The law and its effects
February 19, 2021
In 2019, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker legalized marijuana for recreational use in Illinois, (age 21 and up), in addition to medical usage for those with a qualifying condition who are under age 21. Qualifying conditions include but are not limited to cancer, anorexia, post-taumatic stress disorder, (PTSD), as well as neuropathy, seizures, Autism, and Tourette’s Syndrome.
Yet, many people with these conditions do not realize they are eligible for use of medical marijuana, and furthermore, may not be aware of the benefits.
Medicinal cannabis is beneficial to use PTSD, for example, because it is largely under diagnosed in teenagers, and can be quite damaging. According to PTSDUnited.org, 7.7 percent of the world’s population will experience PTSD annually. The risk is two times higher for women to develop PTSD, and even higher for veterans, sexual assault victims, first responders, or survivors of abuse. This illness is often accompanied by flashbacks, poor self image, and turning to unhealthy coping skills. It also increases the risk of one becoming suicidal.
After identifying the risks and damage of a mental illness, such as PTSD, one can begin to explore alternative treatments such as medicinal marijuana.