The push to legalize marijuana at the federal level has gained ground ever since California legalized it for medical use nearly 30 years ago. Recreational marijuana is now permissible in 24 states and Washington, D.C. Only four states still outlaw marijuana with no medical exceptions.

In 2022, President Joe Biden ordered a review of the drug's status as a Schedule I substance, which denotes that a drug has no accepted medical use and has high potential for abuse. If marijuana is reclassified, a renewed push for national legalization will surely follow.

We aren't here to tell you whether to vote for or against legalizing marijuana. But as a doctor and mental health professional, we're concerned that many Americans may come away from this legalization push with a belief that marijuana is harmless − if not healthful.

That's not quite right, as a growing body of scientific literature shows, including a new landmark study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Marijuana can help relieve symptoms of illness
Let's be fair: Marijuana has been shown to alleviate the symptoms and side effects of certain conditions.

Scientific research suggests that the drug can reduce vomiting and nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy, reduce muscle spasms in patients with multiple sclerosis and provide short-term relief for adults with chronic pain.

Your quality of life:Do I have to get chemo to treat my cancer? That answer is changing as treatments evolve.

There's some evidence that marijuana might reduce tics in people with Tourette syndrome, increase appetite and reduce weight loss in people with HIV and improve sleep quality for people with sleep apnea.

But because medical marijuana is federally illegal, there have been relatively few comprehensive and scientifically rigorous studies on its potential benefits. All these areas require further research, including whether benefits actually outweigh risks.

And let's not get suckered into the cannabis industry's focus on medical utility. For the majority of users, marijuana is a recreational drug that brings pleasure, pure and simple.