{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/cannabis-law/2","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2107-markdown","title":"Delays for Recreational Marijuana Rollout in California","slug":"delays-for-recreational-marijuana-rollout-in-california","content":"### Recreational Rollout Unlikely for 2018\n\nCalifornia recently passed a bill allowing for [recreational marijuana in the state](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/57cf68b372d0670007e32abf/california-marijuana-legalization-prop-64), which is set to roll out at the beginning in 2018. $10 million have been earmarked by Governor Jerry Brown to assist with the rollout that is expected to generate $1.5 billion for the state. Many people, however, are doubting that California can get its recreational market up and running by the targeted roll out date. The plan is for California departments and legislature to create the structure and institutions to sustain the market during 2017, allowing for licenses to be handed out to dispensaries and growers at the beginning of 2018. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nThe roll out is a multifaceted process that involves the creation and restructuring of multiple state institutions. Though the state has every intention of meeting their projected deadline, they have a few lofty goals that may prolong it. It takes a long time to draft formal regulations, which need to be set up in order to monitor the creation of businesses and other issues like law enforcement. \n\n### New Regulations Take Time\n\nThe Department of Food and Agriculture must create new grow regulations for the product that has been produced in the state for over 20 years without formal regulation, due to its national status as a Schedule I substance. The Department of Public Health must create new regulations governing the manufacturing of products such as edibles and tinctures and the Bureau of Medical Cannabis regulation must also widen its scope to create new standards for lab testing of recreational retail products to be sure they are meeting certain safety standards. \n\nRELATED: [CANNABIS A SAFER OPTION FOR MANAGING PAIN](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c91db33934390006220000/cannabis-may-be-safer-than-opioids-for-managing-pain)\n\nThough a lot of work has already been done in these areas, it is still not likely that all of the bureaucratic processes will be completed fast enough for a 2018 roll out. Some of the most probable road blocks are the creation of new platforms that involve the production of new technology. The new multilevel tax structure written into the bill needs to be formally created, as well as technological ‘track and trace’ platforms that allow the plant to be tracked from seed to selling. The ambitious desire of California to create these platforms from scratch, when they are already operational in other states with legalized recreational cannabis, is something that could cause a large delay. \n\n### Looking Towards 2019 for Rollout\n\nNot only does the California government have to formalize regulations for this whole process, but 58 counties and 482 cities have to draft their own regulations as well. All of these issues have left some people concerned that California may not have an operational recreational marijuana industry until 2019. Until the point when the state has all of their recreational marijuana programs up and running, all people are still required to have a medical marijuana card to access cannabis. It is important that no patients rely on any specific roll-out date, but instead still possess a medical card to be able to access their medication. \n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/ee604/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.png","srcSet":"/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/69585/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.png 200w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/497c6/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.png 400w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/ee604/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.png 800w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/f3583/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.png 1200w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/8259f/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.png 1296w","srcWebp":"/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/58556/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/61e93/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.webp 200w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/1f5c5/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.webp 400w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/58556/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.webp 800w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/99238/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.webp 1200w,\n/static/ab2ea62d6d9bd6b22aeb27dd08fb2241/b8788/64294e3e0b089191bcf829814c58f5c4.webp 1296w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2136-markdown","title":"The History of Marijuana Propaganda","slug":"the-history-of-marijuana-propaganda","content":"The history of marijuana propaganda follows an interesting trajectory,\r\nfrom moral outrage to a seemingly objective and measured scientific\r\ncensure. In the arguments, certain themes and tropes appear again and\r\nagain, as the narrative has built on its own stories, refined its\r\napproach and responded to criticisms.\r\n\r\n**Reefer Madness**\r\n\r\nThis [1936 film](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbjHOBJzhb0) depicts\r\nthe anti-marijuana propaganda movement in its first frenzied iteration.\r\nThe narrative follows the plight of a young man who smokes the \"vicious\r\nweed\" and finds himself plunged in short order into a nightmare of\r\nviolence and murder that culminates in suicide and insanity. In the\r\n1930s, cannabis and hemp, which had been grown for hundreds of years in\r\nthe US, even by the founding fathers, began being referred to as\r\n\"marijuana,\" perhaps to associate it more closely with Mexican\r\nimmigrants, who were accused of taking American jobs during the\r\nDepression.\r\n\r\n**Marijuana, Assassin of Youth**\r\n\r\nThis [1937 screed](http://druglibrary.org/mags/assassinofyouth.htm) was\r\npenned by H.F. Anslinger, U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics, together with\r\nCourtney Ryley Cooper. Published in the American Magazine, the article\r\ncould easily be a synopsis of \"Reefer Madness,\" suggesting that the\r\nNarcotics Czar didn't look too far for his inspiration. Its notable\r\ntheme is marijuana's unpredictable quality, presumably responding to\r\npeople who had tried the plant and discovered it to be quite benign. One\r\nnever knew how the brain would react, and \"whether he will become a\r\nphilosopher, a joyous reveler, a mad insensate or a murderer.\" This work\r\ncontained a potent theme that would appear again and again in the annals\r\nof drug prohibition literature: of young people, completely detached\r\nfrom material reality, flinging themselves from windows to their death.\r\n\r\n**Marihuana -- The Evil Weed**\r\n\r\nPublished in Detective World in 1947 and written by Judge Carl F.\r\nDieffenbach, Jr, [this\r\narticle](http://druglibrary.org/mags/detectiveworld.htm) built on the\r\nassassin theme and began to associate the plant with everything foreign\r\nand strange to the American mind. The notable use of the Anglicized\r\nspelling variation -- with \"h\" replacing \"j\" -- was very likely a\r\ndeliberate choice to make the plant sound more unAmerican and menacing.\r\nHinting that \"hashish\" is related to the Arabic word \"assassin,\" the\r\narticle depicts the plant as a snake that originated in the Orient and\r\ntraveled through Mexico, then wound itself in a serpentine fashion\r\nthrough the social world of American life, determined to destroy not\r\njust the mind but also our collective culture. The article goes on to\r\nindulge in blatantly racist insinuations, associating \"reefers\" with\r\n\"jazz\" halls and \"juke joints.\" In this reprehensible but masterly\r\nexample of period propaganda, even the poet Homer is evoked to denounce\r\nthe deadly plant, which had apparently invested the ancient Persians\r\nwith their devilish power.\r\n\r\n**Dare Smokes a Reefer**\r\n\r\nPublished in 1953, [Dare\r\nMagazine](http://druglibrary.org/mags/dare_smokes_a_reefer.htm)\r\nconcocted a scary composite picture of drug users turned into criminals\r\nand murderers from smoking \"reefers.\" Beyond these cautionary tales, the\r\nreader was told that nearly all heroin and cocaine users started with\r\nmarijuana, and only graduated to harder drugs when the thrill wore off,\r\nestablishing marijuana as a \"gateway\" drug to harder stuff. One\r\nconsequence of marijuana depicted in these case studies is tied back to\r\nits very illegality. This circular reasoning -- marijuana users suffer\r\nwhen they get arrested for possessing it -- became very popular in\r\nfuture messaging.\r\n\r\n**The Surgeon General's Warning on Marijuana**\r\n\r\nBy 1982, [the\r\nstory](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001143.htm) had\r\nchanged quite a bit. Marijuana was linked to \"amotivational syndrome,\"\r\ncharacterized by low energy, diminished performance and lack of drive --\r\nalmost exactly the opposite of the manic, super-human claims of the\r\nprevious decades. Along with these effects, the literature warned of low\r\nsperm count, cancer and an impaired immune system.\r\n\r\n**Marijuana -- National Drug Threat Assessment**\r\n\r\n[This official\r\nreport](https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3300/marijuan.htm),\r\npublished as recently as 2003, positioned marijuana as the leading drug\r\nthreat to the country. It focused heavily on crime reports in framing\r\nthe argument, which was heavily skewed to the perceptions of law\r\nenforcement agencies. Again, this problem arises from the fact that\r\nmarijuana is illegal. It suggested that marijuana might be physically\r\naddictive and posited that decriminalization would increase usage.\r\n\r\nToday, marijuana still tops the federal list of dangerous and addictive\r\ndrugs. Since 1970, cannabis has been classified as a schedule I\r\nprohibited substance, the most restrictive category. However, there are\r\nsignals coming from the DEA that changes may be coming soon. Maybe it's\r\ntime to hear the other side of the story.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/invisibleinkweb/4267823492/in/photolist-7v8HeE-7v8J1u-6FJtKG-ERy2K-o7J8bN-o7K9Ar-onbC11-6W7GBW-7Q6qWh-7Q6r2j-9Af8yo-BZVYA-2UNycr-2SHXM-zxrbN-5Dya21-bdZEmk-sSivV-Czt7X-7Q6qN9-6t1ydA-8adKGF-f37iq-33RSKY-9zPgo3-4rLJGj-4rGFvp-4rLJjh-dhBszY-bPakS2-5jod4v-7Tg5Hx-8fJGNT-8qrkvj-B9tYQr-A7HGEr-e5N2FG-aoVWhb-AxPr8H-4rLKp9-B9tYP4-AxPr9e-7v8HvJ-yLvBR3-A9LYSK-5jJAGR-AvvAzA-ACxmbs-AoyvPE-AvvErc)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5625,"src":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/a2255/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png","srcSet":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/69585/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png 200w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/497c6/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png 400w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/a2255/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png 578w","srcWebp":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/45990/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/61e93/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp 200w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/1f5c5/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp 400w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/45990/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp 578w","sizes":"(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2110-markdown","title":"When Marijuana is Rescheduled by the Feds","slug":"when-marijuana-is-rescheduled-by-the-feds","content":"People who are familiar with marijuana are also familiar with its often\ncontested spot on the list of Schedule I Controlled Substances. For\nyears, advocacy groups have been fighting to have marijuana re-listed or\ndelisted entirely, but as yet there's been no movement. This unfortunate\nsituation makes marijuana harder for patients to access and makes it\nmore difficult for scientists to study marijuana to uncover more of its\nmedicinal benefits. Here's what consumers need to know about the messy\nhistory of marijuana's classification:\n\n**The Low-Down on Schedule I Classification**\n\nOf the five classes the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) uses\nto classify controlled substances, Schedule I is the most restricted.\nSubstances in the [Schedule I\ngroup](http://www.drugs.com/article/csa-schedule-1.html) are thought to\nbe the most dangerous and hold the highest potential for abuse and\naddiction. These drugs are also classified as having no medicinal value.\nSchedule I substances include heroin, LSD and ecstasy. Drugs like\ncocaine and methamphetamine are ranked lower than marijuana as [Schedule\nII substances](http://www.drugs.com/schedule-2-drugs.html).\n\n**The Impact of Schedule I Classification**\n\nEver since marijuana was classified as a Schedule I substance by the\nReagan Administration in 1970, people have been fighting to have it\nremoved from the list. Research has proven time and time again that\nmarijuana has a [low potential for\naddiction](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/09/no-marijuana-is-not-actually-as-addictive-as-heroin/)\nand abuse (except for a [mild\nrisk](http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/08/regular-marijuana.aspx)\nfor adolescents), and multiple studies have shown beyond a shadow of a\ndoubt that marijuana has dozens of medicinal properties that can be used\nto manage and treat symptoms like [chronic\npain](https://hellomd.com/articles/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain),\n[eating\ndisorders](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/medical-matchmaking-cannabis-and-anorexia),\n[anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-for-anxiety-and-stress-disorders),\nand\n[depression](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana)\nin a wide variety of patients. There is even a [drug derived from\ncannabis compounds](http://www.marinol.com/) that is currently on the\nmarket and being used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea.\n\nIn light of its low potential for abuse and high potential for medicinal\nvalue, the fact that marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance\nis problematic. Because cannabis is scheduled at the highest possible\ntier by the feds, people who are caught with it in states without\nmedicinal or recreational marijuana laws face harsh penalties.\nAdditionally, researchers who want to study marijuana are forced to leap\nthrough a nearly impossible series of bureaucratic hoops to secure\npermission or funding, which almost always results in no research being conducted.\n\nAdditionally, doctors who want to treat patients with marijuana in\nstates without medical marijuana licenses risk litigation or the loss of\ntheir medical licenses. Even doctors in states where medical marijuana\nis legal (such as New York) still [don't recommend medical\nmarijuana](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/why-doctors-in-new-york-arent-recommending-marijuana)\nto their patients due to fears of legal blow back or a loss of their\nmalpractice insurance. These things make it virtually impossible for\npatients to have safe, secure access to medical marijuana and further\nimpede the research and development of effective, medicinal,\nmarijuana-derived treatments for dangerous health conditions.\n\n**Proposals to Reschedule Marijuana**\n\nThroughout the last 46 years, there have been dozens, if not hundreds,\nof [proposals to reschedule\nmarijuana](http://www.ibtimes.com/why-marijuana-schedule-i-drug-1821426).\nAlmost immediately after marijuana was classified as a Schedule I\nsubstance, a group called the National Organization for the Reform of\nMarijuana Laws ([NORML](http://norml.org/)) petitioned the DEA to\nreclassify marijuana as a less-dangerous substance. After a tough,\n22-year-long battle in the court system, the feds rejected that appeal.\nIn 2002, the [Coalition to Reschedule\nCannabis](http://www.drugscience.org/about_coalition.html) developed\nanother petition that sought to reschedule cannabis, although this\nrequest was [also\ndenied](http://www.safeaccessnow.org/dea_denial_of_petition_to_reschedule_marijuana).\nThe group appealed the decision but was again rejected. The reason for\nthe rejection was that there was no evidence to support the medical use\nof cannabis. Within the last several years, the DEA and groups of U.S.\nregulators have conducted additional studies of cannabis and have\ndetermined, on [two separate\noccasions](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-06-20/drug-regulators-study-easing-u-s-marijuana-restrictions),\nthat cannabis needs to remain a Schedule I substance. In 2013,\n[Americans for Safe\nAccess](http://www.safeaccessnow.org/tags/rescheduling_petition) filed\nyet another appeal cannabis, which was also denied by the courts. More\nrecently, presidential candidates like [Bernie\nSanders](http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/04/bernie-sanders-marijuana-bill-federal-law-senate)\nand [Hillary\nClinton](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-marijuana-reform_us_563e5fc4e4b0307f2cadb82a)\nhave petitioned to deschedule or reschedule marijuana, although changes\nhave yet to take place. Marijuana aficionados remain hopeful, however,\nas there is much talk about the fact that President Obama may seek to\n[alter marijuana's\nclassification](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/29/gary-johnson-predicts-obama-will-reclassify-mariju/)\nbefore he leaves office.\n\n**Why Marijuana Has Not Been Rescheduled Yet**\n\nWhile there are many theories about why the feds have yet to reschedule\nmarijuana, most experts believe that the issue boils down to doubt about\nmarijuana's medical benefits. Despite the fact that dozens of studies\nhave proven the [medical benefits of\ncannabis](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/04/vivek-murthy-marijuana_n_6614226.html?utm_hp_ref=tw),\nbig-name organizations like the FDA remain skeptical. While marijuana\naficionados are hopeful that marijuana will be rescheduled shortly,\nthere are dozens of [congressional and administrative\nhurdles](http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2015/02/13-how-to-reschedule-marijuana-hudak-wallack)\nstanding between marijuana and declassification. While many high-ranking\nexperts believe that the [Schedule I classification of marijuana is\nunfair](http://www.vice.com/read/marijuana-is-still-a-schedule-i-drug-judge-rules-415),\nCongress remains in gridlock when it comes to changing the plant's\nclassification. Even if classification does change in the coming years,\nmarijuana lovers need to realize that the herb faces many future\ndifficulties, such as the intrusion of big pharma and future legal\nchallenges.\n\n**What about the Obama Administration?**\n\nWhile some remain hopeful that President Obama may decide to reclassify marijuana before the end of his term in office, he has not indicated that he will do this. In fact, he has stated that he sees this as an issue for congress to act upon. Others have pointed out that between Health and Human Services and the Justice Department, it could be reclassified without congressional approval. At this point, most people think the likelihood of action before the end of the current term is minimal. \n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/pierre-selim/7555375146/in/photolist-cvDgNJ-9dpJ5-6iDf1Z-dW4XJM-8G2Uoi-4sSLKQ-7DxPkz-5PSw2G-5Ue7Uc-5K23eo-4sSFmb-6JTHjK-7hwRre-4kvQ5-jvHg8-5p5MQm-BVrD-NWGyo-59Djtu-4sSG3U-7CWBeh-u4nU-4sSKVj-5w6Ga9-38E89f-de3Jjh-6gwqJ2-3BQPX7-4sSGMA-4sPnG8-7Wm9Jc-4sSPrS-4e3AUY-69PhEo-5QDzDC-7Nnpkm-zTqan-ai7AtV-DC38Qp-dW4Xvv-bG83H-5Dt9xf-j6CSV-4YZmNP-8RBTuR-36abTA-yfeN9-ca8EiJ-i4ENE6-6n6QDq)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.639344262295082,"src":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/ee604/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png","srcSet":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/69585/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 200w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/497c6/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 400w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/ee604/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 800w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/035d9/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 990w","srcWebp":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/58556/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/61e93/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 200w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/1f5c5/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 400w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/58556/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 800w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/8b5b8/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 990w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1995-markdown","title":"Corporate Greed, Corruption & Racism: Marijuana Became Illegal","slug":"corporate-greed-corruption-and-racism-marijuana-became-illegal","content":"The marijuana legalization movement has blazed a forward path by slowly\nopening minds and challenging archaic laws and regulations. Much work is\nstill needed to redeem this useful plant from the toxic mythology that\ngrew up around it, however. A little bit of history can illuminate just\nhow that mythology took root.\n\nJack Herer, an iconic figure in the marijuana legalization movement,\nwrote a fascinating history of the marijuana plant and its political and\nsocial history. It's an interesting story and, like many American\nstories, we find it tracking along the lines of corporate conspiracy,\npolitical corruption, social propaganda and a legacy of racism and\ncriminalization. We've summarized some of the key plot points below. Be\nsure to [check out the whole story](http://www.jackherer.com/) on his\nwebsite.\n\n**Farming and Industry**\n\nIn 1938, two innovations stood poised to shake up markets, transform\nindustry and bring a new economy to the fore. Industrial hemp\ndecorticating devices designed by scientists at the US Department of\nAgriculture in 1916 were both fully operational and economically\nfeasible. It seemed the plant was poised to revitalize the American farm\nand transform both agriculture and industry. The plan involved not just\nthe green buds, but utilized the pulpy stalks to make paper, an\nexploding market back at the beginning of the mid-20th century. The\neconomic and ecological benefits resulting from the cultivation and\nproduction of pulp paper might have saved countless forests from\ndecimation, preserved ground water from contamination, and softened the\nimpact of the great depression. What happened?\n\n**Barriers to Market**\n\nAt the same moment, the Dupont family had patented an industrial process\nfor making plastics from coal and paper from wood pulp. Eager to corner\nthe paper market and to fend off competition for a whole host of\nsynthetic products made of nylon, the company realized that hemp, once\nit was converted into an industry of scale, would be one of its largest\ncompetitors. One of Dupont's largest investors, Andrew Mellon, was\nserving in the Hoover administration as the Secretary of Treasury.\nMellon tapped Harry J. Anslinger, his soon-to-be nephew, to run the\nFederal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Interestingly,\nAnslinger had already served as prohibition commissioner in the era of\nalcohol prohibition.\n\nEnter sensational newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, who had\ninvested heavily in timber and had a vested interest in keeping hemp off\nthe market. A [propaganda\ncampaign](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/interviews/musto.html)\nensued, and the toxic misrepresentations still haunt us today. Anslinger\nand Hearst begin to produce\n[films](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azf320JDdqU), stories and other\n[sensational\nreports](http://ssdp.org/news/blog/why-was-marijuana-illegal-first-place/)\nthat maligned marijuana users as deranged and violent. It targeted\nMexicans, Chinese and black Americans as the bad guys. They tied\nmarijuana use to [everything the public\nfeared](http://all-that-is-interesting.com/20th-century-anti-marijuana-propaganda)\nmost and branded its users as rapists and beasts out to destroy white\nculture. Sound familiar?\n\nIt didn't take long, between regressive taxes and vicious propaganda,\nfor marijuana to become associated in the public mind with every kind of\ndeviance and violence. Anslinger testified before Congress that\nmarijuana was \"the most violence-causing drug in the history of the\nworld.\" The marijuana tax of 1937 regulated the plant and made its trade\nand possession illegal. The economic and ecological benefits that hemp\nhad promised vanished almost overnight.\n\nSince that time, marijuana has continued to be a potent weapon in the\nhands of policy makers and politicians who need a scapegoat. The\noriginal campaign against marijuana provided a template for forwarding\nsocial and economic agendas.\n\n**The 60's and the Rise of Stigma**\n\nIn the 60s, marijuana use was associated with the rising anti-war\nmovement. Although marijuana became more openly acceptable in some\ncircles, publicly it was demonized, often in association with other\ndangerous compounds and synthetic drugs. As the streets became saturated\nwith heavier drugs such as heroin and cocaine, marijuana was considered\nguilty by association and framed as a gateway drug. In the meantime, the\nwar against drugs was often posited in nationalistic and geopolitical\nterms.\n\nToday, these associations linger. People still believe that marijuana\nuse is responsible for empowering Mexican drug cartels, instead of\nunderstanding how legalization and thoughtful regulation policies would\nmake the import of marijuana from Mexico completely irrelevant. In fact,\nthe growth of powerful cartels was a result of the criminalization of\nmarijuana, and their decline can be [linked to our changing\npolicies.](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56e35016c6ebce000c0000bc/legalization-of-marijuana-is-destroying-mexicos-drug-cartel)\n\nAn autopsy of our history of marijuana policies reveals a tortured logic\nthat tries very much to shape itself as a moral authority but fails at\nevery turn. Even a surface glance reveals some painful contradictions.\nAs marijuana entrepreneurs experiment with marijuana extracts in\nhigh-tech labs, many others, often individuals of color, have forfeited\ntheir futures to the American justice system and are living out life\nsentences in prison. Opportunities to correct these injustices are\nmanifest, but the federal government has declined again and again to\npass comprehensive laws that would limit selective punishment and make\nmarijuana an opportunity for all. Whether pursuing the plant from the\nbusiness side or as a medicine that has been [shown to mitigate\nsuffering](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56f5a323f763e40008000020/new-guidance-on-opiates-for-chronic-pain-but-there-is-a-solution)\nwithout the harsh side effects of synthetic drugs.\n\n**Conclusion**\n\nIn a nutshell, the criminalization of marijuana came about because the\nfinancial potential of hemp was too threatening to captains of industry\nthreatened by competition. In the 1930s, Harry J. Anslinger, who had\njust lost his position running the defunct alcohol prohibition agency,\nwas appointed to oversee the enforcement of drug laws. He was appointed\nby a powerful relative a huge position in Dupont, which saw hemp as a\ndanger to its profits. Meanwhile, William Randolph Hearst, the\ninspiration for Citizen Kane, had investments in timber to keep the\npresses rolling at his sensationalist newspaper. Despite the lack of\nscientific studies, the public perception of marijuana as a gateway drug\nremained in the public eye. This year, the Supreme Court upheld\nColorado's thriving cannabis ecosystem against its punitive-minded\nneighbors, but the official federal policy hasn't changed. What the\nnation needs is for marijuana to be regulated sensibly and fairly, as a\nnational resource, and not demonized or used as a tool for moral panics.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/47217049@N05/15599895956/in/photolist-pLvxzo-3nnmnE-cox4s5-6EqLTA-d3rirs-gtgA2D-46QDYd-2K9sR7-6QLQXh-3aTFwk-6QLSUU-6QLRam-2hPbuM-6QGKAt-2SePj5-6QGKXH-r1iQV-r1iR2-6QLRtw-6QLS7C-3cB1Jb-6QLTnu-9CNoNk-6QLTwf-7mqyR1-cxa4Mm-6QLU3C-6QGMrt-6QGLqK-6QLQLw-6QLRjw-6QGL9D-6QGK3x-bcFASR-q5eDVV-6QLRXN-6QLTeb-dUqtg5-6QGMAK-39Goki-jip6DN-6QGPt8-6QGNmR-76CSak-8nNZCa-fhw5Ge-76CRNe-8Fetuy-6QGKLt-stGeAT)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4492753623188406,"src":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/ee604/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png","srcSet":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/69585/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 200w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/497c6/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 400w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/ee604/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 800w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/a3f62/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 1066w","srcWebp":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/58556/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/61e93/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 200w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/1f5c5/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 400w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/58556/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 800w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/0465f/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 1066w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2212-markdown","title":"Debbie Wasserman Schultz: on the Wrong Side of Marijuana Issues","slug":"debbie-wasserman-schultz-on-the-wrong-side-of-marijuana-issues","content":"I've recently noticed that Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the\nDemocratic National Committee and a Florida representative, stands in\nopposition to medical-marijuana adoption in Florida, but 58 percent of\nthe state voted in support of a 2014 medical-marijuana bill. Florida\nrequires a 60-percent majority to pass the bill, so widespread medical\nmarijuana is not legal yet in this state. Even though I know medical\nmarijuana can treat a wide range of conditions, Florida only permits\nlimited use for cancer patients and those with epilepsy and Lou Gehrig's\ndisease. These medical marijuana users are restricted to a single strain\ncalled Charlotte's Web, which is administered as a low-THC cannabis oil.\nThe issue goes up for a vote again in November 2016, [according to the\nObserver](https://observer.com/2016/03/more-reason-to-hate-debbie-wasserman-schultz-her-ridiculous-war-on-medical-marijuana/),\nbut Schultz is taking measures to prevent the bill from passing again.\n\n**Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Position on Marijuana**\n\nSchultz holds a position that marijuana dispensaries over-prescribe and\nover-treat patients. She used the term \"pill mills\" to describe\ndispensaries during her opposition to the 2014 Florida bill. She has a\nstrong belief that legalizing \"mind-altering\" substances such as\nmarijuana lead to further drug use. [Sun Times\nreports](https://extract.suntimes.com/news/10/153/11412/debbie-wasserman-schultz-opposes-marijuana-legalization-links-to-hard-drugs)\nSchultz is worried about a \"huge heroin epidemic\" in Florida, but I've\nfound no evidence supporting this claim. She says she felt bothered by\nthe drug culture she encountered where she grew up in Long Island.\nHowever, I discovered that Schultz grew up in an affluent neighborhood\nin the region, so the basis of her life experience is uncertain.\n\nStill, she avoided questions asking why she was not opposed to\nopiate-painkiller prescriptions on the same grounds. I see the gateway\ntheory frequently used by opponents of medical marijuana, but science\nhas debunked this position since 1999. A [Congress\nreport](https://www.nap.edu/read/6376/chapter/2# 2) found no link between\nmarijuana use and harder drug use. However, there is a strong link\nbetween opiate-painkiller prescriptions and moving into harder drugs.\nThese painkillers can lead to addiction, many negative medical side\neffects and a tendency to try drugs such as heroin.\n\nSchultz receives significant campaign contributions from alcohol\ncompanies, [according to High\nTimes](https://www.hightimes.com/read/dnc-chair-accepts-huge-donations-alcohol-pacs-claims-pot-gateway-drug),\nsuch as Bacardi USA and Southern Wine and Spirits. Alcohol and tobacco\ncompanies are strongly opposed to marijuana legalization and\ndecriminalization, based on perceived revenue loss. These contributors\nmay influence Schultz's position on medical marijuana. She stands in\nopposition to many other Democrats on this matter, which has led to some\nconfusion about her motives.\n\n**The Benefits of Medical Marijuana**\n\nMedical-marijuana access can bring many benefits to Florida residents if\nthe 2016 bill gains approval.\n[HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/medical-marijuana-patient-survey) conducted\na survey to find out how medical-marijuana patients benefited from\nlegalization. The typical conditions treated with marijuana include\n[anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/anxiety),\n[stress](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a99f8b3f24d1300077ccb74/how-to-manage-stress-with-cannabis),\n[insomnia](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/insomnia)\nand [chronic\npain](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/chronic-pain), but\nmany conditions respond well to this treatment method. In fact, [84\npercent of\npatients](https://www.hellomd.com/medical-marijuana-patient-survey) reported\nimprovements in their symptoms and had limited negative side effects.\nPatients mentioned beneficial side effects, such as better moods and\nsleep, compared to using other treatment options.\n\nOther medications used to treat these conditions often come with many\ndetrimental side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, mood swings and\nconstipation. Non-medical marijuana patients sometimes face a situation\nwhere they're taking a primary medication to treat a problem; then they\ntake supplementary medication to manage the many side effects. Medical\nmarijuana's lack of negative side effects helps avoid this situation and\nhelps patients achieve positive medical outcomes.\n\nOne of the biggest benefits of treating chronic pain and other pain\nconditions with medical marijuana is the decrease of pain-killer related\ndeaths. [Opiate painkiller overdoses kill 44 people\ndaily](https://www.hellomd.com/medical-marijuana-patient-survey), but\ncannabis has not caused any overdose-related deaths.\n\n**Ways Florida Voters Can Support Medical Marijuana**\n\nThe next medical-marijuana bill goes on the Florida ballot in November\n2016 as Amendment 2. I recommend Florida voters take several steps to\ngrow support for the medical-marijuana amendment so that it passes into\nlaw. Opponents of the amendment such as Schultz put considerable effort\ninto preventing medical-marijuana adoption, but here are some ways that\nvoters can get more attention and support:\n\nShowing up to vote for Amendment 2 is one of the most important ways to\nsupport medical marijuana in Florida. Voter turnout may be higher than\naverage due to the Senate race, so every vote counts. Another way\nFlorida voters can help is by contributing to medical-marijuana\ncampaigns helping to build awareness on the benefits and advantages of\nlegalization. [United For Care](https://www.unitedforcare.org/) is one\nsuch organization building support for Amendment two in Florida.\n\nFlorida voters with the time to volunteer can help these organizations\nwith more hands-on methods like collecting petitions, getting on the\nphone to build support and encourage voting, staffing medical-marijuana\nawareness events, doing door-to-door canvassing or assisting in\nadministrative work. Voters can also write to their representatives to\nfind out their medical-marijuana positions and learn whether they're for\nor against the measure.\n\nMedical marijuana treats many conditions that currently require\nmedication with opiates or prescriptions with many negative side\neffects. More states are legalizing marijuana and taking advantage of\nthe benefits it brings to patients. Florida has another chance to pass a\nmedical-marijuana amendment in 2016, but it requires voter effort to\novercome opposition by Schultz and others standing against the bill.\nShe's on the wrong side of the issue, but I know the popular vote can\nchange the medical-marijuana landscape in this state.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortunelivemedia/10316396713/in/photolist-gHCejR-gHBDmH-bu5qpy-bvoeyE-bJi2De-bJi2iH-eoXAZg-nby8HE-cPKpXd-gHBH8i-aZhByz-omTT1J-o5BcwC-gHB4KV-gY21Jo-ndCWPS-gHBsuw-gHB8eN-gHBaYq-dhKA39-dhJRme-gHB6YH-5gNzX1-gHBaWH-gHBo1x-gHB6EC-gWjPY9-ok53gb-ooRQ9T-gVgLWD-gHBnTE-gHB4W5-gHAGdW-gHCg6X-gHBxwX-on5kRq-o5Cj3t-gHBkgo-o5Bcbs-dhJY8A-gHCabR-6v7cvp-o5BaWy-gHAX9t-on5mHW-on6WqM-gHBFdj-o5BmWs-o5BaFd-bvofAd)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4492753623188406,"src":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/ee604/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png","srcSet":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/69585/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 200w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/497c6/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 400w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/ee604/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 800w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/86756/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 997w","srcWebp":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/58556/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/61e93/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 200w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/1f5c5/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 400w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/58556/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 800w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/a2a2c/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 997w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2209-markdown","title":"In Texas, Patients Deserve Access to Medical Marijuana","slug":"in-texas-patients-deserve-access-to-medical-marijuana","content":"While medical marijuana legalization is sweeping the country, Texas is\ndigging its heels in. In the fight to legalize the drug across the\nnation, Texas has historically demonstrated an extreme unwillingness,\nwhile the majority of the other 49 states have been much more open. In\nthe past, Texas has been known for flexing its conservative views enough\nto throw young people found possessing marijuana in prison for lengthy\nsentences. Fortunately, the tides there have begun to turn recently.\n\nWhile the changes have come in the form of baby steps (legalized\ncannabis oil to treat people suffering from epilepsy, for example),\ntoday's Texans overwhelmingly support the legalization of medical\nmarijuana. [71% of\nTexans](http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/texas/2016/02/29/new-poll-texans-favor-more-medicinal-use-marijuana/81093508/)\nstate that they would vote to expand cannabis treatments. This does not\nhold true for recreational marijuana, however, which only 41% of voters\nare willing to support. So what does the future of medical marijuana\nlook like in one of the country's most conservative states? Here's what\nyou need to know:\n\n**The Benefits of Medical Marijuana**\n\nThe benefits of medical marijuana are well-known and far-reaching. From\nhelping to alleviate nausea resulting from [cancer\ntreatments](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a4413264380006220000/kicking-cancer-and-chemotherapy-symptoms-with-cannabis)\nto soothing\n[anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/567ae9091efbc3000c000015/cannabis-helps-women-cope-with-stress-and-anxiety)\nand\n[depression](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c101d766653800060c0000/depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana),\nmarijuana has long been known for its ability to treat a large\nassortment of medical disorders. In January of 2016, my organization,\nHelloMD, conducted [a patient\nsurvey](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf)\nthat made the many benefits of medical marijuana even more evident. The\nstudy surveyed more than 17,000 patients and received a response from\n1,400 over the course of seven days. I currently believe that this is\nthe largest and most wide-reaching medical marijuana patient survey\npublished to date.\n\nWhile the benefits of medical marijuana have never been any secret to\nus, the survey proved just how important it is to consumers, and\nprovided a wealth of information that Texas could do well to take note\nof. The results? 84% of survey respondents state that cannabis relieves\ntheir symptoms. 66% of consumers are using medical marijuana as the\nprimary treatment for their medical problems. 64% of respondents rely on\nthe daily use of cannabis for the treatment of their symptoms, and 28%\nuse cannabis on a weekly basis.\n\nDespite this high number of consumers and regular pattern of medical\nuse, there were no reports within the survey of negative consequences\nbrought about by cannabis use, and 96% of consumers reported being\nhighly likely to recommend the use of medical cannabis to others seeking\nimproved health and wellbeing.\n\n**Providing Access: The Importance of Telehealth**\n\nThe users in our HelloMD survey live around the country and some utilize\nmedical marijuana treatment through the Telehealth system. Unfortunately\nonly patients living in California can utilize the Telehealth system for\nmedical evaluations. Other all others states restrict access and force\npatients to travel in person to see a physician. In Telehealth medicine,\npatients can meet with a doctor via a virtual consulting platform like\nSkype. After the meeting, the patient receives a medical marijuana card\nin the mail. Telehealth care is [rising to\nprominence](http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140308/MAGAZINE/303089979)\naround the country as a way to make quality doctors and care available\nto patients in rural or restricted areas, but it is especially important\nin the fight to bring medical marijuana access to all patients.\n\nIn states like Texas, which is large and mostly rural, access to\nTelehealth medicine is critically important if marijuana is legalized\nfor medical purposes. Because Texas is a very conservative state, it's\nlikely that the stigma surrounding medical marijuana use would\ndiscourage many patients from getting in their cars and visiting a\nphysical clinic located in a major city. Additionally, Texas is such a\nlarge state that the mere mechanics of access would be prohibitive for\nmany patients, specifically those who are elderly or physically disabled\n([200 counties in the\nstate](http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/06/02/408513139/texas-put-brakes-on-telemedicine-and-teladoc-cries-foul)\nare vastly medically underserved, and 12 more only have one primary care\ndoctor).\n\nFinally, it's likely that, even if medical marijuana was fully legalized\nin the state, the traditional medical community wouldn't warm up to the\nprospect immediately. These things would make it incredibly difficult\nfor patients to access the medical marijuana care they needed.\n\nDespite the importance of Telehealth for improving patient access,\nhowever, Texas has not supported innovations in Telehealth medicine in\nthe past. The state is currently embroiled in a battle over the legality\nof access to Telehealth medicine. While lawmakers aren't outlawing it\nentirely, they are placing severe limitations on it that can make it\nharder for rural patients to access the care they need.\n\n**What Texas can Learn from California**\n\nAs Texas continues to face the issue of medical marijuana legalization,\nit stands to learn a great deal from states like California, where\nTelehealth laws dating to 2011 provide full patient access. As it stands\nnow, [thousands of patients throughout the\nstate](http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/healthcare/19179-telehealth-aims-to-boost-medical-cannabis)\nhave access to high-quality medical care from the comfort of their\nhomes. In addition to having significant impacts on patient access, this\nalso provides numerous benefits, such as relief from [anxiety and\nchronic\nstress](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55fc4eea3063390006b90000/cannabis-for-anxiety-and-stress-disorders).\nIn addition to making access to quality care easier for disabled, rural,\nor elderly patients, comprehensive Telehealth laws also allow patients\nwho may be struggling with stigma or embarrassment to get the care they\nneed. While the future of medical marijuana in Texas is facing a rocky\nand lengthy road, it's clear that the expansion of elehealth medicine in\nthe state is one of the few reliable ways to provide medical marijuana\ncare to all Texans who need it.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/peacebird/16999376230/in/photolist-rUbfiC-qBZ7fb-cK8vXj-7WEzGg-4bXW4S-78eHCD-x1guL4-9XafQf-7hqxbA-8Q3RTH-CXAVJ-8TKAe-64cjHx-4RfDWs-8vY712-6MSBGQ-cEr5T1-pa57EK-8TK5e-zL2wm-hLmaJT-9rXfpX-zL2y5-yJuJw-hLmbw4-sfX4XD-55Tt9p-zL976-pPWKSw-s1vVgH-sgHH1u-b57Dsx-8TKxb-8TKgK-sRUcZE-2EbHpo-s67b3y-oXQMEK-4dR4dE-cHtRPE-64kCr5-4RvF9u-cjDJDJ-zL8fY-gkyCq-6gxppq-sjhpuT-jcniv-skiewW-s4dtih)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/ee604/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.png","srcSet":"/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/69585/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.png 200w,\n/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/497c6/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.png 400w,\n/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/ee604/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.png 800w,\n/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/4c5c8/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.png 1004w","srcWebp":"/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/58556/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/61e93/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.webp 200w,\n/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/1f5c5/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.webp 400w,\n/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/58556/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.webp 800w,\n/static/973c727d605dc535e7244a415955b0c5/eddbc/d668cccb487b8ee2450b284b43720d79.webp 1004w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2113-markdown","title":"Telehealth Provides Critical Access for Medical Marijuana Patients","slug":"telehealth-provides-critical-access-for-medical-marijuana-patients","content":"For patients around the country using marijuana as a treatment modality\r\nfor medical problems, Telehealth is one of the most pivotal factors in\r\nthat care. In addition to removing physical barriers that stand between\r\npatients and access to medical marijuana (distance, rural locations,\r\nvery few clinics, etc.), I believe that Telehealth medicine also allows\r\npatients to take advantage of life-changing medical marijuana support\r\nwithout the stigma associated with walking into a physical marijuana\r\nclinic, or driving to sometimes seedy area of town to find a doctor to\r\nperform a cannabis evaluation. Unfortunately, Telehealth care isn't easy\r\nfor patients to access in all parts of the country, and it's consumers\r\nwho are paying the price.\r\n\r\n**What Is Telehealth?**\r\n\r\n[Telehealth](http://cchpca.org/what-is-telehealth) is a broad term that\r\nencompasses a large selection of services and technologies. Through\r\nmeans such as online meeting platforms and other virtual health tactics,\r\nTelehealth delivers health, medical and educational services to\r\nconsumers around the country. In addition to use by medical marijuana\r\nproviders like myself, Telehealth medicine is also used in counseling,\r\nhome health, chronic disease management and even dentistry.\r\n\r\nTelehealth is a hot topic in many states right now. As of the end of\r\n2015, [all but eight\r\nstates](http://mobihealthnews.com/content/state-lawmakers-introduced-more-200-telemedicine-bills-2015)\r\nproposed bills related to Telehealth access and medicine. Every state\r\nexcept Rhode Island currently offers some form of Medicaid coverage for\r\ntelemedicine. Additionally, the majority of states reimburse patients\r\nfor live video visits, nine states (including California, Alaska, and\r\nArizona) reimburse patients for forward services, and 17 reimburse\r\npatients for remote monitoring services. Thirty-two states (and the\r\nDistrict of Columbia) require telehealth services to be paid by\r\ninsurance companies on the same level as in-person visits.\r\n\r\n**The Growth of Telehealth**\r\n\r\nWhile I'm happy to report that telehealth services are on the rise, only\r\none percent of the U.S. population currently has access to a telehealth\r\nprovider due to low doctor registration numbers and limited cannabis\r\ntelehealth laws across the country. Some telehealth companies are\r\nreporting annual revenues of [upwards of \\$77\r\nmillion](http://mobihealthnews.com/content/teladoc-conducted-575000-remote-visits-last-year)\r\nin 2015, which indicates a 77 percent increase from 2014. Telehealth\r\ncompanies often work with employers, health care providers and health\r\nplans to provide quality care to consumers everywhere.\r\n\r\n**Cannabis Laws and Telehealth Conflicts**\r\n\r\nAlthough access to medical marijuana is one of the most direct purposes\r\nof telehealth medicine, it's still hotly disputed around the country.\r\nWhile 23 states, as well as the District of Columbia, currently have\r\nlaws that make cannabis legal in some form, every state except for\r\nCalifornia and Nevada now disallow telehealth access to medical\r\nmarijuana. In California, the telehealth laws support patient access to\r\nmedical marijuana as long as the \"[Standard of\r\nCare](http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensees/Prescribing/Medical_Marijuana.aspx)\"\r\nis maintained. The Standard of Care means that medical marijuana\r\nproviders must use prudence and caution when consulting with, and\r\nprescribing treatment for, their patients.\r\n\r\n**How Telehealth can Improve Access to Medical Marijuana**\r\n\r\nIn addition to the fact that telehealth makes accessing medical\r\nmarijuana easier for patients who live in rural or remote locations,\r\ntelehealth medicine also removes many of the less obvious barriers to\r\ncare, such as access to evaluations and the availability of certified\r\ndoctors.\r\n\r\nAs it stands now, many patients are unable to obtain evaluations easily\r\nin their hometowns or states or have a difficult time accessing\r\ncertified doctors. In addition to there being a shortage of certified\r\ndoctors across the country, many traditional doctors are reflexively\r\ndismissive of marijuana because they did not study cannabis therapy in\r\nmed school and have had no real exposure to it since then. Finally, some\r\nvery ill patients also worry that informing their doctors about their\r\ndesire to try medical marijuana as a treatment modality will result in\r\nlosing access to potentially life-saving medical trials.\r\n\r\nWhile the medical benefits of medical marijuana are widespread and\r\nwell-studied, many states haven't warmed up to the idea of using\r\ncannabis as a standard treatment modality. Because of this, it's my\r\nbelief that telehealth medicine is one of the most direct and efficient\r\nways for needy patients to access quality medical marijuana providers\r\nwithout all of the red tape.\r\n\r\n**The Case for Telehealth Medicine**\r\n\r\nTelehealth is an important innovation that has the potential to bring\r\nquality healthcare to underserved populations. All around the country,\r\nthe conversation about telehealth is becoming a hot-button topic and\r\nlawmakers and consumers alike are beginning to realize how crucial this\r\nnew care modality is. Despite the fact that cannabis telehealth laws are\r\nstill restricted in many states, the [telehealth industry is\r\ngrowing](http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telemedicine-poised-grow-big-time)\r\nyear-over-year, and patients in places that offer telehealth access are\r\nbenefiting.\r\n\r\nWhile very few states allow telehealth access to medical marijuana, the\r\nstates that do are serving their residents better than many other places\r\nin the country. Telehealth care is an efficient way for patients to\r\naccess the benefits of medical cannabis without the stigma, difficulty,\r\ndanger, or stress of finding an in-person provider.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, many citizens still don't currently have access to\r\ntelehealth medical marijuana care. In light of this, I propose that\r\nlawmakers work to bring cannabis laws and telehealth laws into\r\nalignment, as they have done in California. While the concept of\r\ntelehealth cannabis care is new for many states, [medical marijuana\r\nproviders](https://www.hellomd.com/about-us) can serve their patients\r\neffectively, efficiently and safely so long as the Standard of Care is\r\nmaintained. When other states across the nation begin to realize the\r\nimportance of eliminating the conflict between telehealth and cannabis\r\nlaws, I believe that patient access to quality care will improve by\r\nleaps and bounds.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3986013986013985,"src":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/ee604/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png","srcSet":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/69585/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 200w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/497c6/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 400w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/ee604/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 800w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/941c4/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 925w","srcWebp":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/58556/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/61e93/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 200w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/1f5c5/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 400w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/58556/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 800w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/502a6/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 925w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2214-markdown","title":"Why Doctors in New York Aren't Recommending Marijuana","slug":"why-doctors-in-new-york-arent-recommending-marijuana","content":"For patients across the country, it's getting easier and easier to\r\naccess medical marijuana. Patients in New York, however, aren't having\r\nthe same luck. According to an investigation conducted by The Journal\r\nNews, New York State agencies have mishandled dozens of regulations that\r\ncontrol how doctors grant medical marijuana to patients. These mistakes\r\nhave led to failed dispensary openings, inaccurate information and\r\nconflicts throughout the entire New York medical system, mistakes which\r\nI believe can only be counteracted by the implementation of a more\r\ncohesive Telehealth and medical marijuana strategy. Here's what\r\nconsumers need to know.\r\n\r\n**New York's Medical Marijuana Laws**\r\n\r\nWhile New York [legalized medical\r\nmarijuana](https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/) in\r\n2014, the state's laws are currently incredibly restrictive. For\r\nexample, there are roughly [200,000\r\npatients](http://www.lohud.com/story/news/investigations/2016/02/24/medical-marijuana-new-york/79655424/)\r\nin the state waiting to be certified for medical marijuana, but only\r\n1,565 have achieved certification. Additionally, out of the 90,000\r\ndoctors in the state, only 455 have registered for the medical marijuana\r\nprogram. To make matters worse, the state refuses to release the names\r\nof these participating doctors in any publicly accessible format. This\r\nmakes it incredibly difficult for patients to access medical marijuana\r\ncare in New York.\r\n\r\nThe reason that doctors aren't registering doesn't come down to a\r\ndisinterest in doing so, however - it's the result of increasing\r\nconcerns about the potential for federal legal ramifications. Because\r\nNew York's medical marijuana laws are still residing in a legal gray\r\narea, many doctors refuse to certify patients in order to protect\r\nthemselves and their practices. Additionally, doctors who want to\r\nprovide medical marijuana are required to [carry additional malpractice\r\ninsurance](http://mjbizdaily.com/high-prices-dearth-of-doctors-hurting-ny-businesses/),\r\nwhich is a deterrent for many. As well as this the doctors are required\r\nto take an educational course as well as pay a \"enrollment fee\" to\r\nparticipate in the program. Many doctors also worry that participating\r\nin the medical marijuana program would impede their ability to prescribe\r\nother drugs, thus cutting down on their capacity to treat other patients\r\nadequately.\r\n\r\nAnd their fears aren't entirely unfounded. Even Kirsten Gillibrand, New\r\nYork's Democratic senator, states that doctors who prescribe marijuana\r\nin New York are \"putting themselves at risk.\" This is because New York\r\ndoctors are required by the Health Department to provide dosing\r\ninstructions for the medical marijuana patients they work with, a\r\nrequirement that is incredibly rare. In other states where medical\r\nmarijuana is legal, dosing recommendations are left up to medical\r\nmarijuana dispensaries rather than doctors. Because of this, it's\r\nobvious that New York's odd requirements place doctors at risk of facing\r\nfederal penalties if they get the dosing wrong on a medical marijuana\r\nproduct.\r\n\r\nWhile New York currently only allows non-smokable types of cannabis,\r\nsuch as oils and edibles, for use in therapy, the issues surrounding the\r\ncertification of patients in the state remains and consumers are\r\nsuffering as a result.\r\n\r\n**The Effect NY's Restrictive Laws Have on Patients**\r\n\r\nWhile New York lawmakers continue to fight about how, when and where\r\nmedical marijuana will be prescribed, a few pioneering clinics are\r\nattempting to cater to the needs of the state's consumers. One clinic\r\nlocated outside of Buffalo has ten participating doctors and receives\r\nmore than 100 phone calls each day from patients attempting to access\r\nmedical marijuana.\r\n\r\nThe clinic's lead physician, Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, realizes that the\r\nsmall number of providers and the ongoing legal ambiguity is only\r\nhurting patients. He says, \"While we wait for the politicians to make\r\ndecisions, what do we do for our suffering patients? I can't wait for a\r\n12-year-old that has less than four months to live… That is my duty, to\r\nrelieve that suffering.\" Dr. Mechtler isn't alone in these sentiments.\r\nThousands of patients across the state of New York want desperately to\r\naccess medical marijuana, but can't because of the state's restrictive\r\nlaws.\r\n\r\n**A Better Way: Why NY Should be Following CA's Model**\r\n\r\nThe fact that patients in New York are having such a difficult time\r\naccessing care is especially tragic when you take into account how\r\neffective medical marijuana can be as a treatment modality. Here at\r\nHelloMD, my team recently conducted [a patient response\r\nsurvey](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).\r\nThe survey collected answers from 1,400 medical marijuana consumers in a\r\nvariety of states. As far as I can tell, this survey is currently the\r\nmost comprehensive of its kind.\r\n\r\nThe results of the study go to show exactly how firmly medical marijuana\r\npatients believe in the effectiveness and importance of cannabis as a\r\ntreatment option: 84 percent of respondents reported that cannabis helps\r\nthem cope with their symptoms, while 66 percent reported using the herb\r\nas their primary treatment modality. 64 percent of respondents reported\r\nconsuming marijuana daily, and no respondents reported negative\r\nconsequences of marijuana use. This survey is proof of the importance\r\nand effectiveness of medical marijuana treatments and should be taken\r\ninto account as states like New York evaluate their medical marijuana\r\npolicies.\r\n\r\n**Conclusion**\r\n\r\nWhile access to medical marijuana has improved around the country, it's\r\nclear to me that residents of New York state are still struggling to get\r\nthe care they need. Thanks to low numbers of participating physicians,\r\nno way for the public to access lists of approved doctors and incredibly\r\nslow and restrictive patient certification processes, New York is\r\nlagging behind many other states in terms of their ability to offer\r\nconsumers unimpeded access to medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, the only people suffering as a result of these failings\r\nare the consumers themselves. While the situation in New York looks\r\nbleak currently, I believe firmly that access to care would improve\r\ngreatly if the state would follow the leads of states like California,\r\nwhere medical marijuana access is a readily available to all patients. I\r\nbelieve that only when patients can access the cannabis-focused care\r\nthey need will New York begin to truly serve its residents.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/10301380936/in/photolist-gGigE9-tgXSSB-dPr95W-a7fJFg-pfVCxj-eSTiRb-6VkKnw-cEdMrC-aashHE-ejT1nm-ftcNbQ-de9is3-iiA7ek-5MAJa8-t34ebZ-4GzqRr-qMu6ZH-Areaen-MEQQR-uCBodk-Bg4Df1-8KBmzX-hZYH6v-8UavLd-2RZoXU-bz76Vb-6m2G85-ejVE1u-u3Dsj-9Cry2t-dbmiQK-BY72nr-8vTJVq-pFHzg8-vVmrMz-8U7rDT-dburo5-aA7APE-daYWm9-rnFULV-dzwnbQ-ozKxXE-dRqWLo-89FSsM-dtTF5i-fKzgHo-dAVgoP-rdZd85-pWiGV4-fcHP6b)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4814814814814814,"src":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/ee604/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png","srcSet":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/69585/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/497c6/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 400w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/ee604/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 800w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/f3583/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 1200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/3e83c/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 1201w","srcWebp":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/58556/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/61e93/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/1f5c5/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 400w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/58556/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 800w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/99238/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 1200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/0c6f9/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 1201w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2080-markdown","title":"Hillary Clinton Should Up Her Game on Medical Marijuana","slug":"hillary-clinton-should-up-her-game-on-medical-marijuana","content":"As the November presidential election approaches, the issue of medical\nmarijuana has come to the political debate. The Democratic candidate\nHillary Clinton has presented a liberal-leaning, yet cautious\nstand on medical marijuana.\n\nClinton supports legal access to medical marijuana. She would like to\nsee more research into the medical benefits of cannabis, and has stated\nthat she would support the reclassification of marijuana to increase\nsuch research.\n\n\"I do think on the federal level we need to remove marijuana from the\nSchedule I of drugs, move it to Schedule II, which will permit it to be\nthe basis for medical research,\" said Clinton in an interview with [WBZ\nNewsRadio in\nBoston](http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/01/25/hillary-clinton-wbz-newsradio-1030-boston-interview-joe-mathieu-new-hampshire-primary/)\nin January 2016.\n\nWhile this support is encouraging, I feel it doesn't go far enough. She\nneeds a more thorough exposure to the current cannabis environment to\nunderstand why she needs to \"up her game.\" In particular, she needs more\nknowledge about:\n\n-   Changes in marijuana attitudes\n-   Who is using medical marijuana and why\n-   The implications of federal narcotic classification\n-   Unequal access\n-   Economic sense\n\n**Changing Attitudes**\n\nSupport for legalizing marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use\nis at an all-time high. In 1969, at the height of the counterculture\nmovement, Woodstock and Vietnam War protests, fewer than 12 percent of\nAmericans supported marijuana legalization, and only about [four\npercent](http://www.gallup.com/poll/184298/four-americans-say-tried-marijuana.aspx)\nreported that they had tried marijuana. Research focused on marijuana as\na [gateway\ndrug](http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v228/n5277/abs/2281227a0.html),\non its psychological effects such as\n[psychosis](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1360-0443.1970.tb03956.x/abstract)\nand physiological\n[intoxication](http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=490322).\n\nJump ahead nearly 50 years. A 2015 [Gallup\npoll](http://www.gallup.com/poll/186260/back-legal-marijuana.aspx)\nreport that 58 percent of Americans support marijuana legalization, a\n2015 [Harris\nPoll](http://www.theharrispoll.com/health-and-life/Americans-Ready-for-Legal-Marijuana.html)\nreport that 81 percent support medical marijuana usage and access, and\nabout [76\npercent](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e5c9333236300006380000/who-is-taking-medical-marijuana)\nof doctors support medical cannabis. In addition, nearly [49\npercent](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends)\nof Americans admit to having tried marijuana and [12\npercent](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends)\nare current, regular users.\n\nThis growing support for legalized marijuana is a cultural change, which\nI believe is based on the growing idea that cannabis is safer than\nalcohol, the recognition that cannabis has specific medical effects that\nshould be explored and the complete failure of the \"[war on\ndrugs](https://news.vice.com/article/americas-top-cops-just-called-the-war-on-drugs-a-tremendous-failure)\"\nto curtail illicit drug use. Support is highest among younger\nindividuals (18 to 34 years) and those who typically support Democratic\nor Independent party candidates and platforms.\n\n**Medical Cannabis Users**\n\nApproximately [2.6 million\nAmericans](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005889)\nuse medical cannabis currently. According to a recent and comprehensive\nsurvey of\nmedical cannabis users, most are:\n\n-   Male (64 percent)\n-   College educated (84 percent)\n-   Live in or near a major city (84 percent)\n-   Between 25 and 54 years of age (61 percent)\n\nAmong the survey respondents:\n\n-   84 percent strongly agree that cannabis provides symptom relief\n-   66 percent use it as the primary method of treatment for their\n    medical issue\n-   64 percent use cannabis daily and 28 percent at least weekly\n\n**Federal Narcotic Classification Implications**\n\nMarijuana is currently classified as a [Schedule 1\nnarcotic](http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml), which by definition\nmeans it has \"no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for\nabuse.\" As such, research is difficult to conduct. It requires a complex\napplication process for a highly restrictive license from the Drug\nEnforcement Agency. In addition, funding for Schedule I drug research\ntypically comes from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which tends\nto limit such studies to the effects of abuse, and not medical\napplications.\n\nIn addition to research roadblocks, cannabis distribution, possession\nand use remains a criminal offense, and federal laws could supersede\nstate laws. Although the [US Justice\nDepartment](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-update-marijuana-enforcement-policy)\nupdated its marijuana enforcement policy in 2013 to defer their right to\nchallenge state legislation as long as states actively ensure a policy\nof strict regulatory control, in my opinion, the threat of federal\nprosecution remains.\n\nI believe that this threat would be reduced if Clinton's proposed\nreclassification of marijuana to a Schedule II drug occurs. Marijuana\nwould be downgraded to \"dangerous,\" which would put it in the same\ncategory as cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and Adderall. However,\nthis classification is still misleading. Evidence shows that cannabis is\na [much\nsafer](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c91db33934390006220000/cannabis-may-be-safer-than-opioids-for-managing-pain)\ndrug compared to these other Schedule II drugs.\n\n**Unequal Access**\n\nAs of 2015, 23 states, the District of Columbia (DC) and Guam have\npassed medical cannabis legislation. Clinton is on record for supporting\nstate-level legislation for medical cannabis.\n\n\"I think that the states moving forward is appropriate and I think the\nfederal government has to move to make this more available for research\nthat they can then distribute to interested people across our country,\"\nsaid\n[Clinton](http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/01/25/hillary-clinton-wbz-newsradio-1030-boston-interview-joe-mathieu-new-hampshire-primary/).\n\nLeaving it up to the states, however, means unequal access as more than\nhalf of the states continue to block medical cannabis. Patients who\ncould benefit from medical cannabis are unable to legally obtain or use\nthe medication because of where they live. Those who cross state lines\ncould be subject to prosecution upon returning home with their\nmedication.\n\n**Economic Sense**\n\nAnother argument for the liberalization of marijuana legislation is\nfinancial. According to \"The State of Marijuana Marketing,\" by [ArcView\nMarket Research](http://www.arcviewmarketresearch.com/), \"The cannabis\nindustry is growing at a compounded annual rate of 30%, making it one of\nthe fastest growing sectors in the economy.\" States that have legalized\ncannabis have received an [economic\ninflux](http://www.arcviewmarketresearch.com/): Colorado generated $135\nmillion and Washington generated $70 million in cannabis taxes and\nlicense fees in 2015. These numbers are expected to grow.\n\nContrast that with the cost of enforcing federal marijuana laws. A [2010\nstudy](https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/1114413-mj-report-rfs-rel1.pdf# 77)\nestimated that the cost of prohibiting marijuana was $3.4 billion in\n2008. By contrast, legalization would have generated $8.7 billion in\nannual revenue.\n\nThis information makes it is clear that Clinton needs to become a\nstronger supporter of medical cannabis. In my opinion, it's just good\npolitics.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/us-mission/7474207144/in/photolist-cotgoq-rJL2we-8RDKvn-9swt8u-9nvwp8-GzTZ2-a5JcrW-cotgGJ-GzTXG-9nvvyP-8RDLS8-bWk3oS-GzTph-8REqRx-9nyvcE-8QFKVJ-76EqzS-8RH41u-6M3iYF-8RH36G-8RHx9m-8RDGPx-7z58Nd-adwGWY-8XAkRa-9swsAS-4sDp2E-bHpkVe-8BcHK6-a5sPVJ-8ZN74w-bLRf3a-9swtgy-9noJB1-67REN2-HpWks-8RH697-7yYgc7-a5h7ju-ritmfB-bjVm7m-scZ6zq-d5yjmJ-8RDV5X-9oUBKL-d5ykus-psrCpp-8REeri-4KJPrV-brsQm2)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4598540145985401,"src":"/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/ee604/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.png","srcSet":"/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/69585/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.png 200w,\n/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/497c6/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.png 400w,\n/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/ee604/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.png 800w,\n/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/fbaeb/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.png 1134w","srcWebp":"/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/58556/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/61e93/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.webp 200w,\n/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/1f5c5/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.webp 400w,\n/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/58556/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.webp 800w,\n/static/fdce0296b2e041bb82a481da6ea55ad9/bb5cc/2bf43d41fb6b9eeceab80fb4a3e9725b.webp 1134w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2229-markdown","title":"President Trump: Should Medical Marijuana Patients Be Wary?","slug":"president-trump-should-medical-marijuana-patients-be-wary","content":"As the year lurches closer and closer to November, Donald Trump's\r\ncampaign for the Republican nomination continues to gain steam. Trump\r\nhas a reputation as a political outsider who breaks from the GOP\r\nestablishment, and he's known for saying and doing unpredictable things.\r\n\r\nThere are plenty of issues where his stances are unclear. Particularly,\r\nTrump's opinions on medical marijuana have received little to no press,\r\nespecially compared with his outspoken positions on issues like\r\nimmigration and trade. With a Trump candidacy looking more likely with\r\neach primary, we should put some serious thought into what this wildcard\r\ncandidate's stance might be.\r\n\r\n**What Is Trump's Opinion on Medical Marijuana?**\r\n\r\nPart of the problem with predicting the position a Trump administration\r\nwould take regarding medical marijuana is that Trump himself has\r\nsubstantially changed his opinions on several issues over time. He has a\r\nreputation in the political press for [changing his\r\nmind](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/17/20-times-donald-trump-has-changed-his-mind-since-june/)\r\non issues as varied as abortion, ISIS and others.\r\n\r\nIn an\r\n[interview](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19900414&id=eUoeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EHoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4675,4533445&hl=en)\r\nwith the Miami Herald in 1990, Donald Trump said he was in favor of\r\nlegalizing all drugs for adults. However, he announced at the 2015 [CPAC\r\nconference](http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4541840/donald-trump-marijuana)\r\nthat he opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.\r\n\r\nBut regarding medical marijuana, he's been more uniformly positive. At\r\nthat same conference, he said he is \"100 percent\" in favor of medical\r\nmarijuana, and he also [reiterated\r\nthis](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/29/trump-wants-marijuana-legalization-decided-at-the-state-level/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_daily202)\r\nat a 2015 political rally.\r\n\r\nDespite the mercurial nature of Trump's opinions, it appears that he's\r\nrelatively constant about the merits of medical marijuana and how to\r\nenforce federal laws surrounding it. Still, we should keep a close eye\r\non any opinions the candidate might voice, just in case.\r\n\r\n**Chris Christie as Attorney General?**\r\n\r\nWith former New Jersey governor Chris Christie's recent endorsement of\r\nDonald Trump, pundits have speculated that Christie is [jockeying for a\r\nplace](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/26/4-reasons-why-chris-christie-endorsed-donald-trump/)\r\nin a Trump administration. While it's possible that Christie's trying to\r\nbecome Trump's vice presidential pick, there's been ample speculation\r\nthat he's leaning toward a position as Attorney General - especially\r\ngiven his previous experience as US Attorney for New Jersey. Since the\r\nattorney general heads the Department of Justice and makes essential\r\ndecisions about prosecution and the federal government's legislative\r\nauthority, whom the president chooses as his attorney general has a\r\nmajor impact on how federal marijuana laws are enforced.\r\n\r\nChristie generally takes a [very strong\r\nstance](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/14/chris-christie-marijuana_n_7066636.html)\r\nagainst marijuana legalization on a state level. If he were to become\r\nPresident Trump's attorney general, it's likely that he'd seek to pursue\r\nstrict federal enforcement of existing marijuana laws. However, while\r\nthe attorney general is a powerful figure, the attorney general works\r\nfor the president, and carries out the administration's policies. Since\r\nTrump's position on medical marijuana is more moderate than Christie's,\r\nit's possible that Attorney General Christie could soften his stance on\r\nmarijuana, especially medical marijuana.\r\n\r\n**The Importance of States' Rights**\r\n\r\nPolitical conservatives in the United States have a strong record of\r\nsupporting the states' rights to decide policies about certain social\r\nissues, including abortion and gay marriage. The traditional\r\nconservative stance has been a strict construction of the 10th\r\nAmendment, saying that any powers that are not strictly enumerated by\r\nthe federal government are left to the states to decide.\\\r\n\r\nHowever, the legality of medical (and recreational) marijuana has\r\n[polarized](http://theweek.com/articles/569009/why-marijuana-legalization-rare-issue-that-divides-2016-republican-presidential-field)\r\nthe GOP field this election season. Some GOP candidates have expressed\r\ntheir support for states deciding and enforcing their own marijuana\r\npolicies, while others have said that various states' policies\r\nsurrounding marijuana are illegal vis-a-vis federal law, and that\r\nfederal law should be strictly enforced.\r\n\r\nBut further complicating the issue is the fact that a large part of\r\nTrump's appeal to voters is that he doesn't follow conservative\r\northodoxy. Trump leaves many of American politics' traditional\r\nleft-right distinctions behind. If Trump were to take office, would he\r\ntow the standard conservative line, and leave medical marijuana\r\ndecisions up to the states? Or would he follow suit with many of the GOP\r\ncandidates, and reject the legality of medical marijuana? Thus far, it\r\nappears that he generally sides with medical marijuana patients (and\r\nagainst recreational users), but only time may tell.\r\n\r\n**Conclusion**\r\n\r\nThis early in the race, it's difficult for us to say exactly how things\r\nwill pan out. It's not clear that Trump will become the Republican\r\nnominee. It's not clear who he'll choose as his attorney general, or\r\nwhere Chris Christie would fit into a Trump cabinet (if anywhere). And,\r\nof course, Trump's own positions are frustratingly vague to many\r\npolitical observers. On several major issues, he's regularly changed his\r\nstance, just during this election.\r\n\r\nGenerally, Trump seems to support medical marijuana prescription and\r\nusage. This is, tentatively, good news for medical marijuana patients,\r\nwho use cannabis for conditions as\r\n[diverse](https://www.hellomd.com/medical-marijuana-patient-survey) as\r\nglaucoma, chronic pain, migraines, anxiety and more.\r\n\r\nBut the tens of thousands of individuals in the US who rely upon this\r\ndrug shouldn't rest easy. With so much uncertainty surrounding this\r\nelection -- and the positions of the GOP frontrunner -- it's important\r\nto stay on top of the issues. Patients, caretakers and advocates should\r\neducate themselves about candidates' stances on medical marijuana use,\r\nas well as the legalization, regulation and taxation of recreational\r\nmarijuana. The US political arena is rapidly changing, especially\r\nsurrounding drug legalization, and if we educate and mobilize voters and\r\nconcerned citizens, we can make a huge difference for good.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/cornstalker/23975424301/in/photolist-CwCjmv-BGpGEq-CunnCo-BGpJm1-4mwzgP-Cuniqq-nA1rVe-9oAUqq-EsxmH-nwVj-BGwX76-6SWxYT-ebaoJu-C6q4TK-5T1Vx7-nUhD7B-9rTKRf-akkXc8-5HZc8c-zDKagq-9oAUoh-nAiF8N-kEGvd-bFa66k-9oAUn3-GwdGf-9CkAh7-eb4Lw8-9oAUkY-eb4Lx4-6nF17e-9oxQZV-rMrEv-bFPGXt-6cVHqj-6UC3BR-buUxhM-anfnqP-jj7rB-6qANwX-4Ay7dq-777Qgi-e4vqiJ-6LHCmp-63jb3b-7GxFMG-DArDY-CDVn7Z-BGwTMF-8sCfMT)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4814814814814814,"src":"/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/ee604/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.png","srcSet":"/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/69585/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.png 200w,\n/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/497c6/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.png 400w,\n/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/ee604/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.png 800w,\n/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/e781a/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.png 1143w","srcWebp":"/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/58556/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/61e93/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.webp 200w,\n/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/1f5c5/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.webp 400w,\n/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/58556/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.webp 800w,\n/static/09893442d62329cec659ce8f52ca954d/ece39/62102dfcaf57e23f5b7f47343873a184.webp 1143w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2162-markdown","title":"Marijuana Is Safer Than Alcohol and Tobacco, Study Finds","slug":"marijuana-is-safer-than-alcohol-and-tobacco-study-finds","content":"Over the past 20 years, 23 states and the District of Columbia have\n[legalized marijuana for medical\nuse](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596acc23436650006020000/does-medical-marijuana-work).\nDespite these changes to state laws, opponents continue to argue that\nmarijuana causes more harm than good. A [new\nstudy](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311234/) refutes\ntheir claims and shows that marijuana is safer than alcohol and tobacco,\nand researchers and policymakers may have overestimated the risks\nassociated with its use.\n\n**Researchers Use Novel Approach to Compare Mortality Risks**\n\nResearch conducted by Dirk Lachenmeier and Jürgen Rehm, and published in\nScientific Reports in January 2015, investigated the mortality risk\nassociated with seven substances by comparing the lethal dose of each\nsubstance with the typical amount used. This ratio, referred to as the\nmargin of exposure (MOE), was used to determine the risk of dying from\nan overdose of each of the substances.\n\nThe MOE is a novel method for comparing the mortality risk of different\nsubstances. Introduced by the [European Food Safety Authority in\n2005](http://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/scientific_output/files/main_documents/282.pdf)\nas an approach for assessing the risk of toxic compounds, it had only\never been used in the addiction field for evaluating substances in\nalcoholic beverages. Previous attempts to compare the dangers of\nsubstances of abuse were based largely on anecdotal, rather than\nscientific, evidence, which meant that policymakers had to rely on\neducated guesses and survey data from developed nations when making\nlegislative decisions. Only in the past decade have researchers begun to\nuse robust scientific techniques to classify the mortality risks of\nparticular substances of abuse. However, many of these approaches were\nbased on expert panel judgments on harm indicators, such as intoxication\nand physical and psychological dependence.\n\n**Evidence for Marijuana's Safety Grows**\n\nLachenmeier and Rehm's research revealed that, of all the substances\nanalyzed, alcohol posed the highest mortality risk at an individual\nlevel, followed by heroin, cocaine, tobacco, ecstasy, methamphetamine\nand marijuana. Alcohol was found to be about 114 times more deadly than\nmarijuana, which was the only substance that was classified as having a\nlow mortality risk. The researchers' classifications were based solely\non the substances themselves and did not take into account environmental\nrisk factors, such as the sharing of contaminated needles by intravenous\ndrug users. Previous studies, including a [comparison of the toxicity of\ncommonly abused\nsubstances](https://rgable.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/toxicity-addiction-offprint2.pdf)\npublished in the journal Addiction in June 2004, ranked marijuana as\nsafer than alcohol and tobacco, but it was not known that the\ndiscrepancy between their mortality risks was this large.\n\n**Researchers Call for Changes to Federal Marijuana Laws**\n\nDespite their known health risks, alcohol and tobacco are exempted from\nthe Controlled Substances Act due to cultural and economic reasons.\nAlcohol and tobacco have been acceptable substances in U.S. culture\nsince well before the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, and they are two of\nthe [most widely used\nsubstances](http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2012SummNatFindDetTables/NationalFindings/NSDUHresults2012.htm)\nnationally. The researchers believe that the risks of alcohol and\ntobacco may have been underestimated in the past, and are urging federal\ngovernment to focus their efforts more on mitigating the harmful effects\nof alcohol and tobacco than on other substances, such as marijuana.\n\nIn contrast, the risks of marijuana may have been overestimated. For the\nmortality endpoint alone, the findings showed marijuana's MOE to be\nabove safety thresholds at the individual and population levels. There\nhas never been a case of a cannabis overdose death. This lends weight to\nthe argument that marijuana should be removed from Schedule I of the\nControlled Substances Act, a category reserved for the most dangerous\nsubstances.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/ee604/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.png","srcSet":"/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/69585/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.png 200w,\n/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/497c6/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.png 400w,\n/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/ee604/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.png 800w,\n/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/74c9e/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.png 955w","srcWebp":"/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/58556/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/61e93/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.webp 200w,\n/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/1f5c5/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.webp 400w,\n/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/58556/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.webp 800w,\n/static/1e6e891ecfc3b981e2b927b710be93ea/3d99a/e07fe2f5dbd6c2648e5d4f794c19fe35.webp 955w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2155-markdown","title":"Legalization of Marijuana is Destroying Mexico's Drug Cartel ","slug":"legalization-of-marijuana-is-destroying-mexicos-drug-cartel","content":"The \"War on Drugs\" has been a massive failure. But there is a new force in the market, marijuana legalization. The war on drugs was a massive campaign that began stirring in\r\nAmerican politics way back in 1914 and was [popularized by President\r\nNixon](http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-solutions-drug-policy/brief-history-drug-war)\r\nand, later, President George H. W. Bush. This war on drugs has been an\r\nexpensive and [tragically ineffective\r\nprogram](http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/06/opinion/branson-end-war-on-drugs/)\r\nthat costs the American people approximately $500 *[each\r\nsecond](http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock)*.\r\n\r\nWhile the war on drugs has historically been meant to discourage and\r\nblock the distribution and use of recreational drugs, it has actually\r\n[had the reverse\r\neffect](http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/28/opinions/winslow-drug-war-folly/).\r\nAs the war on drugs has escalated in both expense and intensity, the\r\nprice placed on illegal drugs has skyrocketed in places like Mexico.\r\n\r\nThis has resulted in more drug-related fighting resulting in [85,000\r\npeople](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/02/us-mexico-drug-cartel_n_7707136.html)\r\nbeing killed in Mexico alone since 2006 when then-President Felipe\r\nCalderón signed-off on a military response to drug cartels. It has also\r\nresulted in no fewer drugs crossing the American border - with one\r\nnotable exception. The exception is marijuana and the reason for this is\r\nthe widespread legalization of the plant throughout the United States.\r\n\r\nSo, is it possible that we're actually discouraging smugglers from\r\ntransporting and growing marijuana... by legalizing it? The answer is\r\nyes and, so far, legalization has proven to be a far more effective\r\nstrategy to discourage illegal drug cartels than the War on Drugs has\r\never been.\r\n\r\nHere's what you need to know.\r\n\r\n**Legalization and Crashing Drug Prices**\r\n\r\nBefore the legalization of marijuana in the U.S., most cannabis bought\r\nand sold here had been grown in and smuggled from Mexico. This drove the\r\nprice of marijuana in Mexico to historic heights - at one time up to\r\n[\\$90 for a\r\nkilogram](http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/12/01/367802425/legal-pot-in-the-u-s-may-be-undercutting-mexican-marijuana).\r\n\r\nThose exorbitant cannabis prices had a wider effect than many people\r\nthink. In addition to encouraging Mexican drug lords to continue in\r\ntheir brutal and illegal industries, high cannabis prices also torpedoed\r\nthe Mexican government's attempt to help citizens build local economies\r\nby growing legal crops. Because the financial prospect of growing and\r\nselling marijuana was so appealing, many Mexican citizens gravitated\r\ntoward it (and, ergo, toward the dangerous job of working for the\r\nCartels).\r\n\r\nToday, however, the price of marijuana has dropped, which has thrown the\r\nMexican cartels into dire straits. This, in turn, has led to much less\r\ncannabis crossing the border via Mexican smugglers. According to a\r\n[report by Time\r\nMagazine](http://time.com/3801889/us-legalization-marijuana-trade/), the\r\nU.S. Border Patrol seized 2.5 million pounds of Marijuana in 2011. By\r\n2014, that number had dipped to 1.9 million pounds. This decline doesn't\r\nhave much to do with the War on Drugs, however. Instead, it's due to the\r\nlegalization of marijuana across the U.S.\r\n\r\n**How American Legalization has Destroyed Mexican Demand**\r\n\r\nAs affordable, legal marijuana becomes more prevalent in the U.S., the\r\ndemand for smuggled marijuana from Mexico has fallen flat on its face.\r\nIn 2008, roughly\r\n[two-thirds](http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP325.html) of\r\nall the cannabis consumed by U.S. citizens was imported from Mexico.\r\nToday, that number has fallen to roughly one-third. Likewise, cannabis\r\naccounted for 20%-30% of the Mexican drug cartels' revenue as recently\r\nas 2008.\r\n\r\nAs legalization has swept the U.S., though, these numbers have\r\nplummeted. Now that there is plenty of quality, affordable marijuana\r\navailable legally to consumers in the U.S., there's virtually no need to\r\npurchase expensive varieties from Mexico which are almost certainly\r\nlinked to violent cartel activity.\r\n\r\nIn what is possibly one of the largest victories linked to the American\r\nlegalization of cannabis, Mexico itself is now considering adopting laws\r\nlike the U.S. has, which would [decriminalize or legalize\r\ncannabis](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34731182) in\r\ncertain settings. If these laws go through, it would represent the final\r\nstraw for the powerful and dangerous cartels in Mexico - decimating\r\ntheir profits and obliterating the demand for their products.\r\n\r\n**The Future of Legalization and Mexican Marijuana: Why Pending States Should Follow California's Lead**\r\n\r\nAs waves of legalization continue to sweep the U.S., it stands to reason\r\nthat we'll keep seeing a decline in the price of, and demand for,\r\nmarijuana from Mexico. Despite the fact that the Federal Government has\r\nspent upwards of $15 billion on the War on Drugs since 2010 alone, it's\r\nclear that this approach has never been the most effective one.\r\n\r\nIn addition to making marijuana rare, and thus increasing the demand and\r\nprice of the product, the War on Drugs has only allowed the Mexican\r\ncartels to be more brutal than ever before.\r\n\r\nBecause of this, legalization is the only thing that truly has the\r\npotential to put the cartels out of business. When quality cannabis is\r\navailable to consumers from right here in the U.S., the demand for\r\nMexican products falls sharply. Because of this, [states like\r\nIllinois](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/medical-marijuana-business-licenses-illinois_n_6608060.html),\r\nFlorida, Georgia, Kansas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin (all of\r\nwhich have [pending marijuana\r\nlegislation](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002481)\r\non the ballot for 2016) would be well-served to follow California's lead\r\nto make medicinal cannabis easily accessible to consumers. This year\r\nCalifornia too has legalization as a initiative on the November ballot.\r\n\r\nIn addition to being the most common-sense approach to destroying the\r\ndrug crime that's been running rampant in Mexico for the last several\r\nyears, improving consumer access to legalized marijuana is one of the\r\nbest ways for U.S. lawmakers and citizens to further deplete the Mexican\r\nmarijuana market. With California as a model to follow, legalizing\r\nmarijuana throughout all states is an efficient way for U.S. lawmakers\r\nto ensure that drug crime, high marijuana prices, violence, and\r\ndestroyed economies become a thing of the past in Mexico.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/degu_andre/5819199737/in/photolist-9SdVkX-9SdVJB-9SgP5q-9fWxC3-9RXtgT-9SgLxy-9S1oMu-9fWzky-bqGdsv-b7pABe-9S1oxY-9fWwUG-9SdTLa-bznfy5-9SdUm4-9SgL1w-63tkzx-8YX5rc-f7HJ24-6PXWY7-9SgM69-9fWyMo-aocW8E-9S1ne5-bEYxur-bAnr7S-aqwCkb-7NMvHT-9fTqEP-62CZHV-9SgMRJ-f7TXi1-f7DJ6T-f7DJ1e-f7XX6Y-9fTsFa-f7WYVQ-8HRe4b-f7WZeQ-f7WZbh-6G2fFr-f7GLdV-f7GLrn-E2KhMo-5HCV5w-f7DHrK-f7TXmN-f7WYZG-hX48WJ-cugpnL)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/ee604/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png","srcSet":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/69585/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 200w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/497c6/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 400w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/ee604/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 800w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/a9ac2/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 945w","srcWebp":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/58556/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/61e93/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 200w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/1f5c5/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 400w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/58556/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 800w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/57e2d/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 945w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":12,"numPages":3,"currentPage":2,"id":5061,"name":"Cannabis Law","slug":"cannabis-law","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}