While the United States are loosening the ban on cannabis sales, more and more Americans are seeking medical help due to the damage caused by smoking marijuana, UN annual World Drugs Report reads.
It is allowed to use marijuana for medical purposes in 20 states. Recently, the drug was legalized in Colorado and Washington states for recreational use and small doses sales. According to the report, the legalization measures provoked the price decline and, as the result, the consumption growth. Statistics shows that for the period 2008-2012 the number of Americans over 12 years old using cannabis inched up to 12.1% from 10.3%. Experts are of the opinion that a 10-percent decrease in price accounts for a 3-percent growth in number of marijuana consumers.
The UN office experts stated that the number of people seeking treatment for cannabis-related disorders leaped by 59% from 2006 to 2012. The amount of cannabis-related hospitalizations jumped by 14% for the same period.
In the meantime, the UN agency points out that there might not be a direct correlation between the drug legalization and growing number of people with health problems. The issue should be studied more closely.
