Legalization of Cannabis/Marijuana By Nicola Forcier

Before cannabis was ever legalized in the Western world, it was widely available — even in places like Ireland, where the sun rarely shines enough to grow it naturally. Legal or not, access remained. Making it illegal again wouldn’t erase its presence; it would simply push it back into unregulated spaces.

In many areas, the price of cannabis on the street isn’t far off from what dispensaries charge. So, what’s really at the heart of legalization debates?

A Personal Perspective

In my humble opinion, one of the biggest reasons governments hesitate on full legalization is this: if people can self-medicate — and in some cases shrink tumors, reduce seizures, or wean off high-risk pain medications — then the traditional medical and pharmaceutical industries stand to lose. Cannabis challenges the status quo.

It helps with chronic pain, arthritis, seizures in children, and even supports hospice patients to stay lucid in their final days rather than heavily sedated on opioids. In those moments, the money stops flowing into traditional systems.

You all know my feelings on cancer. In the U.S., hospitals with oncology departments tend to thrive. Those without often shut their doors. Chemo keeps many facilities operating. That’s a tough pill to swallow.

Doctors aren’t yet trained to prescribe cannabis. The variety of strains — over 500 with known profiles — complicates things. But there are organizations that study them thoroughly and know which ones best support different conditions.

Insurance companies are still trying to figure out how to handle it. Today, it’s not uncommon to see oncology doctors working within insurance systems, denying patients access to essential tests like EKGs or Barium Swallows while approving cheaper, more invasive scans. It’s a heartbreaking tradeoff.

Brad’s Story

Brad was choking on a tumor above his stomach and had no chemo at the time. What changed everything? One ounce of Bubba Kush, a bottle of Everclear, a rice cooker, and a YouTube video. Homemade cannabis oil changed his life.

Looking back at his medical records, it’s frustrating to see how often he was denied safer, more effective testing options simply because they weren’t the cheapest. The irony is that cannabis ended up helping more than his doctors ever admitted. One even tried to take credit at the end.

Brad surpassed every medical expectation with a plant — not a pill. And that, to me, is what makes cannabis so disruptive to the current healthcare system.

Why It Matters

There’s no money in healthy people. That’s a harsh truth, but one worth acknowledging. Insurance companies don’t profit from someone who gets well and doesn’t need lifelong medication. And when cannabis helps someone avoid costly treatments, it becomes a problem for a system built on chronic care.

I believe in cannabis. I believe it deserves a respected place in healthcare — not as a fringe remedy, but as a serious, studied option for real healing.

Long live cannabis.