine practice today. Ben's friend, named Kevin (which is also the name of this song), died from drug abuse at 21. The reason he did and many others do is that when drugs like Xanax don't work on certain days, or doesn't give people the relief they want, instead of taking those drugs the right way, they will use them as drugs by inhaling them and I'm very sure I don't need to include details. I recommend listening to the entire song. 



Just get us through the weekend,
and then Monday follows,
then it's Wednesday,
then it's "---- it,
I'm already feeling hollow."
Might as well go crack a seal,
might as well go chug a bottle,
might as well go pop a pill
and go and Bandaid that problem...    
       

        The way I interpret these lyrics is that you depend on the drug for the small stuff because all pills for mental illnesses do is numb you. That's what Macklemore is saying when he raps "Just get us through the weekend."  However, the week begins and all the stress quickly piles up, so by the time that pile is really high (Wednesday, in the lyrics), instead of taking a pill that's made to make you feel better (but doesn't), you look at drugs, drugs you know and can count on for a euphoric effect. When Macklemore says that he's already feeling hollow, it reminds me that the pill a doctor prescribes will only add to that feeling because you realize you are unable to function on your own. The drugs will at least bring feeling even though he knows deep down that it's not good for him (Bandaid that problem). 

        Especially with mental illness, they will use their pills or other pills as drugs. This happens, I think, because they can't find weed. Using weed to treat mental illness would be great because depending on how much weed and how much used, it shouldn't cost much. If it's legalized and you can go to an actual shop instead of some sketchy dealer, it should cost even less. Also, it's natural, so no side effects. No more need to crush up prescription pills if you've got prescription weed!

        However, if weed is legalized, the pharmaceutical industry is basically over, which is the biggest problem facing its legalization. People will depend on weed for medicine, they will convince other people for better relief, and soon enough, there are no more pharmacy patients. I think that this is a really difficult conflict. I understand both point of views, but I think something can be done to compromise.

        What if weed was part of the pharmaceutical industry? What I mean by this is that you can go to your local pharmacy and buy cannabis or THC products. If that happened, those who want weed can get it and those who are against it can ignore!

Weed would and does create lots of revenue by itself ($53 MILLION in tax revenue in Colorado). Some of it obviously has to go to harvesting it, but some money should go to the medical industry. Unlike drugs, you can't put something in weed to make you want more because people will notice as weed is nonaddictive.

I think it's a good idea. Then again, I think all of my ideas are good ideas, but I think this one is a REALLY good idea. Someone would have to do all the legal stuff and whatnot, but it's a nice thought that two industries can come together to work towards their common goal. But for this to happen, we need to start educating people about cannabis, which is what I intend to do with this blog. I don't want to be laying in the hospital with cancer and have no other choice but chemo because SOME people (especially the most important ones) think weed isn't right.

        (I know I bring up the cancer thing a lot, but a friend my age was diagnosed last year and it really creeped me out.)

Until next time.

Sources: 

http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/12/news/economy/colorado-marijuana-tax-revenue/