{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/medical-marijuana/4","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_3701-markdown","title":"How To Get A Missouri Weed Card","slug":"how-to-get-a-missouri-weed-card","content":"### How to Get Your Medical Marijuana Card in Missouri\n\nA medical marijuana card, within medically legal states, is the first step towards purchasing cannabis. This requires seeing a doctor first to receive authorization. You may see a physician from home in a private, online consultation with [HelloMD](https://hellomd.com/get-started/), or with a physician in person. Note many physicians are inexperienced with cannabis and may be hesitant to approve cannabis authorizations. It's for this reason that Telehealth services such as HelloMD exist.\n\nYour medical card is not actually a physical card, it’s more an official piece of paper you’ll download and bring with you whenever you’re purchasing  cannabis. It’s still federally illegal to cross any state lines with cannabis, and even in a legal state, we suggest keeping your unopened cannabis products in the trunk of your car when traveling home from the dispensary.\n\n### Who Can Get a Medical Card in Missouri\n\nA medical cannabis patient in Missouri must be at least 18, with established residency (at least one year) in Missouri. Missouri minors with qualifying conditions are also eligible for the medical marijuana program, but require a parent or legal guardian, 21+ years old, to act as caregiver. \n\nLegal-age patients may also designate a caregiver to procure medical marijuana on the patient’s behalf. A patient may have up to three caregivers. Caregivers and patients must fill out the official [Patient Authorization Form, 580-3271(6-19)](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/pdf/sample-patient-authorization.pdf).\n\n### First Step: See a Doctor for a Consultation in Missouri\n\nAs a medical marijuana patient (or caregiver, if you've been designated) you'll need to see a physician in good standing (MD or DO) to be certified with a [qualifying condition](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/how-to-apply.php).\n\nYour doctor will discuss your symptoms, as well as any potential risks associated with cannabis, and then fill out a Physician Certification Form, certifying your condition. The physician will use one of two certification forms: \n[580-3305 (2-2020), the Physician Certification Form](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/pdf/physician-certification-form-standard.pdf), which authorizes you (or caregiver) to purchase up to four-ounces of cannabis per month, or\n[580-3277 (12-19), the Physician Certification Form with Recommended Amount](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/pdf/physician-certification-form-alternative.pdf), on which the physician may authorize more than four ounces.\n\nNot sure how four ounces translates to concentrates or infused products? The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DOHSS) has a handy tool for breaking down your cannabis products into [Missouri Marijuana Equivalency Units](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/pdf/mm-quivalency-units.pdf), or MMEs. A certified medical cannabis patient may legally purchase 32 MMEs per month. For reference, 1 MME equals 3.5 grams of cannabis flower, one gram of concentrate, or 100mg of THC-infused edibles. \n\n### Second Step: Register with the Missouri Medical Marijuana Program\n\nWithin thirty days of receiving the Physician Certification Form, you must sign up for an account on the [Missouri Medical Marijuana Program portal](https://mo-public.mycomplia.com/#!/mo/register). \n\nOnce your account is created on the portal, you sign in and follow the prompts to complete the application. The DOHSS has put together several easy-to-follow tutorials, including this [User Guide](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/pdf/patient-registry-user-guide.pdf), complete with screenshots to help navigate the process.\n\nIf the physician has uploaded the Physician Certification Form electronically, the system will automatically populate it and you won't have to upload it. If however, the physician has not submitted electronically, you'll be prompted to upload the certification.\n\nAs a patient you will also be prompted to upload further documents: \n- A recent digital photo\n- Proof of residency (valid Missouri Driver’s license, a Missouri ID Card\n- A current Missouri utility bill, or a Missouri motor vehicle registration)\n- Additionally, parents/legal guardians will need to upload a [Parent/Legal Guardian Consent Form](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/pdf/sample-parental-legal-guardian.pdf) and proof of legal guardianship. \n\nThe DOHSS also has [tips on uploading documents](https://health.mo.gov/safety/medical-marijuana/tutorials/tutorial-10.php)\n\nThere is a minimal $25 state fee for your annual patient license. Once your application is complete, the DOHSS will process it within thirty days. You'll be informed when it is approved and then may log in and download an official Missouri Medical Marijuana document. If for some reason, the application is rejected, you will be able to log in again to make necessary changes to the application.\n\n### Step Three: Purchasing Medical Cannabis in Missouri\n\nOnce you have your valid Missouri patient license, you’re ready to visit a dispensary to purchase cannabis. To enter the dispensary, you’ll most likely need your patient (or caregiver) license, a valid, Missouri-issued photo ID, and a form of payment. \n\nIt’s important to know that since cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, and credit card companies are often and sometimes suddenly shut down. Check the dispensary’s website, or call ahead to make sure you’ll have everything you need, including acceptable methods of payment. \n\nWelcome to the wonderful world of cannabis!\n\n### The Midwest: the Changing Landscape of Legalization (in Missouri & beyond...)\n\nIn the ever-changing landscape of cannabis legalization, Missouri is taking its place as one of the more progressive middle states. In 2014, Missouri SB 491 passed, decriminalizing possession of up to ten grams of marijuana, with a first-offense infraction punishable by a $500 fine and no jail time. Of the seven states bordering Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska are the only two that have also decriminalized cannabis possession. Illinois enacted adult use in 2020, and Missouri has veering towards full legalization in 2022.\n\nIn November, 2018, Missouri voters passed Amendment 2 - the [Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Service Initiative](https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XIV++++1&bid=36215&constit=y), named for the 4% tax on cannabis sales earmarked for veterans through the Missouri Veterans Health and Care Fund. Backed by New Approach Missouri, Amendment 2 passed with 65% of voters in favor of medical cannabis legalization. In October 2020, Missouri officially rolled out its medical cannabis program. \n\n### Need Your Medical Marijuana Card?\n[HelloMD](https://hellomd.com/get-started/) can help you with online virtual medical consultation and get your medical card fast, easy and private.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/ee604/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.png","srcSet":"/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/69585/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.png 200w,\n/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/497c6/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.png 400w,\n/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/ee604/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.png 800w,\n/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/f3583/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.png 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/58556/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/61e93/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.webp 200w,\n/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/1f5c5/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.webp 400w,\n/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/58556/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.webp 800w,\n/static/181ac9b9a4a1d095d2750d4db3b64a83/99238/91ef69223ceee10f5c1895f27421673e.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2602-markdown","title":"3 Popular Questions About Marijuana & Microdosing Answered","slug":"3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-microdosing-answered","content":"Without question, one of the hottest cannabis trends in recent years is [microdosing](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/microdosing). This refers to the practice of consuming low doses of cannabis at regular intervals rather than what most people have historically done—consume lots of cannabis in one sitting. People mostly talk about microdosing [tetrahydrocannabinol](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/thc) (THC), but an increasing number of people microdose [cannabidiol](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/cbd) (CBD), too.\n\nMany folks are now finding that microdosing gives them the health benefits they’re seeking **without too much of a psychoactive experience**. People can microdose marijuana throughout the day and still work and be productive. HelloMD Co-founder [Pamela Hadfield](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-hadfield-19a986) swears by microdosing CBD, which allows her to keep debilitating [migraines](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/new-study-finds-cannabis-effective-in-treatment-for-migraines) at bay while still being able to run a business and take care of her three children. \n\nHere’s a roundup of our three most popular questions about microdosing cannabis and how it can help with **pain**, **inflammation**, **anxiety**, and more. We hope this information gives you a little more insight into **microdosing marijuana** and how it could be beneficial to you. \n\n![Hello2-min (26).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello2_min_26_b45b29ac52.png)\n\n### Q. How long do you wait between doses when microdosing?\n**\"*I don't know my tolerance yet. I believe half a dose of [Kiva Chocolates](https://www.kivaconfections.com/brand/kiva) made me sick the other night, but I’m not certain the chocolate was the cause.*\"**\n\n**Answer:** Since microdosing is a small amount of, in this case, THC, it can take some time for it to work. Any oral medication can take up to 1–1 1/2 hours to feel any effect. Since the dose is small, you usually don't feel the psychoactive high that you would normally get with smoking or vaping cannabis. It can be a subtle feeling that you might not even recognize until you say, \" Hey, I've been feeling/thinking/focusing differently since I've been microdosing!\" \n\nAs for feeling sick, it may have been the chocolate, but I cannot say. Kiva also has various types of confections that don’t have chocolate, so you could try those and see how you go.\n\n![Hello1-min (25).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello1_min_25_08bb84ad6d.png)\n\n### Q. Cannabis for inflammation and anxiety\n**\"*I have a 4:1 (CBD:THC) tincture and wonder how much you recommend for daily microdosing for inflammation and anxiety?***\"\n\n**Answer:** I love the approach of daily microdosing with cannabis and especially with CBD-rich medications. With the goals of reducing both [inflammation](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/how-cbd-can-curb-chronic-inflammation) and [anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/3-popular-questions-about-cbd-and-anxiety-answered), daily microdosing with a 4:1 tincture is a perfect choice. While dosing is somewhat dependent on individual response and tolerance, I'd consider just 1-2 drops (not droppers full) 2-3 times a day. If you know you are particularly sensitive, even 1 drop 2-3 times a day is a great way to get the most benefit out of your medication. Microdosing is best with lower dosing, of course, but also greater frequency. We find that 2-3 times a day is ideal for keeping your medication metabolizing regularly and maximizing the therapeutic properties of inflammation and anxiety reduction.\n\n![Hello4-min (23).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello4_min_23_489cb45ba1.png)\n\n### Q. CBD dosing\n**\"*I am just starting to experiment with CBD. The product I have is a 25:1 CBD to THC tincture. How many drops would be a starting dose? I’m trying to understand the concept of microdosing.\"***\n\n**Answer:** Typically, when people talk about microdosing in the cannabis world, it's in the context of THC. Micordosing is supposed to give you positive effects without the psychoactive effects you could feel at higher doses. \n\nBut as for your tincture...there is no set dose per person. After doing a quick search of your product online, it looks like 1 drop = 1 mg CBD. Keep in mind that you might not feel anything right away. I've interviewed many patients and experts on CBD dosing, and those who see the best results take their CBD tincture every day—think of it as a vitamin. These folks have all said that it takes about one month for it to build up in your system. I'm not a doctor, but if I was trying to figure out a dosing routine for myself, I'd do at least 5 mg of CBD 2 to 3 times a day for at least three days and then reassess. If I didn't notice a difference, I would opt for a different tincture or a higher dose.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post.\n\n### Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online\n\nIt's easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online [Telehealth service HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/get-started/). Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don't pay unless you're approved!","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/14b42/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.jpg","srcSet":"/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/f836f/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.jpg 200w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/2244e/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.jpg 400w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/14b42/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.jpg 800w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/47498/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.jpg 1200w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/0e329/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.jpg 1600w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/db420/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.jpg 3626w","srcWebp":"/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/58556/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/61e93/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.webp 200w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/1f5c5/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.webp 400w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/58556/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.webp 800w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/99238/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.webp 1200w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/7c22d/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.webp 1600w,\n/static/d70e37d9cbd6a32c951675a184b49aad/3a1a1/64a05afad757c64ab1489fdb09746773.webp 3626w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2131-markdown","title":"Q & A with Cannabis Aficionado David Downs","slug":"q-and-a-with-cannabis-aficionado-david-downs","content":"HelloMD got the chance to speak with [David Downs](http://www.davidrdowns.com/), an award winning journalist and the author of the new educational cannabis book [The Medical Marijuana Guide Book: America’s First How-To Guide for Patients and Caregivers](http://www.usmmj.org/). David is an impressive journalist and his work has been published in publications ranging from the New York Times to Rolling Stone. He has become an industry leader in cannabis journalism and has particular insight into the rapidly changing marijuana industry across the country. \r\n\r\n### Why cannabis journalism?\r\n\r\nAs a freelance writer you always want to write something people want to read because that will keep you making money as a freelancer. At first, I thought that was going to be a lot of arts and science writing, but that turned out to be a lot of cannabis writing. People wanted to read about marijuana and publishers wanted to publish articles on cannabis. Between justice issues, drug policy, and politics in general, I had an interest in marijuana journalism. As a citizen, I wanted to know about where my tax money was going and what medical options were out there if I got sick. Also personally, I have family and friends who have found efficacy in medical marijuana. I think it all contributed to this career direction taking off for me. \r\n\r\n### Has your recent book launch been successful?\r\n\r\nAmerica’s readers are really responding to the title The Medical Marijuana Guide Book: America’s First How-To Guide for Patients and Caregivers. They are getting back to me with positive feedback. They are responding with statements like, “this is the book that every bud tender should read,” and, “I am going to give this to this hospice nurse I know.” The book is doing what it is suppose to do by answering questions people have about cannabis and helping them get on track to start helping themselves.\r\n\r\n### What prompted you to write a book about cannabis?\r\n\r\nThis book was requested by patients. I have spent a lot of time in private and in public, through my writing, answering the questions that I cover in the book, such as how to legally get marijuana and how to use it properly.  After years and years of reporting on cannabis, I had a really good sense of what questions people had. I also knew what information was available in the form of books and what information was more questionable. This book was created for utilitarian purposes, I wanted to provide patients with a concise guidebook that condensed all of the information out there. Even though some of the information was just a Google click away, patients wanted that information condensed into a book that was short, factual, and loaded with references. I had been planning on self publishing, but then a publisher expressed their interest and they gave me a little money to help tie it all together.\r\n\r\n### Where do you source most of your information from?\r\n\r\nIt is a fallacy how few formal studies there are on issues like chronic pain, nausea, and vomiting compared to the amount of free clinical information on dozens of websites. There is a lot of information to draw from on sites like PubMed or from interviews, like those by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. A lot of the information comes from being in the industry and talking to patients about what products are out there and what works for them. I also talked to bud tenders because they talk to patients all day about what people should try or what has worked. In medical terms, it was a systematic review of what the patients felt before and an analysis of what they felt after they tried medical marijuana. \r\n\r\n### What's your view on the future of cannabis in the US?\r\n\r\nIt seems like the tide has turned between government policies and medical options. It also seems that the opinion of people has already changed. People have more knowledge available to them now, and there has been a spread in the awareness of cannabinoid science. I think restrictions will lighten up to the point that people 21 and over will have access to cannabis in most places eventually. However, I was just reading about how the Philippines, which is a pretty modern country, and they have declared open season on all drug dealers and drug users. There has been over 2000 killings in the past two weeks because of this new declared War on Drugs. There is a spirit of prosecution, particularly of minorities and people of color, that is still very present in the world.\r\n\r\n### Will the War on Drugs lessen overall within the US?\r\n\r\nI think there may be a decrease, just because of the costliness of the war on drugs, but there will probably be some movement to fight other drugs. The lawyers that currently fight against cannabis will move to another drug because that is what they do. There may also be a push for synthetic cannabinoids over selling marijuana in a whole plant form. We can see from alcohol prohibition that just banning something doesn't reduce problems as was the idea with the war on drugs. \r\n\r\n### Do you see Big Pharma getting more involved with cannabis?\r\n\r\nYes, I think Big Pharma companies will try to get into synthetic cannabinoid therapies. For example, there is a synthetic THC called Marinol or Dronabinol, which is now generic and they can sell it for more than whole plant THC. Pharmaceutical companies will try to pursue single molecule therapies or ones that combine single molecules. Legal policies will likely support that because it is easier for the FDA to regulate these single molecule products.  I see a parallel world of quasi-medical herbal wellness with recreational products and purely medical products that are basically just specified tinctures in a bottle. Creating these pharmaceutical products is a difficult process though. They made a synthetic cannabinoid called Rimonabant and it was a weightless pill that made you want to kill yourself. So, one of the first products they came out with using synthetic cannabinoids was basically an anti-marijuana. Marijuana makes you happy and hungry and this product made you loose your appetite and suicidal. It was eventually pulled off the market because of its psychiatric side effects that prompted suicidal thoughts. \r\n\r\n### Will cannabis ever go across state lines freely? \r\n\r\nYou can’t have the inter-state commerce until marijuana is made federally legal and you are looking at probably 10 or 15 years until that will likely happen. But right now, you do have people getting in their cars and driving to medical marijuana legal states to get the medicine they need. The idea behind drug control is uniformity. Prohibition provided uniformity, but the next step is to try uniformity with legalization. Uniformity in legalization is what we have with alcohol, which has worked well so far. We don’t have a crazy black market economy for alcohol like we currently see for cannabis and other drugs. \r\n\r\n### What's your advice to people considering medical marijuana?\r\n\r\nDon’t listen to your friends or family. Listen to a doctor, like Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is an informed physician. Medical marijuana is such a personal thing because people don’t normally come to marijuana unless they are very very sick. Most people don't encounter medical marijuana until they experience something calamitous, like a terminal illness, but the people that find the plant the hard way are often the plants biggest advocates. \r\n\r\nDo you have questions about this article? Ask a question in [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/) feature. A doctor or member of our community will answer.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/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/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/14b42/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.jpg","srcSet":"/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/f836f/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.jpg 200w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/2244e/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.jpg 400w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/14b42/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.jpg 800w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/47498/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.jpg 1200w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/54ac5/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/58556/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/61e93/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.webp 200w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/1f5c5/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.webp 400w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/58556/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.webp 800w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/99238/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.webp 1200w,\n/static/abb043a2601dd12f5e9339ee4bf4dced/5e0b8/2103d20f91acfd08d801379d519307d9.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2140-markdown","title":"Why Moms Should Support Marijuana Legalization","slug":"why-moms-should-support-marijuana-legalization","content":"I’ve written a lot concerning my change of heart regarding marijuana, leading to my pro-legalization stance. Observing the myriad of cannabis users around me both within the industry and outside of it, I see people successfully using cannabis, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes, who remain highly functioning, healthy members of society. Additionally, and arguably more important, from a medical perspective cannabis can range from offering hope to those suffering debilitating chronic illnesses, to saving the lives of those who have no other viable medicinal alternative. The road to cannabis legalization is serious stuff, encompassing a variety of issues, and the potential net positive impact on our society in a legalized United States cannot be underestimated. \n\nTo give context of where we stand today, a recent 2015 [Gallop Poll](http://www.gallup.com/poll/186260/back-legal-marijuana.aspx) states “A majority of Americans continue to say marijuana use should be legal in the United States, with 58% holding that view.” As times are changing and overall stigma is reduced, the tide is turning away from a [‘Just Say No’](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Say_No) sentiment. The overwhelming exception to this however are conservative voters, many over the age of 65 who still hold the belief that marijuana is uniformly bad for society. \n\nMy personal belief is that every mom in America should understand the potential positive impact cannabis legalization could have on society overall.  As a mother of three, I clearly understand the issues and stigmas mothers may hold against marijuana. These range from concerns over child welfare, an increase in crime, and a firmly held belief that marijuana is a gateway drug, to name just a handful.  Fortunately, we do have data points to call upon from research and strong anecdotal evidence (clinical trials have been strictly limited due to federal regulation). Both California and Colorado have progressively embraced legalization, and along the way have proven that marijuana legalization does not lead to the degradation of society. The bottom line, supporting the marijuana movement has many positive effects on society. \n\nBelow are my top reasons for supporting cannabis legalization:\n\n# Cannabis Treats Numerous Medical Conditions\n\nIt’s an unfortunate truth that humans get sick and require medical attention. New information and reports are being released almost on a weekly basis on the positive effects cannabis has on such serious conditions as Cancer, Epilepsy, PTSD, Chronic Pain, Crohn’s Disease, Arthritis, as well as many, many more. \n\nThousands of families across America are having to face the tough choice [to pick up and move to Colorado]( http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/marijuana-on-main-street/medical-marijuana-colorado) in order to treat their children with rare and deadly forms of epilepsy. [NFL players are battling the establishment](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/14/ex-nfl-players-rally-behind-medical-marijuana.html) to be allowed to use marijuana to combat their chronic pain, arthritis and brain injuries in lieu of opiates. [Small children with aggressive forms of cancer]( http://cannakids.org/sophies-story/) have been treated successfully (in conjunction with chemo) with cannabis. Twenty-two veterans a day commit suicide in the US and yet all evidence supports that marijuana may be the best treatment for PTSD. This is [backed by research]( http://veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/content/general-use-cannabis-ptsd-symptoms) by the world-renowned Israeli cannabis scientist Raphael Mechoulam, Ph.D., who has dedicated his life to studying the effects of marijuana. \n\nOn a daily basis we see patients come to HelloMD who are at the end of their rope, where standard Western medical treatment has failed or has not done enough to help them. Patients should have the access and the choice to try marijuana for their medical condition, because in many cases, it is not only a viable option that improves overall quality of life, it can literally save a life. If you get sick, or a family member gets sick, shouldn’t you be able to legally make this choice yourself or a loved one? It is indisputable at this point that marijuana has far ranging medicinal benefits, which millions of Americans may benefit from.  \n\n[Realm of Caring](https://www.theroc.us/), a medically oriented non profit in Colorado, provides links to information and research on various medical conditions and has established itself as a gold standard for education, advocacy and research in the industry. Additionally, [United Patients Group]( http://www.unitedpatientsgroup.com/) in California helps patients with specific conditions. If you would like to learn more about the medicinal benefits of cannabis, this is a great place to start.\n\n# Cannabis Can Replace Addictive Opiates\n\nThis past February, President Obama announced an additional $1.1 billion dollars in new funding to address prescription opioid abuse and heroin addiction. To give an indication of how serious this is 28,648 deaths were attributed to this affliction in 2014 alone. Broken down, 46 people die every single day in the US. During his address, Obama failed to mention cannabis as a possible tool to be used to combat the problem.\n\nMedical cannabis can help combat the symptoms that lead people to start using opiates (and sometimes heroin) to begin with. These can include Chronic Pain, Neuropathic Pain, AIDS, and the list goes on. A [study]( http://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/lower-opioid-overdose-death-rates-associated-with-state-medical-marijuana-laws/) by the Journal of the America Medical Association says, “States that implemented medical marijuana laws appear to have lower annual opioid analgesic overdose death rates (both from prescription pain killers and illicit drugs such as heroin) than states without such laws.” It’s also important to note that cannabis is not associated with the multitude of negative side effects so often associated with opiates.\n\nIn addition, using medical marijuana shows excellent promise in helping people detox off their addiction from both opiate and heroin use. Although more studies need to be done in this area, an article by [NORML]( http://blog.norml.org/2013/07/16/study-marijuana-use-associated-with-decreased-symptoms-of-opiate-withdrawal-in-methadone-maintenance-treatment-subjects/) states, “Cannabis consumption is associated with mitigated symptoms of opiate withdrawal in subjects undergoing methadone maintenance treatment.”\n\nAnecdotally, at HelloMD we consistently hear from people using marijuana in lieu of opiates for pain and other chronic conditions. Our recent study which included 1400 participants, showed that 66% of participants polled use marijuana as the primary method for treating their medical condition. 84% said they felt it successfully addressed their condition. For us, it creates a sense of hope when patients let us know that cannabis has helped them get off opiates and or avoid them altogether. Patients in our study reported almost zero negative side effects from using marijuana. That is good news.\n\n# Cannabis Legalization Results in Safer Cannabis & Reduces Black Market Trade\n\n42% of American adults admit to having used cannabis. Your child, at some point, will be offered marijuana and he or she may decide to partake. There is an enormous amount of cannabis ingested in the US that is purchased illegally with unknown origins. Unfortunately, cannabis that is not lab tested is often full of nasty chemicals, which can adversely affect your health. This includes microbial material such as ecoli, carcinogenic phospholoads, pesticides, residual solvents and even deadly neurotoxins. An interesting fact is that most of these chemicals can be traced directly back to the chemicals available at your local garden store. A legalized system leads to government-mandated regulation, which equates to safer consumables and responsible growing practices. \n\nBefore the wider spread legalization of marijuana in the U.S., most cannabis bought and sold here had been grown in and smuggled from Mexico. As you know, drug cartels have zero concern about the actual consumer. By taking an anti-cannabis stance you are inadvertently supporting a black market that is foundationally supported by Mexican drug cartels that care about the survival of their crops at any cost and the overall profits to be made. You can be against personal cannabis use while at the same time supporting a regulated system that protects the safety of a vast number of consumers. One of the bright linings on legalization is that the price of marijuana has dropped, leading to much less cannabis crossing the border via Mexican smugglers.\n\n# Cannabis is Less Harmful Than Alcohol\n \nMost people who drink do not like to hear this, but marijuana has less adverse effects on society and your health than alcohol consumption. Fifteen percent of people who drink alcohol will end up addicted. Addiction rates for marijuana stand at about 9%. [Withdrawal symptoms from marijuana are far less severe than those from alcohol]( http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/health/marijuana-versus-alcohol/), which includes vomiting and even seizures. \n\nAccording to the [NIH]( http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body), there is plenty to be concerned about with alcohol consumption. While moderate amounts can protect adults from coronary disease and aid in relaxation, chronic use and overuse can lead to stretching and drooping of heart muscle, irregular heartbeat, stroke and high blood pressure. Drinking can also lead to liver dysfunction including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Alcohol is also a known to cause cancer particularly of the mouth, throat, breast, esophagus and liver. Lastly, drinking reduces the power of your immune system to fight off disease.\n\nThe collateral damage of alcohol includes 10,000 road deaths every year, and nearly 1.4 million people arrested for DUIs. According to the [NPAMC]( http://www.alcoholandcrime.org/issues/alcohol-and-crime/), “40% of state prisoners convicted of violent crimes were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their offense − the more violent the crime, the greater the likelihood that alcohol was involved.” Also, “the incidence of other alcohol-involved crimes including domestic violence, underage drinking, and assault has reached staggering proportions.”\n\n88,000 people die every year from alcohol abuse according to the CDC. There is not a recorded incident of a person overdosing on marijuana. To die from marijuana you need to eat 38% of your body weight, and that is a lot of marijuana. Marijuana’s health benefits for medicinal users far outweigh negatives. Cannabis does react differently with different people and typical negative side effects that are reported might be a sense of lethargy, paranoia and possibly anxiety. However, interestingly it also seems to help many people with anxiety as well.\n\n# Marijuana is NOT a Gateway Drug - Alcohol IS\n\nA recent article in [Newsweek]( http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-not-gateway-drug-325358) elaborates on findings that conclude that marijuana is NOT a gateway drug. However, new evidence supports that alcohol IS a gateway drug. “[The common government stance within the US is that alcohol is a gateway drug]( http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/connection-between-alcohol-and-drugs/). This means that a user first starts drinking and then moves on to harder substances, such as cannabis and heroin, later on in life.” We grew up being told a very different story than this, so mentally it is hard for many people to absorb this new finding.\n\n# Cannabis Legalization Results in Enormous Revenue for States & A Lot of Jobs\n\nColorado has been the biggest proving ground as one of the first truly legalized states. In the first 18 months of legalization [CNN Money]( http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/20/news/economy/marijuana-taxes-colorado/) reports, $610 million dollars was generated, $184 million of which resulted from tax revenue. Much of this money resulted in programs to teach kids how to stay away from marijuana. Other uses for the money went towards public health, regulatory oversight, enforcement and general education.\n\nChildren’s education in regards to cannabis is important whether cannabis is legalized in your state or not. Kids, especially teenagers, have access to cannabis more frequently than is regularly acknowledged. Having state run programs that create a thoughtful dialogue is of the utmost importance.\n\nCannabis also creates jobs, and lots of them. Legal cannabis states, such as Colorado, experienced a bump in overall employment, correlating directly to the growth of the industry. [Colorado Pot Guide](https://www.coloradopotguide.com/colorado-marijuana-blog/2015/march/27/canna-businesses-good-for-the-economy/) noted that “Colorado job growth increased more than the national average by about one percent in 2014. This growth is largely accounted for by newly-developed cannabis positions such as bud tenders, trimmers and edible manufactures, but also includes an increase in construction, engineering and marketing jobs.” An estimated 200,000 new jobs were projected from 2015 through 2016 in the state of Colorado. Drug Policy Alliance states “Estimated annual revenue that California would raise if it taxed and regulated the sale of marijuana: $1,400,000,000”.\n\n# Illegal Cannabis Wastes Police Resources\n\nThe ‘War on Drugs’, which includes cannabis, has been a costly failure and resulting in more than $51,000,000,000 spent annually, with little to show for it. According to [Drug Policy Alliance](http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-facts/10-facts-about-marijuana) our states collectively spent an estimated $3.6 billion enforcing marijuana possession laws. In 2014 there were 700,993 marijuana drug arrests made in the US, which comprises almost half of all drug arrests made. 87% of those arrests were for simple possession. These is a dramatic drain on our police task force, which takes police away from serious crimes such as murder, rape, and first call response. When people are arrested for marijuana, they are handcuffed and taken to the police station where more churn occurs including the creation of a permanent criminal record, which often affects a person’s employment. All of this for a drug that has never caused an overdose and which anecdotally, does not seem to spur on any type of violent crime.\n\nKeeping cannabis illegal also has a disproportionately negative impact on the minority populations. It is no secret that our jails are filled to the brim with young African American males. According to a  [2012 ACLU report](https://www.aclu.org/news/new-aclu-report-finds-overwhelming-racial-bias-marijuana-arrests?redirect=criminal-law-reform/new-aclu-report-finds-overwhelming-racial-bias-marijuana-arrests) “Black people are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people despite comparable usage rates. Furthermore, in counties with the worst disparities, Blacks were as much as 30 times more likely to be arrested.” \n\n[Alternet](http://www.alternet.org/drugs/increased-access-cannabis-associated-reductions-violent-crimes) states “Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas reported that the enactment of laws legalizing people’s access to medical marijuana is not associated with any rise in statewide criminal activity, and that it may even be related to reductions in incidences of violent crime.”\n\n# You Can Use Cannabis & Not Get Stoned or be a “Stoner”\n\nThis last point is an important one and part of general education surrounding cannabis use. There are many ways to receive medicinal benefits from cannabis without having the effect of being high or stoned. There is only one cannabinoid within cannabis that creates the psychedelic effect known as ‘getting high’ and this is THC. There are over 80 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, including the well-known CBD (Cannabidiol) and none of them will get you high. Many cannabis products on the market today contain small amounts of THC or even no THC. A common misconception is that you must smoke cannabis, & many people still choose to do so. There are many alternatives to smoking which includes topicals, transdermal patches, drinks, edibles, sub lingual sprays, suppositories, tinctures and even bath soaks. This is often hard for people to understand, given what they have been taught to believe historically. I ingest cannabis on a daily basis and I almost never choose to get ‘head high’, as I like to say. Said differently, I don't get stoned.\n\nMany people voice concern that by legalizing recreational use we will pave the way to a 'doped up' society. Colorado though has been an interesting proving ground on this. In Colorado, recreation/retail sales are split from medicinal sales. Stats have shown that medicinal sales easily outpace recreational sales. A [Wired](http://www.wired.com/2015/03/five-charts-explain-colorados-first-year-recreational-weed/) article gives some interesting stats on this and states, \"Medicinal dispensaries sold nearly three times the amount of bud: 109,600 pounds, compared to the nearly 37,000 pounds sold to recreational buyers.\" At HelloMD, our research leads us to believe that the recreational market will ultimately hover at around 13% of the total market, the other consumers will primarily be medicinal users.\n\n# The Mess That Illegal Cannabis Creates\n\nA recent [Brookings Essay]( http://www.brookings.edu/research/essays/2016/the-medical-marijuana-mess?utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=27719230&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8F-VSED5hvkpAFhcslKQxowzUzmDxktZDzFX_U1IrIzcYhGZ9j7jWBn2lWXNvKUPkfj8fvryJxIdW7UQoC02uDjmrOTw&_hsmi=27719230) sums up the mess that is created by keeping cannabis illegal: \n\n>“Reform should take government out of the doctor‐patient relationship entirely. It should also ensure that when a doctor decides that medical marijuana could help a patient, the government would not obstruct safe access to the drug. Medical marijuana policy in the United States is putting Americans at risk. The federal government keeps people who live in states that don’t have medical marijuana programs from accessing a product that could benefit their health. And even as it prevents some people from having it, it erects barriers against research into the safety and efficacy of a product used by tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people who do live in states that have legalized it.”\n\nMany pro cannabis folks will say that legalization is a fait accompli, as more and more states continue to lean towards legalization. Seeing the mercurial nature of how laws and regulations are enacted state to state today though, this is not necessarily the case. As we watch states legalize to one extent or another, each state behaves and reacts differently, creating wildly different implementations. Many states, such as New York, take such timid steps towards medical legalization that the end result are impotent laws and regulations that serve no one.\n\nMy belief is that all moms should be educated on the positive aspects of cannabis legalization. Cannabis is not a panacea but neither is it the demon that so many portray it to be. I realize not everyone will agree with my pro legalization stance, and that is OK. Our society is in the midst of an extreme shift and not everyone will be on board with these progressive changes. Ultimately though, if mothers across the United States were to be pro-cannabis, legalization would happen even more quickly leading to rapid and wide spread legalization across the US. My hope is that you will join me.\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/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuanahttps://hellomd.com/articles/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.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketboom/6817806698/in/photolist-bot3pm-bBo2gx-bosZ7w-VJqWT-bosYe5-bot6Td-bot8h3-2sDrX1-bBo4pt-bot5ju-bBnRHc-bosUaL-bBo2UX-bBnTAT-bosUyy-bBo1Np-dZEhxw-bosUVW-bot6P3-bosZaw-7Y1ozi-bBnTpa-9EiNGG-bBo8q4-bBo6ha-botbkC-bBo6iZ-botd8J-botdaL-4z9NDQ-bBo8ER-bBo8nH-botdfd-botd3w-botaWb-botaMq-bBo6Ha-aDxXN3-botbNb-botdh9-botdjE-botcpN-botd1C-6bCoJd-bBnTCM-9Ef3Tk-bosVjE-bBnUva-bBo3tB-bosZFy)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/ee604/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png","srcSet":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/69585/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 200w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/497c6/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 400w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/ee604/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 800w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/9a85a/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.png 1182w","srcWebp":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/58556/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/61e93/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 200w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/1f5c5/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 400w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/58556/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 800w,\n/static/2667aff69008f6c0a68d7a326943a7fe/34d2c/0704b378f6621c1c1c730c741aea6c39.webp 1182w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2156-markdown","title":"How I Overcame My Stigma About Cannabis ","slug":"how-i-overcame-my-stigma-about-cannabis","content":"Chris Husong is Co Founder of [ClubM](http://www.joinclubm.com/), a San Diego based collective that delivers monthly packages of premium medical cannabis to their patients. Chris, one of our newest HelloMD Guest Bloggers, spent years as a seasoned management consultant professional before embracing medical marijuana fully. Below he tells his story of how he overcame his own stigma and found himself squarely in the middle of the cannabis industry.\r\n\r\n**My Cannabis Journey**\r\n\r\nI grew up during the “Just Say No,” era. If you’re unfamiliar, this was a national campaign spearheaded by then First Lady, Nancy Reagan. In this campaign, all non-prescription drugs were described as dangerous. There’s a famous ad showing an egg in a frying pan with the ominous voice-over stating “this is your brain on drugs.” It was pretty powerful stuff. \r\n\r\nYou have to remember this is long before we could simply do a Google search to find our own information. And ironically, this “Just Say No,”  framing lead to a strengthening of prescription drugs, more on that later. \r\n\r\n**How a Smart, Nerdy, Church Kid Opens His Eyes**\r\n\r\nI was the “nerdy, smart and athletic” kid in a family of creatives. I learned to write code on my Texas Instruments 99/4A computer (a lot of you probably didn’t even know TI made computers, right?), and I was pretty good at playing football if I must say so myself. I didn’t fit in with my family, but I was active in church and I believed the culture of drugs was bad. \r\n\r\nDuring high school, I had the opportunity to live in Europe for 4 years. Here I learned to drive in Germany, ski on a glacier in Switzerland and I even bartered with locals in the markets in Tunisia. Living in Europe opened my eyes because the Europeans don’t have the same cultural confusion surrounding drugs or alcohol. People drank beer more than water.  None of the people my age were terrified of marijuana and they hadn’t grown up hearing that marijuana fries your brain. In fact, it seemed everywhere I went in Europe the most creative and interesting people used marijuana. This was the start of my personal quest to question everything I’d learned about marijuana. Fast forward to the age of the internet. I had become a father and even spent two years as  Christian preacher. After being a preacher, I was a regular volunteer at my church and then I was even in banking for awhile. In short, I became a respectable adult. \r\n\r\nMy Mom was an artist and she used cannabis and I was always ashamed of that. When I had my own kids, I had a hard conversation with my Mom about not smoking cannabis in front of the kids. But my curiosity about marijuana had never been satiated.  So I began to do a little research on marijuana in the United States. For example, I learned, according to Professor Barney Warf, as a smokable product, cannabis made its way into the United States during the Mexican Revolution, which gave it the reputation as “colored-person’s drug.”  Chillingly, I learned it started to become known marijuana (rather the cannabis) during a time of anti-immigration sentiment because it underscored the “Mexican-ness” of the drug. Basically, our culture’s demonization of marijuana was based on xenophobia and only helped prescription drug companies and alcohol companies. \r\n\r\nAs I became more involved in the cannabis business three years ago, I really began to see the importance of creating a new cultural perception regarding cannabis. Cannabis has proven medical benefits. But there’s more to it than that. I started thinking about my Mom and how she used cannabis as an artist to tap into her creativity. \r\n\r\n**A Well-Lived, Respectable, Creative Life** \r\n\r\nI started thinking about how cannabis not only heals people, it often even provides opportunities for them to be better at what they do, more energized, more creative, etc. It's not far different than sitting down with a friend to consume alcohol. So, when I co-founded ClubM, I looked for business partners who thought the same as we did because people using marijuana legally shouldn’t feel shame. It’s no more shameful than someone legally sitting at a bar having a beer.  \r\n\r\nMy personal mission of “Just Say No-To Cannabis Confusion” has been in development all of my life, but it’s really been in the last few years that I really became to understand the importance of leading the charge on this issue. That’s why [ClubM](http://www.joinclubm.com/) is built around the idea of making legalized use of marijuana part of a creative, respectable lifestyle. It’s important that the cannabis community come together on this issue and lead together. There’s nothing wrong with a life that is pain-free and creative. That’s a well-lived, respectable and creative life worth having. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/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":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/ee604/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.png","srcSet":"/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/69585/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.png 200w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/497c6/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.png 400w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/ee604/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.png 800w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/f3583/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.png 1200w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/f90fa/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/58556/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/61e93/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.webp 200w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/1f5c5/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.webp 400w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/58556/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.webp 800w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/99238/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.webp 1200w,\n/static/ca21cb44eba840d51dedba26b3b2ad46/5e0b8/eb7a20e6cf4f7092dbd59514ae4e6781.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":36,"numPages":4,"currentPage":4,"id":5492,"name":"Medical Marijuana","slug":"medical-marijuana","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}