In 2019, 70,630 people died due to opioid over doses in the USA alone. Thankfully, in addition to everything else, cannabis is showing tremendous promise when it comes to helping those suffering from addiction break the cycle. Let’s say you hurt your back at work. Your doctor prescribes an opioid for the pain. Weeks later your back is much better but you feel terrible. So you take one of the pills that made you feel good – just one. There are now countless victims with stories like these. Frequently they’re described as people who have never even taken an aspirin. One of the problems cannabis solves is providing pain relief for those concerned about addictive drugs. There are circumstances where opioids are necessary and helpful but they are wildly over prescribed.
You can use plants to make drugs – but plants and drugs are two entirely different things. And unlike drugs, you can’t patent or copyright a plant.