{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/legal/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1913-markdown","title":"Survey Reveals 76% of Doctors Would Approve Medical Marijuana Use","slug":"survey-reveals-76-of-doctors-would-approve-medical-marijuana-use","content":"A majority of doctors would approve medical marijuana use, according to\r\na\r\n[survey](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-76-percent-of-doctors-approve-of-medical-marijuana-use/)\r\npublished in the [New England Journal of\r\nMedicine](http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMclde1305159# t=article)\r\nin May 2013. In an interactive feature in which readers were given a\r\nhypothetical\r\n[case](http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMclde1300970# t=cldeOpt1)\r\nstudy about a 68-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer and asked\r\nto vote on the use of marijuana as a treatment for her symptoms, 76\r\npercent of doctors voted in favor of medical marijuana use, even though\r\nit is illegal in most countries.\r\n\r\nExperts Speak Out On Medical Marijuana\r\n--------------------------------------\r\n\r\nTo frame the issue, researchers invited experts to present opposing\r\nviewpoints about the use of marijuana, or cannabis, as medicine. J.\r\nMichael Bostwick, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic,\r\nMinnesota, recommended the medicinal use of marijuana while Gary M.\r\nReisfield, M.D., an assistant professor and chief of pain management\r\nservices in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida\r\nCollege of Medicine, and Robert L. DuPont, M.D., a clinical professor of\r\npsychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine, provided a\r\ncounterpoint.\r\n\r\nDoctors Support Medical Marijuana Use\r\n-------------------------------------\r\n\r\nA total of 1446 doctors from 72 countries cast their votes in the poll.\r\nDespite the global participation, most votes (1063) came from within\r\nNorth America, with doctors from 56 states and provinces expressing\r\ntheir opinions. In addition, 118 doctors posted comments on the issue.\r\nDoctors who said they would prescribe marijuana emphasized the\r\nresponsibility of healthcare providers to help minimize their patients'\r\nsuffering, the importance of considering patients' personal preferences\r\nand the dangers of prescription painkillers and narcotics. They also\r\ncited cases where marijuana was able to help patients.\r\n\r\nMarijuana Shows Promise As a Medicine\r\n-------------------------------------\r\n\r\nMany of the chemical compounds, or cannabinoids, found in the marijuana plant\r\nare believed to contribute to marijuana's health benefits. However,\r\ntetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are of the greatest\r\ninterest to researchers. THC increases appetite and reduces nausea. [Two\r\nTHC-based\r\nmedications](http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana/what-are-marijuanas-effects-general-physical-health)\r\nhave received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the\r\ntreatment of nausea in people undergoing cancer chemotherapy and loss of\r\nappetite in people with wasting syndrome due to acquired immune\r\ndeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It may also decrease pain and inflammation,\r\nand control muscle spasms. CBD may be useful in reducing pain and\r\ninflammation, reducing epileptic seizures, and treating mental\r\nillnesses.\r\n\r\nSupport Grows For Medical Marijuana Legalization\r\n------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe FDA has yet to approve marijuana as a medicine, citing insufficient\r\nevidence of its benefits. In spite of this, [23\r\nstates](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881)\r\nand Washington, D.C., have passed laws allowing people to obtain and use\r\nmarijuana with a doctor's prescription. If medical marijuana were to be\r\nlegalized nationally, it could deliver real benefits to patients whose\r\nneeds are not being met by current treatments.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/4517662990/in/photolist-7TdcPd-9jsuHw-8ZDrF5-db17rc-5q1FVn-rXxntr-rk4Mxg-4uMK8D-7zZMNv-dnbW6N-aGGLHc-fEy1Yo-9aRGDU-e8CE5Z-2ogktn-5q1B6r-9V6owe-hgaVKV-9hXzbP-9SfavZ-9Si3xf-9Si3us-8Y8Nwz-8Y8LPX-8Y8L1g-8YbMF3-2KWRJx-dnbGL6-pEYe9s-8DeWhH-dnbPoq-dnbM8G-ob61yZ-89hQAP-dnbRUX-dnbUKw-dnbRCv-dnbHda-63ytJM-mWt2jF-8Y8NXz-aiGAFx-8aAdLy-rjScLG-7ZE8XZ-rZh6ko-6ggnNd-716VJM-ojKxpZ-ojKxmH)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/14b42/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.jpg","srcSet":"/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/f836f/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.jpg 200w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/2244e/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.jpg 400w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/14b42/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.jpg 800w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/47498/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.jpg 1200w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/99213/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.jpg 1542w","srcWebp":"/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/58556/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/61e93/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.webp 200w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/1f5c5/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.webp 400w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/58556/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.webp 800w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/99238/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.webp 1200w,\n/static/dd264d40c96249411f00ecfe19411ed9/587c8/8b8eaa7dbaf11c78ef708dabc44ae403.webp 1542w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1933-markdown","title":"Concerns About the Recreational Marijuana Hurting Medical Users","slug":"concerns-about-the-recreational-marijuana-hurting-medical-users","content":"For medical marijuana users in Washington, things are about to change.\r\n\r\nAlthough the state's medical marijuana program is 17 years old,\r\nWashington is just now moving to regulate production and distribution of\r\nmedical marijuana. Additionally, more regulation is coming with the\r\nlegalization of recreational cannabis use that was [voted into law in\r\n2012](http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/07/news/economy/marijuana-legalization-washington-colorado/).\r\nAlthough these things may seem positive on the surface, medical\r\nmarijuana cardholders aren't so sure.\r\n\r\nWhat the Future Holds for Medical Marijuana Users in Washington\r\n---------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAlthough the state's new laws are supported by politicians on both sides\r\nof the aisle, critics are concerned that the changes will make medical\r\nmarijuana more difficult to access. Many fear dramatically increased\r\nprices, limits on possession amounts, and restricted access to specific\r\nmedical marijuana products needed by high-use patients. Additionally,\r\nmedical marijuana cardholders are concerned that the supply of medicinal\r\ncannabis could decline drastically once the state implements [limits on\r\ngrowing](https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/new-licensing-requirements-for-washingtons-medical-marijuana-disp).\r\n\r\nChanging Tax Status\r\n-------------------\r\n\r\nUntil now, most of Washington's marijuana dispensaries have been untaxed\r\nand unregulated. With the new changes, however, consumers are concerned\r\nthat the high taxes (often [up to\r\n37%](http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FindTaxesAndRates/marijuana/Default.aspx))\r\nfaced by recreational consumer. What's more, it seems like their\r\nconcerns are spot-on. Washington's new regulations will be in place by\r\nJuly 1, 2016 and, at that time, medical users can begin to expect high\r\ntaxes and a retail market-like environment. It is worth noting, however,\r\nthat taxation on marijuana can be very lucrative for states and their\r\ncitizens. For example, in Colorado, [taxes on recreational and medicinal\r\nmarijuana](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/12/colorados-legal-weed-market-700-million-in-sales-last-year-1-billion-by-2016/)\r\nin 2014 alone pulled in $63 million. All of that tax revenue will be\r\nused to improve social services in the state and the excess may be [paid\r\nback to\r\ncitizens](http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/colorado-may-pay-residents-over-excess-marijuana-revenue-20150130)\r\nin the form of a dividend.\r\n\r\nThe Upside of the New Regulations\r\n---------------------------------\r\n\r\nAlthough medical marijuana users in Washington are concerned about what\r\nthe changes in regulation and taxation mean for them, there are a few\r\ndefinite upsides. In the past, medical cannabis has been completely\r\nunregulated, which means that everything from production method to\r\npesticide use has been completely up to the grower. Although many\r\ngrowers are ethical and careful about their products, some are not. That\r\nsaid, it's easy to see how Washington's new production and distribution\r\nregulations will provide better consumer protection. Additionally,\r\nstricter regulations have the potential to produce purer, higher quality\r\nproducts that are better for medical consumers.\r\n\r\nChange is always uncomfortable and it seems that [Washington's new\r\nlegislation](http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/will-legal-weed-hurt-medical-marijuana-users-washington-n413281)\r\nwill offer a trade-off: higher taxes and the potential for a decreased\r\nsupply in exchange for a safer product and better regulation.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/l0nglost/16117785807/in/photolist-qygSbK-anNdJK-bzokge-cSz3qA-dMJUth-7JWgvy-rQZ47B-6DNDsR-u42Zep-cFKUvE-ie5rea-jGCv2p-gZoSoL-d9s8rq-f4FnCH-dPQNj2-qoJGao-bVMcXY-eC8CYD-iierkw-w7BkeL-bWyq3g-dk54aD-rZ6C2y-gqSDxC-8Tmvcr-e8nKdK-baQkm8-iZqpLV-cWFzc9-8yorhU-eabdTB-oRhtCy-smRNhe-6GbZUt-98V5P2-9G2gvX-o3HJ9a-rcHiDm-dTbAhn-byevaL-viF2S7-jVHbt-p61zaR-ezjvpF-8XoSsp-9Tjdd6-6HDv3x-aZ4EpV-pXA5C2)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/14b42/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/f836f/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.jpg 200w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/2244e/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.jpg 400w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/14b42/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.jpg 800w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/47498/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.jpg 1200w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/3e6ba/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.jpg 1535w","srcWebp":"/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/58556/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/61e93/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.webp 200w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/1f5c5/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.webp 400w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/58556/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.webp 800w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/99238/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.webp 1200w,\n/static/c895602ebaae49b7f5c99b73b7e72ee6/83e09/90b4af7069d610d7b1aac9b162749116.webp 1535w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1942-markdown","title":"First Las Vegas Dispensary Opens Today!","slug":"first-las-vegas-dispensary-opens-today","content":"Euphoria Wellness is the first medical cannabis dispensary to open in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Due to large amounts of tourism, and Nevada’s [reciprocity](http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/11/20/nevada-reciprocity-marijuana-las-vegas/23625/) laws, they are expected to be very busy.  For the first two days Euphoria Wellness will only be open to a small group of pre-registered customers who were invited to join the dispensary. On Wednesday, they will open to all registered medical cannabis patients. \r\n\r\nPart of the delay in opening the dispensary was the lack of inventory of marijuana products available in the state. They waited until they were able to fill their shelves from commercial growers to solve this problem. Out of the 9,500 registered card holders in Nevada, over 6,700 live in Clark County, which is home to Las Vegas. They will most likely be running into issues keeping products on the shelves because they are only the second dispensary to open in the state. The first dispensary to open was Silver State Relief outside of Reno, a seven hour drive northwest of Las Vegas.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/adteasdale/4996770948/in/photolist-8BxKVf-5J85eG-cfh4yL-5nLVFj-jeRZix-jeTveb-55KCan-j5LBAg-nRand5-PSNJ1-sngP1k-4VqGzP-ab6auH-dBmaU6-pk7mb-wW4FP-opao7s-aE34HD-4oyMEc-6R8PPi-aEYC2J-qq1pzb-bDWHF-bs3cwZ-euZgT6-hMPbWH-bDWzX-5Pd1to-6qoX1r-ujrdW3-nnWihw-4ykHqG-98ZCvZ-4GKBLu-67ok35-uk9de-dwYr6D-dQHuyi-mjhp9a-6C6NkP-dPJcvT-6CaWyd-7oi5Ki-96LTSe-dNBan4-4kxz1w-8ESTeD-9NHJGZ-6PG8Nq-chAb39)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/14b42/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.jpg","srcSet":"/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/f836f/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.jpg 200w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/2244e/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.jpg 400w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/14b42/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.jpg 800w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/47498/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.jpg 1200w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/a6974/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/58556/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/61e93/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.webp 200w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/1f5c5/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.webp 400w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/58556/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.webp 800w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/99238/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.webp 1200w,\n/static/669242fa70efbede14542ce7cff01055/d5052/10ab4a835ae256593e5c79e9be0cda16.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1964-markdown","title":"Oregon Cannabis Growers Stop Using Pesticides: What Does This Means for the Cannabis Industry?","slug":"oregon-cannabis-growers-stop-using-pesticides-what-does-this-means-for-the-cannabis-industry","content":"Oregon cannabis growers were recently informed by the state that they\r\ncan [no longer use pesticides to grow their\r\nplants](https://mjbizdaily.com/oregon-mj-growers-told-to-quit-using-pesticides/).\r\nWhile the Department of Agriculture is working on creating a list of\r\npesticides that will be approved for use, cultivators currently find\r\nthemselves at a standstill. Although not a fatal blow to the industry,\r\nthis new legislation does change things for the state's cannabis\r\nfarmers.\r\n\r\nWhy Pesticides Matter\r\n---------------------\r\n\r\nLike most farming operations, cannabis growers use pesticides to protect\r\ntheir plants. Farmers who grow crops like corn, wheat, soybeans or fruit\r\nhave access to a federally-approved list of pesticides to use on their\r\nfields. Medical marijuana growers in Oregon, on the other hand, do not.\r\n\r\nSince cannabis is still technically an illegal substance [according to\r\nfederal\r\nlaw](http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/08/marijuana_growers_warned_not_t.html),\r\nthe Department of Agriculture has never compiled a list of acceptable\r\npesticides for use in medical marijuana operations. As a result,\r\npesticides have been [largely\r\nunregulated](http://www.npr.org/2015/06/17/413429435/growing-concern-over-unregulated-pesticide-use-among-marijuana-growers)\r\nin the cannabis industry, and the state is now barring the use of\r\npesticides until they can research health and safety concerns of users\r\nand assemble a list of approved substances.\r\n\r\nSince the Department of Agriculture has never approved the use of *any*\r\npesticides for cannabis plants, the application of pesticides is\r\ncurrently against the law. While most cannabis growers are ethical in\r\ntheir pesticide application, some are not. This may create health and\r\nsafety concerns for consumers.\r\n\r\nIn the changing medical marijuana climate, it is important that all\r\nmedical marijuana undergoes independent testing by labs to assure the\r\nquality of products. Labs, such as those certified by the [Association\r\nof Commercial Cannabis Laboratories](http://www.cacannabislabs.com/)\r\n(ACCL) in California, provide an accurate breakdown of substances found\r\nnaturally in the plant or those that have been added artificially.\r\nIndependent labs around the country test for contaminants to assure\r\ngrowers are holding to the standards set forth by law. Lab testing makes\r\nthe medical marijuana industry safer for patients across the country, no\r\nmatter what specific state regulations are.\r\n\r\nWhat the Future Holds\r\n---------------------\r\n\r\nFor the time being, licensed cannabis growers in Oregon are sitting\r\ntight, as all regular pesticides are now prohibited. Although it is\r\nlikely that the Department of Agriculture will approve pesticides for\r\nuse in medical marijuana operations, it is not guaranteed. In the\r\nmeantime, cultivators are [getting\r\ncreative](http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1131368) with natural insect\r\nrepellents, and organic growers are happy to continue without\r\npesticides.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime,\r\n[f](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/5/oregon-warning-marijuana-growers-against-illegal-p/)[ull\r\nretail marijuana\r\nsales](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/5/oregon-warning-marijuana-growers-against-illegal-p/)\r\nare not slated to begin until late 2016, and dispensaries have to wait\r\nuntil October of this year to begin selling limited amounts of their\r\nproduct to of-age consumers. Going forward, many cultivators hope the\r\nreview will give them time to adjust their growing operations, with or\r\nwithout new pesticides.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jz909/1450513463/in/photolist-3dbg7P-efqZvq-65XFUR-8s4CQm-aYJmUR-MxCAE-4MiWsW-4TB2xB-54y8UY-54y7yS-rsxrmx-9EGm14-rqETER-54tUYt-8Zqd7z-nDapnG-fDx8fH-54ybAG-54y7sw-54tWfc-6omtpK-cWFC2N-6pxbhW-FqB8c-4KHQBW-54tW16-54tUCr-54tTEH-4MtZUF-54ybt1-54yaqW-bsD2eD-7sfiPi-7TiZ1v-7hRyKL-54y7J7-bWx5ck-54ybjb-mG6hSn-mG8foE-qaVBo1-f5JUHV-iB9An8-65b3vw-54y8gG-dcArQS-mG6yPR-4Momau-7hMBEg-4SD8sy)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/14b42/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/f836f/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.jpg 200w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/2244e/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.jpg 400w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/14b42/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.jpg 800w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/47498/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.jpg 1200w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/54ac5/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/58556/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/61e93/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.webp 200w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/1f5c5/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.webp 400w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/58556/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.webp 800w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/99238/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.webp 1200w,\n/static/c28777f1eba2d6bd9c1d45ff222f9bfb/5e0b8/46195f8a2f8f48f531cc0da7961705e3.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1906-markdown","title":"August 1: The Dawn of a New Age in Nevada","slug":"august-1-the-dawn-of-a-new-age-in-nevada","content":"Even though medical marijuana was legalized in the state of Nevada over\r\n15 years ago, residents have not had a legal place to purchase the\r\ncannabis they needed. That all changed on August 1, the day the first\r\nmedical marijuana dispensary opened to the public in Nevada.\r\n\r\nThe Place: Sparks, Nevada\r\n-------------------------\r\n\r\nSparks was the first city to offer a legal medical marijuana dispensary\r\nin the state. The town sits just five miles east of Reno and is home to\r\nan estimated 90,000 people, according to the [U.S. Census\r\nBureau](http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/3268400.html).\r\nLocated in a strip mall on East Greg Street, the Silver State Relief\r\ndispensary had a line of 75 people waiting out front before the doors\r\neven opened. Each one came armed with a recommendation from their\r\nphysician for the medical use of marijuana.\r\n\r\nOther Dispensaries have met with opposition from neighboring businesses\r\nand residents, Clark County has the most people with medical marijuana\r\ncards in the state, but dispensaries there have been bogged down by the\r\nlocal politics. Despite legalization, the state stalled for over a\r\ndecade, though 66 medical marijuana dispensary licenses had been issued.\r\n\r\nThe general manager of the first dispensary to make it past all the\r\nlocal roadblocks [has\r\nstated](http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/07/29/states-first-medical-marijuana-dispensary-open-friday/30863209/)\r\nthat they spent two years planning the opening. For months, they have\r\nbeen getting emails and phone calls inquiring about their products. They\r\nreceived over 150 applications for jobs as well.\r\n\r\nMarijuana Safety Precautions\r\n----------------------------\r\n\r\nOver 31 percent of patients get relief from the use of medical\r\nmarijuana. The sale of the drug had been delayed in the state by local\r\nbureaucracy, in part due to anticipated safety issues with a dispensary.\r\nNevada law allows state officials to track the medical marijuana\r\nseed-to-sale, in order to prevent abuse of the system or illegal\r\ndistribution.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the Nevada Department of Agriculture is working on a\r\nprocess that will allow them to test the plants for 30 to 40 different\r\npesticides to ensure the product delivered is safe from everyone. The\r\ndispensary works with several labs to test their plants to make sure\r\nthey are compliant with state regulations.\r\n\r\nSince medical marijuana is not federally approved for use, plants must\r\nbe sourced locally. Silver State Relief grows about 200 plants of their\r\nown that they intend to use for future product. Initially, they must\r\nlimit how much cannabis customers can buy to 2.5 ounces very 14 days\r\nuntil they can build up a steady supply of medication.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/m3phisto1969/20242525481/in/photolist-wQLeA2-vpgXx3-pk6Tk-mjhp9a-j5MmCQ-dMpumT-fKrS4v-7ihARp-u164ic-bsx3i4-9E8ncD-uWiSHU-cy7HFS-oG5rzF-bi1s7V-6C6NkP-9LTDmg-a7sRGW-67srB2-7fjiFN-5V935c-hL97QG-HqLp1-a9c5hL-pzibFB-5Pd4Hj-ddxAzM-dx4Veu-6CaWyd-oTfXVx-q84rp5-8XPuCL-6Q9G3M-bX45pL-dGmP9m-dQHuyi-8APzko-9kzHnB-pskqHo-eevZ7f-btM7bg-nEvQy-s5jG5r-7pKMAa-6FZXDL-dPg8kk-dwYrba-v2PcK3-68k9yE-vdMicX)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/14b42/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/f836f/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.jpg 200w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/2244e/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.jpg 400w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/14b42/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.jpg 800w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/47498/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.jpg 1200w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/ebcef/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.jpg 1547w","srcWebp":"/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/58556/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/61e93/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.webp 200w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/1f5c5/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.webp 400w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/58556/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.webp 800w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/99238/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.webp 1200w,\n/static/e754b8e6a8b90173cfb842ed2e7fbe6c/fca7d/3345e54609e302f764fd89c8c244c848.webp 1547w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1916-markdown","title":"Study Finds No Link between Teen Cannabis Use and Physical and Mental Health Issues","slug":"study-finds-no-link-between-teen-cannabis-use-and-physical-and-mental-health-issues","content":"Marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs in the United States, and\r\nmany studies have linked chronic use during adolescence to physical and\r\nmental health issues in later life. However, a new\r\n[study](http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/adb-adb0000103.pdf)\r\nhas challenged these findings and suggests that chronic marijuana use by\r\nadolescents is not associated with an increased risk of adverse\r\nlong-term health effects.\r\n\r\nResearch Sheds New Light on Marijuana's Long-Term Effects\r\n---------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nResearchers from Rutgers University and the University of Pittsburgh\r\nMedical Center tracked more than 400 males from adolescence into the\r\nmid-30s to review the effects of marijuana over more than two decades.\r\nPublished in the American Psychological Association's journal\r\n\"Psychology of Addictive Behaviors\" in August 2015, the study obtained\r\ndata from the Pittsburgh Youth Study, a long-range project that began in\r\nthe late 1980s as a means to analyze the development of physical, mental\r\nand social problems amongst male public school students.\r\n\r\nThe researchers placed the men into four groups based on self-reported\r\nmarijuana use: low or no marijuana use (46 percent), marijuana use\r\nlimited to adolescence (11 percent), marijuana use commencing in late\r\nadolescence and continuing through adulthood (21 percent) and\r\nearly-onset chronic marijuana use (22 percent). Early-onset chronic\r\nusers reported higher marijuana use, which rapidly increased during\r\nadolescence and peaked at the age of 22, when marijuana was used for\r\nmore than 200 days per year, on average. The men were surveyed every six\r\nmonths for the first 2.5 years and then annually for 10 years until the\r\nage of 26. A follow-up survey was conducted in 2009-2010 when the men\r\nwere 36 years old.\r\n\r\nMarijuana Not a Significant Risk Factor\r\n---------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe researchers expected to find a link between adolescent marijuana use\r\nand health issues, such as psychotic symptoms, depression, cancer,\r\nasthma or respiratory problems in later life. However, the study\r\nrevealed no significant differences in any of the four groups in terms\r\nof the prevalence of mental or physical health issues in the mid-30s,\r\nirrespective of the amount or frequency of cannabis used. It also\r\nrevealed no differences based on race or ethnicity.\r\n\r\nThe findings suggest that marijuana is more beneficial than harmful and\r\nhelp to discredit claims that marijuana is bad for teens. They lend\r\nweight to the argument that marijuana should be removed from [Schedule I\r\nof the Controlled Substances Act](http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml),\r\na category reserved for the most dangerous drugs. Marijuana's\r\nclassification as a Schedule I drug has been hotly debated for decades,\r\nwith medical marijuana advocates pointing to the growing body of\r\nevidence demonstrating marijuana's efficacy as a treatment for a variety\r\nof health complaints.\r\n\r\nGiven that each day more than [3,000\r\nteenagers](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/297780.php) in the\r\nUnited States use marijuana for the first time, a clear understanding of\r\nthe long-term effects of marijuana must be established as more states\r\nconsider moving towards permissiveness. While critics remain concerned\r\nthat the legalization of medical marijuana will lead to a rise in\r\nmarijuana use, especially among teenagers,\r\n[research](http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366%2815%2900217-5/abstract)\r\ncarried out by Columbia University Medical Center in New York and\r\npublished in the journal \"The Lancet\" in June 2015 revealed a decrease\r\nin teen marijuana use in states that have legalized medical marijuana.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/78122965@N05/7361636130)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/14b42/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/f836f/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.jpg 200w,\n/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/2244e/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.jpg 400w,\n/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/14b42/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.jpg 800w,\n/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/7cd0e/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.jpg 922w","srcWebp":"/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/58556/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/61e93/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.webp 200w,\n/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/1f5c5/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.webp 400w,\n/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/58556/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.webp 800w,\n/static/c6f806226fab58a9385916748a50d7cd/88b19/4a46dfdb1b096b8a459968ed65493f7f.webp 922w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1921-markdown","title":"How Many People in California are Using Medical Marijuana?","slug":"how-many-people-in-california-are-using-medical-marijuana","content":"Marijuana, or cannabis, is classified by the Drug Enforcement\r\nAdministration (DEA) as a [Schedule I\r\nsubstance](http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml). Despite this, [23\r\nstates and Washington,\r\nD.C.](http://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html)\r\nhave legalized marijuana for medicinal use. California was the [first\r\nstate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._jurisdiction)\r\nin the United States to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes when\r\nvoters passed Proposition 215, or the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, by\r\n55.6 percent on November 5, 1996. On September 30, 2010, Gov. Arnold\r\nSchwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1449, reducing the punishment for the\r\npossession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Since then, there has been\r\nno population-based data describing medical marijuana users in the\r\nstate.\r\n\r\nResearch Reveals Medical Marijuana Use\r\n--------------------------------------\r\n\r\nResearchers for the Survey Research Group at the Public Health Institute\r\nin Sacramento, California, used data from the [California Behavioral\r\nRisk Factor Surveillance System](http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/) 2012, a\r\nhealth-related telephone survey of over 7,500 adults, to investigate the\r\nprevalence of medical marijuana use. Published in the [Drug and Alcohol\r\nReview](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25255903) in 2014, the study\r\nrevealed that in total, five percent of adults in California reported\r\never using medical marijuana. Of these, 92 percent believed it helped\r\ntreat or relieve symptoms of a serious medical condition. The most\r\ncommon reasons for using medical marijuana were chronic pain (31\r\npercent), arthritis (11 percent), migraine (8 percent) and cancer (7\r\npercent). Other conditions reported included acquired immune deficiency\r\nsyndrome (AIDS), muscle spasms, nausea, stress and depression.\r\n\r\nMedical Marijuana Use Prevails Across California\r\n------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\n[Medical\r\nmarijuana](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/01/92-of-patients-say-medical-marijuana-works/)\r\nuse was prevalent in all age groups, although usage was higher amongst\r\nadults aged 18 to 24. One reason for this could be that older adults\r\nhave yet to recognize the benefits of medical marijuana as a therapy for\r\nconditions such as cancer. Medical marijuana use was similar amongst men\r\nand women, and in all areas of California, lending support to the notion\r\nthat medical marijuana is not exclusively used by any one specific\r\ngroup.Prevalence of ever using medical marijuana was highest among white\r\nadults, although use was reported by every racial group examined. The\r\ndifference in marijuana use between racial groups was less than three\r\npercentage points, which suggests that medical marijuana is being used\r\nequally by many racial groups.\r\n\r\nResults Provide Clear Evidence of Medical Marijuana's Benefits\r\n--------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nMedical marijuana is being used for conditions for which mainstream\r\ntreatments may not exist or may not be effective. As more states\r\ncontemplate legalizing marijuana for medical use, those who have already\r\nbenefited from its therapeutic effects must continue to speak out on its\r\nplace in modern medicine.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/23499775@N08/5105070107)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/14b42/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.jpg","srcSet":"/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/f836f/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.jpg 200w,\n/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/2244e/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.jpg 400w,\n/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/14b42/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.jpg 800w,\n/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/16310/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/58556/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/61e93/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.webp 200w,\n/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/1f5c5/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.webp 400w,\n/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/58556/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.webp 800w,\n/static/2a95e075ec283127a80a8488244cfc97/cc834/13c70f944fb3c9e73dabdf92e0159636.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1996-markdown","title":"Are there Neurotoxins in your Marijuana?","slug":"are-there-neurotoxins-in-your-marijuana","content":"An interview with Dr. Robert Martin – Co-Founder of CW Analytical Testing Laboratory\r\n\r\n*What does CW Labs do?*\r\n\r\n>We started our lab so that we could: educate patients on the need for testing, provide the clearest, simplest representation of accurate lab test results, and provide dispensaries and growers with the ability to carry out thorough testing on their products at an affordable cost.  Our end goal is to provide the safest possible products to the patient and hopefully, in the process, educate patients as to why testing is important. We, at CW labs, believe there should be more industry regulations that mandate consistent testing by growers and dispensaries. The more quality control required, the better it is for patients and the industry as a whole. Our ultimate goal is to legitimize marijuana through testing and education.\r\n\r\n>Our lab has been designed to mimic labs used in the food industry, an area in which I have been involved for many years. We have our lab set up so that when new product comes through the door, it goes through the same sequential set of tests every time. Consistency in our testing is important for accurate and comparable results for all of our products. My preference for lab design is a horse-shoe pattern: a product enters on one side of the horse-shoe, works its way around the curve, and ends on the other side of the horse-shoe.  I aim to keep the lab quiet, a focused environment is fundamental to decrease possibility of error. We believe in consistency. We are committed to a rigorous scientific process to provide the most accurate results that we are able to. Not all labs or facilities have actual scientists or people trained in the scientific process to run the tests like we do. Tests must be conducted more than once in order to provide corroborated, truly valid results. If we test a product for a bacteria and we find that bacteria, we promptly retest the product to make sure those results are accurate. There are liabilities in running a lab. We want to make sure that we have done our job properly and protected the patient to the best of our ability to prevent patients from illness as much as possible.\r\n\r\n*Who submits their products to testing?*\r\n\r\n>We find that the majority of people who come to us are dispensaries, however, growers do come to us as well. In our experience about 90% of the dispensaries in the East Bay test their products, whereas only about 60% of the dispensaries in San Francisco test their products regularly.\r\n\r\n*Why should a dispensary test?*\r\n\r\n>Patients are often not aware of what might hurt them. Any dispensary that sells medicine should have the patient’s best interest at heart, but often they do not. We regularly see things in the medical marijuana products that would be extremely alarming to many of our patients. For instance, we saw the presence of cholinesterase inhibitors, a neurotoxin, from multiple growers for a 3-4 month span of time. Apparently, a new product was introduced that was intended to kill mites and multiple growers had started to use it. It is only because the product was tested and the toxin was detected that we saw a decline in the use of the pesticide. \r\n\r\n>We have seen a new cycle emerging in this industry: growers use a new un-tested chemical on plants that turns out to be harmful to consumers, when the products are tested by dispensaries these chemicals show up in the results, and then pressure for them to stop using the chemical. The patient and the industry need to put pressure on the dispensary to test all products before they are released, so none of these harmful products fall through the cracks. It is exceptionally irresponsible to subject sick patients to untested, potentially harmful medications. Ethical dispensaries, who test their products regularly, have the ability to transform the growing industry by forcing the growers and producers to clean up their act.\r\n\r\n*What does you lab test for?*\r\n\r\n>We test for cannabinoids, the CBD to THC ratio, pesticides, microbiological material, such as ecoli, terpins, and residuals of any kind and the DNA. We also test for yeast and fungi. Fungal abatement is important. An organic grower may lose about 20% of the crop due to fungus. That said, I believe that organic, outdoor grow operations create a higher quality product with less risk to the patient overall. Additional things that we may test for are growth hormones and Aflatoxins. When we test the bud, we use a randomly selected specimen from each one pound bag. The cost for an average dispensary is around $120 per one pound of bud we test, it adds up to about 28.7 cents per gram for the dispensary, which is affordable.\r\n\r\n>We look for microbiological material and bacteria in products. Typically, the living plant will have none of the bacteria we look for, perhaps due to the amount of terpenoids present. Once the plant is harvested, however, that is when the plant normally starts to collect bacteria. How it is stored and handled greatly effects what is on the cannabis product (i.e. Are gloves used in the harvesting process? Where is the plant put after harvesting? How sterile is the processing area?), often just changing hygiene protocols will yield dramatically better results.\r\n\r\n>We test for 33 of the most commonly used pesticides, as dictated by the EPA. Pesticides are an awful thing to have in medication, they do not break down in your body no matter how you ingest them. Having pesticides in ones body is not good for their health in any way.  Patients should be aware, also, that when concentrates are made from cannabis that have been treated by pesticides, the pesticides are in an extremely concentrated state just like the marijuana.\r\n\r\n>We typically see a 20-30% failure rate from new dispensaries’ products the first time we test them. With in 3-4 months the dispensaries with failures usually return with almost 100% passing products. When the dispensaries understand how their products are harmful, they usually shape up, which is great for the patient.\r\n\r\n*What happens when a product has a negative test result?*\r\n\r\n>We inform dispensaries of their results immediately. If it is a contamination like E.coli we get on the phone right away to inform them of the issue with their product. Dispensaries are responsible to do the right thing when their results are negative, we have no jurisdiction to take personal action. Not all dispensaries will do the right thing by pulling the product off their shelves, but then again there are many dispensaries who will never test to begin with.\r\n\r\n*What misunderstanding do you commonly see?*\r\n\r\n>Many people, including dispensaries, do not understand that lab results do not represent an absolute. There are variables in all tests and results. Absolutes are theoretical and there is variation in just about everything. So, for instance, even in Big Pharma, there is about a 7.5% allowable variation. In the food industry there is about a 20% variance. Here at CW labs we have accomplished about a 10% variance, which compared to the food industry, is really an amazing result to achieve. Another thing people often do not understand is dosages. The medical marijuana industry is based on milligrams, which is often hard for people to get their arms around.\r\n\r\n*What excites you about where CW labs is today?*\r\n\r\n>We want to give back to the patient. Our goal is to educate and help reform an industry that needs stronger regulation, whether that comes from the inside or outside.  Based on the lack of regulation we have witnessed, I helped found an organization called the ACCL (Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories), which is dedicated to addressing the lack of regulation in the industry with the hopes of creating the highest standards possible. One thing that we do on a yearly basis is allow for a 3rd party to send independent labs products. We in the ACCL all test these products, then we post our results publicly.  We believe in reliability and accountability and we follow strict guidelines as a whole to work towards achieving those goals.\r\n\r\n>What I have seen as this industry has grown is that there is a new type of cannabis patient. It is a 66 year old woman with chronic pain or a 70+ patient who wants to get off heavy prescription medications. We want to be able to help inform them, allow them to make smart choices, and ultimately provide them with the safest possible medication.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/14b42/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.jpg","srcSet":"/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/f836f/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.jpg 200w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/2244e/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.jpg 400w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/14b42/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.jpg 800w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/47498/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.jpg 1200w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/54ac5/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/58556/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/61e93/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.webp 200w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/1f5c5/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.webp 400w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/58556/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.webp 800w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/99238/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.webp 1200w,\n/static/81b66fa7bd264277d71665b5d4503dbc/5e0b8/f8e1c1845b8aefb4a43e27ba2931a3f5.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1856-markdown","title":"Medical Marijuana Not Approved for PTSD Use in Colorado","slug":"medical-marijuana-not-approved-for-ptsd-use-in-colorado","content":"In a 6-2 vote this past July, the Colorado Board of Health declined to\r\nadd PTSD to the list of conditions for which medical marijuana may be\r\nprescribed. The vote was in direct opposition to both very vocal support\r\nfrom PTSD patients and the advice of the state's Chief Medical Officer\r\nhimself.\r\n\r\nVeterans Call It a Hypocritical Policy\r\n--------------------------------------\r\n\r\nVeterans groups were among the proposal's biggest supporters. Many\r\nveterans suffering PTSD testified that standard medications such as\r\nantidepressants, antipsychotics, and opioids had destroyed their quality\r\nof life or nearly killed them. A dozen veterans asserted that cannabis\r\nhad saved their lives, saying that when they turned to medical marijuana\r\nafter years of standard drugs, their need for the more dangerous\r\nconventional drugs disappeared.\r\n\r\nMany feel that the decision was an exercise in hypocrisy, considering\r\nthe state's recreational marijuana laws. John Evans, director of Vets 4\r\nFreedoms, said says that veterans--the group with the highest incidence\r\nof PTSD--are being treated as second-class citizens. \"We've legalized\r\nit,\" he said. \"We'll take the tax dollars from our tourists (for\r\nrecreational marijuana) before we'll help our vets.\"\r\n\r\nBoard Member Says: \"I'm Struggling with the Science\"\r\n----------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAs with past votes, the board's stated reason for not approving the\r\nmeasure was lack of scientific studies. As one board member stated, \"I'm\r\nstill struggling with the science piece [the lack of studies].\" However,\r\nthe current classification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug makes it\r\nnearly impossible to do controlled studies.\r\n\r\nIt's a catch 22: Cannabis can't be declassified due to lack of studies,\r\nbut studies are limited by its current classification. Research is a\r\ncomplicated process with many more steps and restrictions than studies\r\non other substances or drugs, and it can take years. In the meantime,\r\nadvocates say, patients with PTSD suffer depression and other ailments,\r\nleading to increased possibility of opioid addiction and suicide.\r\n\r\nA veteran advocate in Colorado said, \"It is our brothers and sisters who\r\nare committing suicide every day. We know cannabis can help.\" Currently,\r\nonly about 5 percent of Colorado physicians recommend medical marijuana\r\nto patients, and about 15 doctors make 75 percent of those\r\nrecommendations.\r\n\r\nRecommendation for Re-Examination Also Struck Down\r\n--------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nDr. Larry Wolk, the state's Chief Medical Officer and director of the\r\nColorado Department of Public Health and Environment, agrees that the\r\nscience is lacking. He is, however, a proponent of medical marijuana for\r\nPTSD and has recommended the board vote yes. As a compromise, he\r\nproposed a measure that would bring the issue up for re-examination in\r\nfour years when two state-funded studies are expected to have results.\r\nThe board refused. \r\n\r\nThe limitation on medical marijuana for PTSD sufferers\r\nin Colorado is just another example of people who could benefit from medical \r\nmarijuana not being able to access medication they need. Though recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, patients with medical needs should be able to access medical marijuana as a medication, not just as a recreational product. \r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortrucker/6331963771/in/photolist-aDwYea-5xVPvp-pJRTmd-q2k1Ko-pK8Wca-dYwRft-dYCyqN-a9Heri-dtuVdV-hu3MHg-5B9h2m-dhNLc3-vLU27y-aDVts3-aDRxG2-aEyyoc-7HEfyu-dhNKW9-hucqWR-7fmoTZ-8xSGDA-7f6MNt-aCuh5-drKW7A-dhNL3Y-5CrVTH-i6GSyy-6qHv69-aFa7jp-6jdsvY-8S6X2H-hnycqn-4mfGLf-aEz3wg-kuJ1qa-8SvZba-aDPTTc-aEe8hL-7faKS7-rZaNa-hu33ib-5249Mi-Jouet-aEG6Tp-d9LKd3-hu3MQv-hucQdG-oRCDSr-4oSfth-6RyzVH)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/14b42/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/f836f/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.jpg 200w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/2244e/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.jpg 400w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/14b42/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.jpg 800w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/47498/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.jpg 1200w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/99213/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.jpg 1542w","srcWebp":"/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/58556/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/61e93/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.webp 200w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/1f5c5/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.webp 400w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/58556/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.webp 800w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/99238/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.webp 1200w,\n/static/dc0d8890d57143f89d1bc174a46cdaad/587c8/822f20c69f822e5271cd2b348e8aa37c.webp 1542w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1882-markdown","title":"Where do Presidential Candidates Stand on Medical Marijuana?","slug":"where-do-presidential-candidates-stand-on-medical-marijuana","content":"With the presidential election looming, knowing where the candidates\r\nstand on medical marijuana is important in the eyes of many voters.\r\nAfter all, our next commander-in-chief could have the final say on\r\nmedical marijuana policy nationwide.\r\n\r\nThe Good, the Bad, and the Ambiguous\r\n------------------------------------\r\n\r\nWhile the field is still crowded and there is no general consensus,\r\nemerging trends are unsurprising. Candidates trend against legalization,\r\nalthough the Independents seem more open to the ideas of medical\r\nmarijuana and allowing states to decide. Democratic candidates tepidly\r\nfavor restricted medical cannabis legalization, though less so than the\r\nIndependents. Republicans are opposed across the board, except for Rand\r\nPaul and Donald Trump.\r\n\r\nUnsurprisingly, the most conservative candidates are the most\r\nanti-legalization, and are unflinchingly honest in their opposition.\r\nModerate Republican candidates, however, tend to endorse the idea of\r\nlegalization at the state level, while at the same time insisting that\r\nfederal law should be enforced -- even in states which have voted for\r\nlegalization.\r\n\r\nWhat are the most well-known candidates are saying?\r\n---------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\n### Donald Trump: Pro\r\n\r\nMr. Trump feels legalization should be a states' rights issue, saying,\r\n\"If they vote for it, they vote for it.\" His opinion is clear-cut: \"I\r\nthink medical marijuana, 100 percent.\"\r\n\r\n### Scott Walker: Unclear\r\n\r\nWhile Gov. Walker is clearly opposed to medical marijuana, saying state\r\nlaws should reflect marijuana's current Schedule 1 classification, he\r\nhas also signed into law a bill allowing CBD-rich cannabis extracts for\r\nseizure disorders. When asked whether states or the federal government\r\nshould set marijuana laws, his only reply was that it's a \"difficult\"\r\nquestion.\r\n\r\n### Jeb Bush: Hands-off\r\n\r\nAlthough Gov. Bush is personally opposed to medical marijuana and has\r\neven urged voters to reject it in his own state, he says the issue\r\nshould be left to individual states. \"States ought to have a right to\r\ndecide these things,\" he says. \"The federal government's role in our\r\nlives is way too overreaching.\"\r\n\r\n### Hillary Clinton: Unclear\r\n\r\nSen. Clinton has conflicting views about medical marijuana. She has said\r\nshe believes marijuana has medical value, and that she wants to see\r\nstates make their own laws about it. On the other hand, during the 2007\r\npresidential campaign, she said, 'I don't think we should decriminalize\r\nit [marijuana].\"\r\n\r\n### Bernie Sanders: Pro\r\n\r\nSen. Sanders has been supportive of marijuana reform, repeatedly voting\r\nto stop the Department of Justice from interfering with state medical\r\nmarijuana laws. He also co-sponsored a bill to reschedule cannabis and\r\nmake it more accessible to researchers.\r\n\r\nThe overall attitude runs against prevailing public opinion, as voters\r\nin individual states continue to demonstrate --currently, 23 states and\r\nthe District of Columbia allow cannabis for medical purposes. According\r\nto a recent Pew poll, [53% of the country favors\r\nlegalization](http://www.people-press.org/2015/04/14/in-debate-over-legalizing-marijuana-disagreement-over-drugs-dangers/# current-opinion-on-legalizing-marijuana).\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/walkadog/3202454265/in/photolist-5SZq5H-7xyrst-tNovN-5nHBAx-5nMSGw-3isK1P-6GEQxQ-nd3LJ7-8YR5Wr-qwEg4V-9d259W-kgarqH-5nMQCu-8wMifN-jAiRA-6KkHqH-dWjD1s-5nMSBq-kgwrhX-6Kqsp9-7PipL7-6KqhiW-monFUR-9aYhU-bit5cc-9d2AYs-5nMQQu-rngWmk-8cQZYV-5nHBv8-aEZHb1-9SPoVi-dr17iB-5T4VES-5kSK1y-6599qD-5nMR7J-5UdPdC-5nHzf4-5oFC2x-d6mPTN-6Ntc1J-5U7JvV-kqTAMm-5nMRKY-dr17pi-7WCs7z-5UdP8Q-5nHADB-5qtdPM)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAMABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwABAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUCA//EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEA/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAAHHaCG2iC//xAAaEAACAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEQETAgNB/9oACAEBAAEFAroMd5YzjkZ//8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABH/2gAIAQMBAT8Bqv/EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREv/aAAgBAgEBPwGMv//EABoQAAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAhESIEH/2gAIAQEABj8CybKkc0//xAAaEAEAAwEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABABEhQTFh/9oACAEBAAE/IQDocX2V0g7VxGrUWfpBHZ//2gAMAwEAAgADAAAAEGvf/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAER/9oACAEDAQE/EIYf/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAR/9oACAECAQE/EErtm//EABoQAQEAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERACFBMcH/2gAIAQEAAT8QvUtRXTUD5hBUhVdvbmkMfdduIm8RwIduYFBTP//Z","aspectRatio":1.6528925619834711,"src":"/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/14b42/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.jpg","srcSet":"/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/f836f/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.jpg 200w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/2244e/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.jpg 400w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/14b42/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.jpg 800w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/47498/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.jpg 1200w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/4a7ca/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.jpg 1285w","srcWebp":"/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/58556/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/61e93/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.webp 200w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/1f5c5/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.webp 400w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/58556/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.webp 800w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/99238/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.webp 1200w,\n/static/60dd72e529c08a9a47b345e581dcab31/7f3b0/5f9052c92a150777deac5392a2613206.webp 1285w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1867-markdown","title":"The Great Cannabis Labeling Debacle: What Responsible Consumers Need to Know","slug":"the-great-cannabis-labeling-debacle-what-responsible-consumers-need-to-know","content":"Medical marijuana cardholders want to know that the products they are\r\npurchasing are safe, pure, high-quality and accurately labeled.\r\nUnfortunately, that isn't the case of many edible marijuana products\r\nmany in states where marijuana is legal for medical use. In recent\r\nmonths, labeling inconsistencies across the country have come to light,\r\nand it's becoming increasingly obvious that the declared THC content on\r\nthe labels of many edible marijuana products may be inaccurate.\r\n\r\nThe Dr. J's Hash Infusion Problem\r\n---------------------------------\r\n\r\nLocated in Denver, [Dr. J's Hash\r\nInfusion](http://www.drjshashinfusion.com/) is one of the foremost\r\nedible producers in Colorado. Known for its wide variety of chocolates,\r\nbars, capsules and candies, Dr. J's was a long-time favorite among\r\nconsumers who wanted a high-quality product with a potent level TCH\r\ncontent.\r\n\r\nEverything was clipping along until The Denver Post began [conducting\r\nindependent\r\nstudies](http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/03/09/tests-show-thc-content-marijuana-edibles-inconsistent/6421/)\r\non Dr. J's products in 2014. When the [test\r\nresults](http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/03/12/thc-levels-edibles-see-lab-tests-denver-post-study/6708/)\r\ncame back, the verdict was highly concerning. The vast majority of Dr.\r\nJ's products that listed 100 milligrams of THC on their labels only\r\ncontained between .2 and 5 milligrams.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, consumers were shocked, and rightfully so. Trusted\r\ncompanies like Dr. J's are expected to produce high-quality\r\nmarijuana-infused edibles that are accurately labeled, and the glaring\r\ninaccuracies in the labeling and production process beg the question,\r\n\"What is going on?\" As it turns out, the problem is not limited to Dr.\r\nJ's.\r\n\r\nA Systemic Issue\r\n----------------\r\n\r\nAlthough the Dr. J's case was particularly high-profile, labeling\r\ninaccuracies like this are occurring all over the country. According to\r\na [study](http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/medical_marijuana_edibles_mostly_mislabeled_study_shows)\r\nconducted by Ryan Vandrey and his team at the Johns Hopkins University\r\nSchool of Medicine in Baltimore, only 13 out of 75 tested\r\nmarijuana-infused edible products featured labels that accurately\r\npresented their THC and CBD content.\r\n\r\nUnlike the Denver Post studies, the Vandrey study wasn't limited to\r\nColorado. This study tested products made by dispensaries in San\r\nFrancisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles and produced dismal results across\r\nthe board. When consumers take into account that these inaccuracies are\r\nshowing up in medicinal products, the reality is quite shocking.\r\n\r\nFor patients who have serious medical conditions that require treatment\r\nby marijuana-infused products, the notion that they are getting less THC\r\nor CBD than recommended can be downright infuriating and potentially\r\ndangerous. Serious conditions like multiple sclerosis require precise\r\nTHC treatment levels, and it's safe to say that many patients around the\r\ncountry are not getting what they paid for from their medical edible\r\nprescriptions.\r\n\r\nThe Calls for Increased Accountability\r\n--------------------------------------\r\n\r\nDue to the dangers of mislabeled marijuana edibles, consumers across the\r\ncountry have [called for better\r\nregulation](http://www.kcet.org/living/food/food-rant/marijuana-edibles-need-accurate-labeling.html)\r\nand increased oversight in the marijuana edibles industry. In addition\r\nto exposing mislabeling cases, Vandrey's studies, and others like it,\r\nhave also exposed the fact that some marijuana dispensaries may not\r\nemploy any type of [quality\r\ncontrol](http://www.marketwatch.com/story/booming-cannabis-industrys-need-for-quality-control-can-be-solved-2015-06-23)\r\nat any point during the production process.\r\n\r\nFew states have specific laws regarding testing requirements for their\r\nmedical marijuana-infused edibles. Colorado and Washington both require\r\nstrict testing for their non medical products, but the regulations\r\nessentially fall by the wayside when it comes to medically prescribed\r\nedibles.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, there is not much movement to change the laws to require\r\nthe accurate labeling of medical cannabis products, but consumers all\r\nagree on one thing -- medical marijuana products [need to be better\r\nregulated](http://www.kcet.org/living/food/food-rant/the-new-frontier-of-marijuana-edibles-regulation.html)\r\nand must be subject to more accurate labeling practices. In the\r\nmeantime, you can protect yourself from mislabeled products by\r\npurchasing only from dispensaries that independently test their products\r\nto ensure they are accurately labeled. Another option is to use products\r\nother than edibles, such as tinctures, oils, flowers, and topicals.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/99329675@N02/11064892956/in/photolist-hRLtbu-NsZSn-5BjmJN-5Bf4op-5Bf4ov-6ro8iW-5BeXSe-eVm7i1-6McLHT-5BjmJJ-5Bf4ok-5BeXS6-5Bf1uR-5BeXRT-5Bf1uK-5BeXS8-5BjmJL-5BjmJA-5Bf1v6-5Bf1uT-5Bf1uZ-5Bf1uV-5BeXSa-5BeXRZ-c8iBtf-ci9Yqj-ci9YkU-njLXKh-ci9Ysm-ci9YnS-ft3v3K-5h9wam-reujsn-reozcb-qX2uqc-qWUuT9-qWUv1y-reoCjJ-rcbWfJ-rekL8V-qhtt4S-qhFD8z-tNo2dj-uKCZhc-71boK5-71boVy-akxhF3-c8iAvb-jzm1fa-fm8Bcj)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/0f3a1/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/f836f/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.jpg 200w,\n/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/2244e/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.jpg 400w,\n/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/0f3a1/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.jpg 500w","srcWebp":"/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/e9589/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/61e93/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.webp 200w,\n/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/1f5c5/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.webp 400w,\n/static/4902d10d702fead46bb15a68ccea9e82/e9589/731c11cdde2f6d89e2663bd84f81ce80.webp 500w","sizes":"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1862-markdown","title":"White House Eases Restrictions on Marijuana Research","slug":"white-house-eases-restrictions-on-marijuana-research","content":"In an announcement that was published in the [Federal\r\nRegister](https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-15479.pdf)\r\non the 23rd of July, 2015, the White House, through the Department of\r\nHealth and Human Services (HHS), announced a new set of guidelines for\r\nmedical marijuana research. Specifically, the new guidance eliminates\r\nthe Public Health Service (PHS) review of non-federally funded research\r\nprotocols with regard to medical marijuana, speeding up the process of\r\nmarijuana research. With this policy, prospective researchers can\r\nutilize the existing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational\r\nNew Drug (IND) process for drug development, which is less cumbersome\r\nthan earlier requirements. The new policy is a revision to a previous\r\n[guidance](http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not99-091.html)\r\npublished by the HHS in 1999, which delineated the procedures for\r\nmedical marijuana research currently in effect. The former guidance put\r\na lot of hurdles in place which researchers had to overcome before they\r\ncould legally carry out studies on marijuana.\r\n\r\n\r\nEffect of Announcement\r\n----------------------\r\n\r\n\r\nWhile not a huge step towards the legalization of medical marijuana,\r\nthis elimination of bureaucratic bottlenecks will make it easier for\r\nresearchers to investigate the medicinal properties of cannabis plants,\r\nwhich will likely positively influence the movement to legalization\r\nmedical marijuana. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 lists marijuana\r\nas a Schedule I drug, which is the category for drugs described by the\r\n[Drug Enforcement Administration](http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml)\r\n(DEA) as dangerous, and with no currently accepted medicinal value.\r\nRemoving the difficult steps towards obtaining permits for marijuana\r\nresearch will enable more scientists to have access to the plant or grow\r\ntheir own medical marijuana for research purposes. The establishment of\r\nscientifically backed medicinal properties may influence the government\r\nto remove marijuana from its current listing as a Schedule I drug.\r\n\r\nA bipartisan group, made up of members of Congress, drafted a letter in\r\nMay of 2014, calling on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to\r\nremove the barrier to legitimate medical marijuana research by\r\neliminating the PHS review. Marijuana is the only drug within its\r\ncategory which the DEA prohibits from being scientifically studied in\r\nprivate labs, unlike other Schedule I drugs such as heroin and lysergic\r\nacid diethylamide (LSD).\r\n\r\n\r\nResearch Difficulty\r\n-------------------\r\n\r\n\r\nScientists interested in obtaining research-grade marijuana for research\r\nhave to go through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which\r\nmany researchers find cumbersome and frustrating. Obtaining DEA-licensed\r\nmarijuana for FDA-regulated scientific research is still an uphill task\r\ndue to the monopoly exerted by the NIDA. Given the current interest in\r\nthe therapeutic potential of medical marijuana, there has been a renewal\r\nby marijuana advocates in pushing for more research into the medicinal\r\nbenefits of medical marijuana. Allowing more marijuana research will\r\nlead to more scientific studies that can be evaluated by the FDA for\r\nauthenticity.\r\n\r\n\r\nMedical Marijuana Works\r\n-----------------------\r\n\r\nAs of July 2015, 23 states and Washington D.C. have legalized the use of\r\nmedical cannabis due to the various perceived benefits. According to the\r\n[National Institutes of\r\nHealth](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marijuana.html) (NIH), THC,\r\nthe active compound in marijuana, has been found to provide relief for\r\nthose who have nausea from cancer chemotherapy, and for use in\r\nstimulating appetite in those who have HIV/AIDS. Marijuana also contains\r\nanother class of active compound called cannabidiol (CBD), which is\r\nuseful for managing several conditions, including epilepsy and\r\nmigraines. THC is a psychoactive agent, meaning that it is capable of\r\naltering the mood, perception or consciousness of people who use\r\nmarijuana. This is unlike CBD, which possesses none of the psychoactive\r\nproperties of THC, and can actually counter the psychoactive effects of\r\nTHC. The psychoactive properties of THC makes it appealing as a relaxant\r\nand sleep aid, while cannabis rich in CBD may be an option for those\r\nseeking a solution for inflammation, anxiety, pain and other ailments,\r\nwithout the lethargy associated with THC.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/59908088@N00/4217661984)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/14b42/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/f836f/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.jpg 200w,\n/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/2244e/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.jpg 400w,\n/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/14b42/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.jpg 800w,\n/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/16310/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/58556/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/61e93/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.webp 200w,\n/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/1f5c5/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.webp 400w,\n/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/58556/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.webp 800w,\n/static/ec9e3a71d1d7d8ff6ac7c83cad14bf48/cc834/b615bbd69eee4f7cdc69f3f192ddbf57.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":2,"currentPage":1,"id":5435,"name":"Legal","slug":"legal","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}