{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-question-tags-template-js","path":"/question-tag/legalization/","result":{"data":{"allQuestion":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Question_12578-markdown","title":"What is legal weed?","slug":"what-is-legal-weed","content":"**\"What exactly does it mean when we say 'legal weed'? Isn't weed legal everywhere now?\"**\n\nMichael L.\n\n--------------------\n\n![Cannabis flower can help some people sleep better.](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2021_12_26_at_6_56_42_PM_69a74251ba.png)\n\n\nLegal weed in this country refers to cannabis that has been deemed legal to use for medical or recreational purposes.  It’s legal in some states but not federally in the United States. And some states allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and others have also opened the gates to recreational or adult use.\n\nWith the growing use of weed for both medical and recreational purposes, there seems to be strong momentum for legalization in this country, though perhaps not fast enough for marijuana advocates pushing for its acceptance.\n\nMedical use of weed is [legal with a doctor's or approved medical practioner’s OK](https://hellomd.com/get-started) in 36 states, four out of five permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Recreational use of cannabis is [legal in 19 states,](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/where-is-marijuana-legal-a-guide-to-marijuana-legalization) Washington, D.C., and Guam.\n\nThe states include:\n\n- Colorado\n- Washington\n- Alaska\n- Oregon\n- California\n- Maine\n- Massachusetts\n- Nevada\n- Michigan\n- Vermont\n- Illinois\n- Arizona\n- Montana\n- New Jersey\n- South Dakota \n- New York\n- Virginia\n- New Mexico\n- Connecticut\n\nWeed retail sales are offered through government-approved dispensaries in the states where cannabis is legalized for purchase.\n\nTo purchase medical cannabis each state has its own rules for obtaining a medical marijuana card. In New York, for example, you have the option [get your card through HelloMD](https://hellomd.com/get-started/new-york) and our telehealth services. It costs only $129 to have an online consultation with a New York practitioner, who will answer any questions you may have and help you determine if your health condition could be helped by medical marijuana (chosen from an state-approved list of conditions).\n\nThe state of New York then charges $50 to issue the medical marijuana card.\n\nDan D.\n\n--------------------\n\n![The dose pen by Dosist.](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2021_12_25_at_11_37_25_AM_cc06e19f25.png)\n\n[Illinois]( https://hellomd.com/articles/illinois-weed-map-your-guide-to-getting-safe-and-legal-weed) is one of the states where you can buy both recreational and medical marijuana. You can still break the law for possession or not following the rules, but on the other hand, you can buy legal, quality-controlled, safe cannabis from authorized dispensaries.\n\nAfter permitting medical marijuana sales for more than five years, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis in June 2019. Under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, recreational cannabis sales to adults aged 21 and older officially began in the beginning of 2020.\n\nIf you're 21 or older and a legal resident of Illinois, you can buy recreational weed from any of the licensed adult-use dispensaries. You can purchase up to 30 grams of dry flower, five grams of concentrate, and edibles with up to 500 mg of THC.\n\nTo be able to buy legal medical cannabis, you need a licensed medical professional to certify you have a debilitating condition. You can book your appointment with a licensed pro in person or through an online platform, such as [HelloMD](https://hellomd.com/get-started/illinois). \n\nIt’s fast, easy, private and 100% online to get your Illinois medical cannabis card through us, book a consultation with a medical professional, and then receive your authorization to purchase medical marijuana through a state-licensed dispensary.\n\nCarla S.\n\n---------------------\n\n![Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 5.19.35 PM.png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2021_12_10_at_5_19_35_PM_78e64fd582.png)\n\nI should also point out that legal weed will help with the Catch-22 that has plagued its use for medical reasons or recreational purposes. The medical and legal establishment resisted its legalization because there wasn’t enough proof of its benefits and that cannabis was safe to use. But it was hard to get that research proof because cannabis was an illegal drug, making it hard to access for studies.\n\nBut growing legalization in this country will help [spur the kind of research](https://hellomd.ca/articles/will-adult-use-legalization-help-cannabis-research) needed to prove (or disprove) its efficacy, beyond the usual anecdotal testimonials. \n\nThe research would not only cover the well-known cannabinoids THC and CBD but dozens of other active ingredients, each one having potential uses that could reveal new ways that cannabis can benefit us.\n\nLaurie Tawada\n\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/14b42/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.jpg","srcSet":"/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/f836f/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.jpg 200w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/2244e/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.jpg 400w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/14b42/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.jpg 800w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/47498/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.jpg 1200w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/0e329/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.jpg 1600w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/947df/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.jpg 5472w","srcWebp":"/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/58556/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/61e93/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.webp 200w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/1f5c5/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.webp 400w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/58556/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.webp 800w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/99238/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.webp 1200w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/7c22d/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.webp 1600w,\n/static/b1b765b4a1eb4938536d8b2b90ba5e52/f8fd9/ccd8d8f2368806cc4db5717a484e5019.webp 5472w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Question_8717-markdown","title":"I'd like a rapid THC detox formula.  ","slug":"id-like-a-rapid-thc-detox-formula","content":"\"Also, how will legalization affect employer drug testing?\nWill card holders have any rights in this regard?\"\n_____________________\n\nUnfortunately I am not sure how legalization will impact drug testing--you would think that it should end discrimination against those with med recs, however, I don't think that will be the case. This article goes over this topic: http://www.canorml.org/employment_rights_a_priority_for_Cal_NORML\n\nJust goes to show that we still have a ton of work to do, even though cannabis is now legal in CA. I'd make a plug to support NORML. They do a ton of advocacy work for cannabis users in this respect.\n\nDanielle Lim ","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_8703-markdown","title":"Legalization in 2018...","slug":"legalization-in-2018","content":"\"Any thoughts on how legalization will impact medical patients?\"\n_____________________\nHello, and thank you for the great question. When first  contemplating legalization of recreational marijuana, I thoroughly  believed it would be to the detriment of legitimate medical marijuana  patients. I predicted that the vast majority of medical patients would  simply \"wing\" it - perhaps ask a couple friends on how they use it, or  consult with a less than  knowledgeable dispensary employee - leading to a less than effective or even harmful treatment plan.\n\ndrkim\n_____________________\nHere is a good primer on what's coming in 2018...\n\nLarry","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_9650-markdown","title":"What if state does not legalize cannabis ","slug":"what-if-state-does-not-legalize-cannabis","content":"","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_6856-markdown","title":"Prop 64 is a bad deal and I am voting against it","slug":"prop-64-is-a-bad-deal-and-i-am-voting-against-it","content":"\"Californians should hold out for a better deal.  The Cannabis industry will generate billions in tax revenue for California but Prop 64 is the wrong deal for California.    It delegates billions of dollars to new obscure anti-cannabis law enforcement and drug programs and does nothing for actual needs like improving schools and highways.\n\nCalifornia should hold out for a better deal before they legalize their extremely valuable Cannabis market.\n\"\n_____________________\nI respectfully disagree.  Prop 64 makes some important changes.  It decriminalized cannabis possession by adults over 21 and changes it to a fine for adults between 18-21.  It also changes other cannabis related charges from felonies to misdemeanors, including possession for sale, transportation, sales, etc.  As the current system is sending too many people in the cannabis industry to jail and imprison, it is a vast improvement over the current system.  While it isn't perfect, no law ever is.\n\nscotcandell","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_6821-markdown","title":"Is cannabis in CA going to be overtaken by big business?","slug":"is-cannabis-in-ca-going-to-be-overtaken-by-big-business","content":"\"Are we going to see the Walmart of weed after legalization?\"\n_____________________\nI would imagine that many view becoming the Wal-Mart of cannabis as their ultimate goal. Certainly if I owned a business I would want it to become as successful as possible. If Wal-Mart can exist in our retail markets it can definitely exist in the cannabis industry. It is up to policy makers to try and keep things as fair as possible. They are trying with Prop 64- like the 5 year ban on large scale licenses and other anti-vertical integration legislation. Other sections of the proposition, like the ability for the law to be changed by an internal vote makes me think that there will eventually be a Wal-Mart of cannabis, a McDonalds of cannabis, and even a Starbucks of cannabis.\n\nryan\n_____________________\nAbsolutely.  Weedmaps Chairman of the Board, Justin Hartfield, has stated that he wants Weedmaps to become the \"Philip Morris of weed.\"  Hell, Philip Morris is investing $20M in developing a cannabis inhaler for medical use: http://www.reuters.com/article/pmi-israel-idUSL8N153292.  The price of land in the Emerald Triangle of California has skyrocketed, with deep-pocketed investor groups anticipating setting up shop.  The regulatory structure proposed in prop. 64, with multiple layers of licensing and environmental compliance costs virtually guarantees that only large corporations, with their economies of scale, will be able to do business profitably should the proposition pass.\n\nBut do Californians really want the current low-to-no regulatory environment?  The environmental destruction of drug-cartel growing operations is well known.  And personally, I'd like for local dispensaries to test every product coming in their place for banned pesticides (assuming \"Big Pot\" allows regulators to create a list of banned pesticides in the first place: http://dpo.st/2fnRGv2). And just recently, Reveal published a story about worker exploitation in the MJ industry: http://bit.ly/2f67DST.  Legalizing and regulating the MJ industry would entitle MJ workers to all the protections other ag. workers have.\n\nacohn\n_____________________\nI don't believe so. There are residency requirements in Prop 64 (meaning you have to show that you have lived here in order to be granted a license) and a moratorium on the large scale cultivation license for 5 years. In time, there will likely be consolidation as the economies of scale make businesses more competitive. But the playing field is level to start.\n\nkristikiva","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_11527-markdown","title":"Will legalization drive boutique, high craft cannabis farmers out of business?","slug":"will-legalization-drive-boutique-high-craft-cannabis-farmers-out-of-business","content":"\"Or could legalization make the artisanal farmers more desirable? You guys obviously value premium cannabis and source from the best. I'm wondering what the future is for these smaller farmers in your opinion.\"\n_____________________\nObviously, we’d like to think the future is bright for the craft cannabis farms of California, but the path will not be easy and we need your help. It will be important to ask where your cannabis products come from. There are a lot of large, chemically fertilized cannabis farms going into operation all over the state and it will be important for consumers to support the small family farms from the Emerald Triangle. \n\nThe highest quality cannabis has always been produced in small batches on rural mountain farms, but legalization and investment capital are beginning to cloud the view consumers with tools like packaging and marketing. Only organic, biologically focused farming harnesses the forces of nature to coax out the truest expressions of the plant; the mega-farms will always struggle to compete with the quality produced by craft farmers. \n\nThe craft farmers of the North Coast are banding together into cooperatives and working with amazing organizations like Flow Kana to give themselves a chance, but it’s all going to come down to the people who enjoy the amazing flowers. Be a discerning customer, vote with your money, don’t settle for lamp grown… CRAFT CANNABIS COMES FROM SMALL FARMS.\n\nmicah","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10958-markdown","title":"Will Hilary Clinton support the cannabis industry if she is elected? What are her views on legalization?","slug":"will-hilary-clinton-support-the-cannabis-industry-if-she-is-elected-what-are-her-views-on-legalization","content":"\"I'd ask this about Trump too but I don't think he is going to win.\"\n_____________________\nClinton prefers to see a federal relaxation of marijuana research, meaning that the drug would be downgraded from a Schedule 1 drug like heroin to Schedule 2, according to an MSNBC report. A downgrade would allow medical research.\n\n“I do support the use of medical marijuana,” she said in the first Democratic presidential debate a few month ago. “And I think even there we need to do a lot more research so that we know exactly how we’re going to help people for whom medical marijuana provides relief.” \n\nWhile Clinton’s concession on the drug is viewed as positive by cannabis legalization advocates, they don’t believe it goes far enough. Tom Angell, chairman of the pro-legalization group Marijuana Majority, said Clinton is moving in the right direction. But he said only federal changes would truly prevent ill people, for example,  from being harassed by drug enforcement officers. “It may make research slightly easier, but on its own wouldn’t do anything to protect seriously ill people who are using marijuana in accordance with state laws from being harassed by the DEA. Only changing the federal criminal statutes can effectively do that, ” Angell said.\n\nMarijuana Legalization 2016: Where Do Hillary Clinton And Bernie Sanders Stand On Cannabis Use?  BY CHRISTOPHER HARRESS @CHARRESS ON 02/26/16 AT 4:33 PM\n\ndrpinto","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10642-markdown","title":"When is the federal government going to de regulate marijuana from being a Schedule 1 drug?","slug":"when-is-the-federal-government-going-to-de-regulate-marijuana-from-being-a-schedule-1-drug","content":"\"I hear so many different  things about federal deregulation. Some people say it may be a year and other people say 10 years. You guys are in the industry. What do you think? If the government does not deregulate marijuana and most states legalize, does it even matter??\"\n_____________________\nSince I'm not in the FDA nor privy to their conversations, any answer I give is purely speculation. There is thought that the FDA is loosening up a bit in terms of approving more studies then ever to let researchers perform clinical trials to scientifically evaluate cannabis as it relates to certain medical conditions. They have recently done this for a study regarding cannabis and PTSD in veterans. \nThere have been Senators from many states writing letters to the FDA asking them to do the same thing. Quite frankly, with the Presidential election coming this year, I very much doubt that anything will happen until then. And even then it will depend on who gets elected and what guidance they give to the FDA. While it supposedly a independent agency the reality is that they take their lead from 'The Boss\".\nIf in fact the FDA does not change the status of cannabis, I think it matters only in terms of clinical trials being done in the United States. Studies are continuing in other countries all the time and patients can obtain information about them from Web based searches. I also believe that more and more states will be passing laws that will allow medical cannabis to be recommended by physicians despite the Schedule 1 classification. \n\nPerry Solomon, MD\n_____________________\nI actually have it on video recording from a physician who is employed by the pharmaceutical industry doing R&D that they are rapidly working on making pharmaceutical cannabis that they feel will meet all the patient's needs because they intend to keep 'The Weed' illegal and force all doctors to write for pharmaceutical grade cannabis. This should be an interesting and entertaining challenge to watch in the future because the millennial's are the first generation that have been brainwashed to believe drugs are good. In 1986 our government gave corporations the right to direct market people so it was approximately 1990 that all the pharmaceutical drug ads hit the TV, prior to that time it was not legal for drug companies to direct advertise to patients. But now many of the millennial's are angry because they were placed on Ritalin when they were seven years old and change to Adderall as adults and they have never had a chance to know who they are or their mission in life. This is just one reason that Bernie Sanders is popular with the millennial's. Cannabis is a beneficial medication that has been around for 5000 years and was used in ancient China so we must all question how can they make this drug deal illegal when it is a weed and by law no one is supposed to be able to have a patent on this drug. The rumors are rampant and as Dr. Solomon mentions, everything is speculation. \n\ndrolson","image":null}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5436,"name":"Legalization","slug":"legalization","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}