Just because something makes you feel good doesn't make it medicine. I guess I could start referring to Johnny Walker Black as "medicine" cuz I feel better when I drink than when I don't. I'm sure that 95% of you people that "medicate" don't need it and if you argue that it helps with anxiety, etc. Well, they make pills for that. Marijuana is for people with AIDs, Cancer, Fibromyalgia and so on.
I agree about too much "medical" abuse. Thanks to "chronic pain", I might qualify if I try real hard (and spend money). I feel that would be cheating the system though, so I won't try. However, since becoming a daily mj user, I am no longer a daily acetaminophen user. I think it is a good trade off.
Some people are just happy there is an out so they are not breaking the law, and they go for a card when they really just want to get stoned. I don't want to cheat the system, but I'm not going to blame them. After all, the system should be a bit more like Colorado or some place - legal and regulated. Then just discuss it with your doc if you want, but all those "anxious" people can just smoke a bowl and relax.
Those pills you suggest? They often have some nasty side effects, too. So does that Johnny Walker Black - hell, even good single malt has more potentially nasty side effects than "medical" marijuana.
I used to experiment with drugs. By that, I mean I worked with two doctors and a shrink to find prescription medication that helped my depression without too many nasty side effects. I gave up the pills and the experimentation. Now I just smoke weed. I'm a criminal (maybe), not an mmj user. Depression isn't on the list here.