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Are you concerned that using medical marijuana may make you unprofessional?
With 41 professional licensing boards—including boards for accounting, geology, and piercing/tattooing—it’s clear that there are plenty of professionals living and working in Missouri. The Show-Me State has a growing number of opportunities; and the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development has set a goal for 60 percent of working-age adults to have a certificate or degree by 2025.
Growing Cannabis Use Among Missouri Professionals
The professional workforce in Missouri is growing alongside the wild popularity of the medical marijuana industry in the Show-Me State, and the image of the typical “lazy stoner” is starting to fade. More and more professionals of all ages are using medical marijuana for symptoms and conditions.
Unfortunately, however, professionals may also be hesitant to start using medical marijuana for natural relief, or to be open about their use, because of the Reefer Madness style imagery that we still sometimes associate with cannabis use.
We’ve already covered how to find some of the most exciting cannabis education and employment opportunities in Missouri. So in this post, we are going to debunk the myths that support the stigma that medical marijuana use is unprofessional.
Medical Marijuana Myth #1 - People Who Use Cannabis are Lazy
One of the biggest problems with stigmas is their lack of specificity. Are there some elements about using cannabis that can make a person appear lazy when taken out of context? Of course!
One study showed that using marijuana made people less motivated to choose difficult tasks in exchange for money. And there are plenty of studies that show a change in the brain’s dopamine uptake in long-term cannabis-users.
However, recent studies also indicate that there is little to no effect on school performance when teens use cannabis in moderation, people who use cannabis are generally more physically active and less obese, and cannabis use may even help people with severe anxiety and depression get a handle on their executive functioning.
Cannabis can help people get past the symptoms that are holding them back, and go through their days with less pain and anxiety. When we feel better, we are more equipped to handle day-to-day tasks and challenges.
Medical Marijuana Myth #2 - People Who Use Medical Marijuana Are Just Looking for a Reason to Get High
There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying your medicine. The fact that using cannabis often comes with side effects that many find pleasant and desirable is one of our favorite things about this form of natural relief!
A recent study indicated that most people who use cannabis do so primarily for symptom relief. Many Missouri Marijuana Card patients are looking for products that help them feel their best, while minimizing impairment.
There are several products available at Missouri dispensaries that do just that. You can find edibles, tinctures, flower and vapes with lower concentrations of THC, and there are even topicals that help minimize side effects while providing powerful, localized pain relief.
Medical Marijuana Myth #3 - It’s Impossible to Function When You Use Medical Marijuana
There is definitely a learning curve to using medical marijuana and staying productive while doing so. You need to find the right balance of CBD to THC and get your dosing right. Since everyone is different—and even the availability of products can change—there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
However, if you are looking for ways to get your natural relief without feeling intoxicated, check out our posts about using medical marijuana when you have a low tolerance for THC, and using cannabis when you’ve got things to do.
Medical Marijuana Myth #4 - Using Medical Marijuana is a Gateway to Using Other Drugs
The fear that marijuana is a “gateway drug” has been used to support cannabis prohibition since the beginning of … well … cannabis prohibition. It is true that some studies indicate that people who use cannabis are more likely to use other drugs; but many results come to “chicken and egg” conclusions, meaning that it is unclear if the person using cannabis has other social, socioeconomic, and experiential factors in their decision to use drugs in the first place.
Conversely, medical marijuana may help fight opioid addiction. People are using cannabis to reduce or eliminate their use of prescription painkillers, and some studies indicate that cannabis use could reduce the intensity of cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Medical Marijuana Myth #5 - Using Marijuana Makes You Less Smart
Using medical marijuana does not make you less smart. We promise. As a matter of fact, people who don’t rate themselves high in creativity saw improvements in their divergent thinking when using cannabis. And recent studies indicate that cannabis may support your brain health.
Medical marijuana works by reducing anxiety and helping you feel your best. This can stop the dump of hormones that make it difficult to think clearly, thereby improving focus and executive functioning.
Conclusion: Medical Marijuana Use Doesn’t Have Any Effect on Your Level of Professionalism
It is certainly unprofessional to go to work impaired, no matter which substance you happen to prefer. However, using medical marijuana is not in and of itself unprofessional. What you do on your time, in the privacy of your own home (as long as it’s legal) has no bearing on whether you are worthy of being considered a professional.
As a matter of fact, the Missouri Board of Professional Registration acknowledges the legality of medical marijuana, and states the following:
“The Division of Professional Registration and its 41 licensing boards will follow Amendment 2 and its enabling regulations regarding medical marijuana for its licensees and applicants who are qualifying individuals.”
You Need a Medical Marijuana Card to Keep Your Cannabis Use Legal in Missouri
One thing that most people agree on, is that it is very unprofessional to have your life disrupted by charges for criminal activity, and marijuana has not been decriminalized in Missouri. While some municipalities have drastically reduced the penalties for marijuana possession, the state overall has not.
Without a medical marijuana card, you can face one year in prison and a $2,000 fine if you are caught with just 35g of cannabis.
Why bother with the worry, when it’s simple to get a Missouri marijuana card? Our doctors and patient support experts can help you through every step of the process, from gathering your medical records, to making your first choice at the dispensary.
Give us a call at (877) 303-3117, or simply schedule a telehealth marijuana evaluation by visiting our website today!
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (877) 303-3117, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Missouri Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Missouri.