The USA’s historically hard-line anti-drugs policies have relaxed significantly in recent years, as more and more Americans begin to recognize the failings of the ‘war on drugs’. Colorado and Washington were the first of ten US states to fully legalize cannabis for both recreational and medical purposes, while a total of thirty-one states have voted to decriminalize its use. Surveys now consistently find that up to 64% of Americans support legalization; which is a seismic shift in societal thinking.
This trend is attributed to changes domestically and abroad. Arguments in favor of legalization include opening new avenues for medical research, immediate relief for individuals suffering from a range of chronic disorders, and potential revenue benefits. Yet each of these facets is underlined by scientific research conducted using cutting-edge laboratory products.
Laboratory Products and Modern Outlooks on Drugs
Cannabis legalization would not have been possible if certain misconceptions of the drug were not first disproved. This required laboratory products capable of analyzing long-standing claims that vilified the substance in-line with the US administrations of the late 20th and early 21st Centuries.
For example, various organizations around the world have long claimed that cannabis is significantly more carcinogenic than tobacco. The evidence for this is non-conclusive and controversial. Smoking any substance can lead to inflammation and malignancies in the pulmonary system, and it appears that historic systemic reviews on studies in this area have misinterpreted the available data.
New laboratory products and dedicated studies have explored the pulmonary effects of smoking cannabis with respect to those of cigarette smoking. Comparing cannabis to legal substances that are broadly consumed worldwide has been crucial in changing public perceptions about the drug. While inhalation exposure systems and other laboratory products have associated regular cannabis smoking with various respiratory dysfunctions, studies have found no causal links between cannabis and cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco is causally-linked to over 6 million deaths per year .
Support for cannabis legalization has grown at such a commensurate rate, not just because laboratory products can now prove many of the theoretical benefits of the drug, but because the negative side effects of other legal substances are more widely and transparently explored.
Research into the pharmacological effects of cannabis, beneficial or otherwise, is ongoing around the world.
Glas-Col: Laboratory Products for Cannabis Research
Glas-Col is one of the world’s leading suppliers of laboratory products for academic and industrial research. We provide robust analytical systems and basic glassware to support studies into various applications and fields, including cannabis distillation and pharmacology.
If you would like to learn more about recent changes in cannabis legislation, read our previous blog post: The Importance of Scientific Instruments for Cannabis Research. Otherwise, contact us with any questions.