In the last decade, few industries have changed quite as much as medical marijuana. Almost 5.5 million Americans are now registered into cannabis programs across the 36 states with medical marijuana laws on the books. The process is now easier than ever with health-tech platforms like Veriheal that offer a simple way to book an appointment with reliable state-licensed medical marijuana doctors in your area.

Why do many folks today believe getting your marijuana recommendation is similar to signing up for a membership at your local gym? In addition to the benefits of holding a medical marijuana card, such as legal protections and exemption from excise taxes, let’s explore some of the main reasons having a medical marijuna card is becoming more widespread.

1. An overwhelming majority of Americans support medical marijuana

The facts: Did you know nine out of 10 Americans support some version of marijuana legalization? In fact, an April 2021 Pew Research Survey revealed 91% of adults in the US said marijuana should be legal for either medical or recreational use.

In fact, support for marijuana legalization has more than doubled since a 2000 survey.

The reasoning: This could be due to many factors including the huge influx of cannabis research coming in from more reliable sources such as this 2020 study revealing a small 1mg hit of THC was sufficient in reducing pain compared to using a placebo, and those benefits persisted for over two hours.

2. Multiple generations are using marijuana

The facts: According to a survey from Statista, it’s not just Millennials using cannabis these days. 24 percent of Millennials say they use marijuana either daily or occasionally. Surprisingly, 11 percent of both Generation X and Baby Boomers also use cannabis.

The reasoning: More Americans, including Generation X-ers and Baby Boomers who remember the stigma around cannabis, are changing their minds. This comes back to the fact that research and evidence shows marijuana aids with a large variety of issues from mental health to chronic conditions. Also, more doctors are coming around to these benefits and recommending medical marijuana to patients at all stages of life.

3. The government’s stance is changing rapidly

The facts: The government is finally beginning to recognize the need for more research and less regulation of marijuana. According to the Pew Research Center, 72 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents support cannabis and 47 percent of Republicans and GOP leaners support legalization.

This includes President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who not only admitted to using marijuana in college during a radio interview with the Breakfast Club but has advocated for decriminalizing marijuana use nationwide. She tweeted in 2018, “Making marijuana legal at the federal level is the smart thing to do and it’s the right thing to do.”

The reasoning: The American people have spoken and are in favor of cannabis. The research is clear, and the money the medical marijuana industry is starting to generate speaks volumes to both politicians and local business owners.

4. Medical marijuana patients are looking for bliss

The facts: According to a 2021 report from cannatech enterprise Veriheal, the top reason people are turning to medical marijuana includes feelings of happiness or bliss. In fact, 46 percent of those asked said they hoped to achieve happiness when using medical marijuana. The second biggest reason by far was for pain relief.

The reasoning: This survey was conducted during the most stressful period of the Covid-19 lockdowns, when medical marijuana use exploded. During this time, Millennials and Generation X-ers still in the workforce were under a large amount of financial and professional pressure. The 11 percent of Baby Boomers using medical marijuana are more likely to have medical illnesses or alignments associated with pain.

Do you feel you may be missing out by not having your medical marijuana card? If you’re considering getting your medical marijuana card, Veriheal offers a simple, quick way to book an appointment with a qualified cannabis doctor in your state.