After seven years of unrelenting back pain and 36 different prescriptions, Josh Dunifon believed he had exhausted every medical option. His medicine cabinet, once filled with bottles and hope, had become a reminder of how little relief he’d found after a devastating truck accident.
At 48, Dunifon never imagined cannabis could be an alternative. He had always opposed its use, but desperation pushed him to reconsider after his physician brought up the idea of medical marijuana.
“It never occurred to me,” he said. “I was one of those people who thought marijuana was bad. But at that point, I was so desperate I would’ve tried anything if it meant less pain.”
Under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Hurford, a physician specializing in rehabilitation medicine, Dunifon began using small doses of cannabis-infused gummies. The results didn’t come instantly, but the change was noticeable.
He is one of an estimated 3.7 million Americans registered as medical cannabis patients. Despite its growing acceptance, many healthcare providers remain reluctant to recommend it.
“Only 30 percent of doctors feel comfortable talking about marijuana,” said Dr. Hurford. “And that number doesn’t necessarily include those who understand how it might be used therapeutically.”
She believes that federal restrictions are partly to blame. Marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law, placing it in the same category as methamphetamine and heroin. The DEA defines that classification as having no accepted medical purpose and a high risk for abuse.
“If it were reclassified, it could help reduce the stigma for both doctors and patients,” Hurford said.
President Trump recently hinted that his administration was reviewing cannabis’s classification. Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to push reform. Representative Jerrold Nadler has reintroduced the MORE Act, which would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and end federal penalties for its use or distribution. The proposal is currently in the House Judiciary Committee.
Twenty-four states and Washington, D.C., currently allow recreational cannabis, while 40 states permit medical use. In Germany, recent clinical trials have shown that medical cannabis can serve as an alternative to opioids for pain management. In contrast, U.S. studies remain limited due to strict federal controls on Schedule I substances.
For Dunifon, the change has been life-altering. A year after beginning treatment, he regained full arm movement and returned to work.
He credits medical cannabis not only with helping him recover physically but also with improving his outlook. “It’s not for everyone,” Dunifon said. “But if you use it responsibly, it can really make a difference.”
The reports given by people like Dunifon are part of the reason why companies like SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) firmly believe that cannabis can have considerable benefits when used therapeutically with help from a healthcare professional.
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