The use of Marijuana has now become a reality on a legal level in many US states, 38 to be exact. But this whole improvement has now sparked a new discussion, especially in the state of Illinois. Many states like Illinois do also allow the recreational use of Marijuana. But if thatâs the case, which one is the more beneficial? Medical Marijuana or Recreational Marijuana? Well, both modes of Marijuana usage have their own pros and cons, but the following are some factors that greatly differentiate the two,
Priority
Wherever state you reside in, if your state has a valid and active Medical Marijuana Program or does allow the recreational use of Marijuana, chances are that there will be a chain of state-authorized Marijuana dispensaries nearby as well. But the important thing to note here is that people who consume Marijuana recreationally may not get priority access to these dispensaries at all.
In fact, the only way you can legally purchase Marijuana products from these dispensaries on a priority basis is when you have a valid state-authorized Medical Marijuana card or recommendation. This surely gives people with a valid Medical Marijuana Card a massive advantage over people who donât have MMJ cards.
Prices
There is no doubt that when it comes to purchasing Cannabis through dispensaries or any other authorized channel, adult Recreational Marijuana users pay a higher price than Medical Marijuana users. This is mainly due to the fact that Recreational Marijuana usage is subject to tax that can go all the way up to 28.75%.
This tax spike puts a massive toll on recreational users while individuals having a valid MMJ card donât have to pay such taxes. Plus, the rate of tax significantly increases depending upon the quality and THC concentration within the product.
Plants
As per Illinois Medical Marijuana regulations, individuals having a valid Medical Marijuana Card has the right to grow up to 5 Cannabis plants within the premises of their private space. This allows Medical Marijuana users to bypass state dispensaries and grow Cannabis strains that they believe are more suitable for them.
On the other hand, individuals who prefer the recreational consumption of Marijuana canât legally grow their own Cannabis, and trying to do something like this can lead to penalties in the form of fines and in some severe cases, jail time.
Products
There is a clear differentiating line between Marijuana strains that are accessible to recreational users and medical users. The general trend favors medical users as the majority of strains that are known to have particular benefits are only available to medical users. Recreational users only get very mild action Marijuana strains in most cases.
This differentiating fact gives a prominent advantage to individuals with a valid Medical Marijuana Card. Medical users can even prefer certain types of Medical Marijuana strains that they believe are more beneficial for their medical state. Recreational users donât get the chance to make such choices and are restricted in the available range of Marijuana strains.