{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/news-and-events/10","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2125-markdown","title":"Cannabis: The New Health Food Trend","slug":"cannabis-the-new-health-food-trend","content":"Medical cannabis has gained traction in recent years along the same timeframe that health food trends have sky rocketed. Cannabis is often seen as a healthy alternative to side effect-riddled pharmaceuticals, such as opioids, and many people use cannabis as a component in holistic health treatment. The marijuana industry is embracing the full potential of cannabis by moving towards the world of holistic health and wellness. Marijuana is slowly taking its rightful place in the ranks as not only an extremely effective medication, but as a healthy food product as well. \r\n\r\nOften the first things that come to peoples’ minds when they think about cannabis edibles is candy such as gummy bears, brownies, and chocolate. There are many companies, however, who are looking to change the stigma that is often associated with edibles. [Simply Pure](http://www.newhope.com/legislation-amp-regulation/medical-marijuana-meets-gourmet-healthy-food), a Colorado based company, has become a pioneer in the health food cannabis industry. All of their products are vegan, sugar free, and gluten free. The company desires to be the “Whole Foods” of the medical marijuana edible industry. Simply Pure, however, is not alone in providing medical marijuana users with healthier options in the world of edibles. \r\n\r\n[Auntie Dolores](http://auntiedolores.com) is a California company that focuses on the use of whole foods, coconut sugar instead of white sugar, and includes many gluten free and vegan product options. Auntie Dolores believes that food is medicine and that their small batch, gourmet treats are a healthy way to get a daily dose of cannabis medication. Auntie Dolores even creates CBD pet treats that are infused with superfoods to reduce anxiety and pain in pets with added nutritional benefits. The company also promotes the use of coconut oil in most of their products, which has become a one of the most quintessential health foods. Coconut oil is praised for its healthy fats, moisturizing abilities, and antibacterial properties. The cannabis industry has found that the abundance of healthy saturated fats in coconut oil are extremely effective at extracting THC from marijuana. \r\n\r\nCannabis infused coconut [oil](http://www.healthnutnews.com/cannabis-coconut-oil-powerful-effective/) is a very effective delivery method for cannabis and is easy for patients to make on their own. Marijuana infused coconut oil can be taken on its own or be cooked or baked into a cannabis infused treat. Combining cannabis with health foods can benefit a patient exponentially because how a patient ingests marijuana can add to or take away from the health benefits they may be receiving. Nutrition is a critical aspect of improving the overall health of people and their rate of healing, so consuming cannabis in a nutritionally beneficial way is important. \r\n\r\nThe cannabis industry is also currently embracing one of the most prevalent health trends, [juicing](http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-juice-20150131-story.html). The juice craze first appeared several years ago and has seemingly only gotten larger. Juicing advocates claim that drinking daily juices, usually made with a mix of fruit and vegetables, leads to clearer thinking, glowing skin, and a detoxed body. \r\n\r\nThough the benefits have yet to be scientifically proven, juicing cannabis has been found to be extremely beneficial. Juicing raw, fresh [cannabis](https://www.medicaljane.com/category/cannabis-classroom/consuming-cannabis/juicing/# introduction-to-juicing-cannabis) creates a nutritionally dense and potent beverage without any psychoactive effects. Cannabis juice also provides a healthy kick of fatty acids that hemp products have become known for.\r\n\r\nIt is no surprise that cannabis is gaining traction in the health food world. Its counterpart, hemp, has been officially given the title of a super food. Cannabis and hemp are the same plant, the only difference being the level of THC found in the plant. Hemp, because of its extremely low or non-existent level of THC, is available across the world in various forms. Hemp seeds have become the most popular in recent years. Hemp [seeds](http://time.com/2946028/seeds-chia-hemp-flax-sesame-pumpkin-nigella/) are the highest protein seed on the market with 10 g of protein per ounce. \r\n\r\nEach ounce of hemp seeds also contains 3/4 of a persons daily recommended vitamin E and 1/3 of a persons recommended zinc. Hemp seeds are also high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and antioxidants. Hemp seeds can also be pressed into an oil that can be used to food items like salad dressings. Hemp seeds and oil can easily be incorporated into a persons daily diet as a great nutritional boost. All of the benefits that are attributed to hemp are all present in cannabis, making marijuana a bonafide superfood.\r\n\r\nCannabis cookery is now moving beyond just hemp products and medical edibles. The Cannabis Kitchen Cookbook, [written](http://www.foodrepublic.com/2016/04/20/is-marijuana-the-next-big-superfood/) by Robyn Griggs Lawrence, shows how cannabis can be used to make healthy, nutritious food with all parts of the cannabis plant. Lawerence, the book’s author, describes cannabis as, “one of the most nutritious vegetables that we have around,” and said that, “the whole idea is how to take advantage of this amazing superfood, not how do you cook to get high.” \r\n\r\nThe recipes in the book range from curries to smoothies, all that can be modified based on the desired psychoactive effects. Some recipes, such as a pesto, use underutilized parts of the plant, such as the fan leaves. Lawrence desired for her cookbook to be a “foodie” approach to cannabis by respecting both its medicinal and culinary potential as an amazing ingredient. \r\n\r\nAs the opinion tide changes in favor of medical and recreational cannabis legalization, we are able to see more of the benefits that the plant can provide. The benefits of marijuana, outside of its medical potential and its ability to create a psychoactive reaction, are often glossed over. These unique health aspects, such as vitamins and fatty acids, are what makes cannabis even more unique as a product. Consuming cannabis can benefit your body by adding support to your immune system and providing it with nutrition to function properly, both which can help heal your body faster from various medical conditions. \r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/14b42/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/f836f/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.jpg 200w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/2244e/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.jpg 400w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/14b42/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.jpg 800w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/47498/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.jpg 1200w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/54ac5/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/58556/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/61e93/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.webp 200w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/1f5c5/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.webp 400w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/58556/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.webp 800w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/99238/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.webp 1200w,\n/static/f3643f9aa56f3e51770d12f9fff35f60/5e0b8/d26295533a6f1ee84ab0a38dab19f655.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2059-markdown","title":"Illegal Opioid Prescriptions Kill More People","slug":"illegal-opioid-prescriptions-kill-more-people","content":"### Death Toll with Opioids Rising\r\n\r\n19,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2014 caused by legal opioids alone. One of the biggest problems in the pharmaceutical industry is wholesale distributers that do not report pharmacies that greatly increase their monthly orders in a suspicious manner. Wholesale pharmaceutical distributers are legally required to report suspicious behaviors and patterns, though many companies do not. In the last 10 years, the Drug Enforcement Agency has brought 12 civil lawsuits against various drug wholesalers for not properly reporting these suspicious drug orders. \r\n\r\n### Opioid Distribution Goes Unchecked\r\n\r\nMcKesson, one of the nations largest wholesale [drug distributers was sued](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/drug-distributor-mckesson-faces-lawsuit-in-effort-to-stem-opioid-painkiller-epidemic/) by the DEA and 6 states in 2008 because they filled hundreds of suspicious hydrocodone orders. McKesson reached a settlement and paid $13 million in fines. They also agreed to more closely monitor suspicious orders. McKesson didn’t change its ways, however, and recently had to pay another $150 million fine and pause their distribution in four states. McKesson is now being sued again by the state of West Virginia because of its suspicious distribution in the state. McKesson delivered almost 100 million doses of opioid drugs to the state, which only has a population of 1.8 million. These 100 million doses were delivered to the state over the course of just five years, from 2007 to 2012. \r\n\r\n### Prescriptions for Profit\r\n\r\nThis is not, however, an isolated issue with McKesson. Purdue, the maker of Oxycontin, has gotten in trouble for not cutting off the supply of the drug to a suspicious doctors office or report the odd behavior to the DEA. A [suspicious medical office, called Lake Medical](http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-oxycontin-part2/), sprouted up in southern California in 2008. The doctor at the office prescribed 1,500 pills of Oxycontin in a single week, which is more than most pharmacies distribute in a month. The next month, the doctor had prescribed 11,000 pills. Two months later, the doctor was prescribing more than 73,000 pills. \r\n\r\nPurdue was aware of the surge in prescription numbers and even found that it was working with specific pharmacies that were already identified as corrupt to supply the patients. Some pharmacists in non-corrupt pharmacies that were also receiving prescriptions from Lake Medical to fill complained to Purdue about the doctor at the clinic. This is not the only case where Purdue had information on illegal Oxycontin prescriptions, though it continuously has not reported these cases, asserting that the claims are not corroborated enough to report. Purdue has already earned more than $31 billion dollars from Oxycontin, which is the best selling pain killer in the country. So, the $635 million in fines that they have had to pay for misrepresenting the addiction potential of the drug, even before the Lake Medical incident, did not even make a dent in the exponential profits from the opioids. \r\n\r\n### Marijuana is NOT the Dangerous Drug\r\n\r\nMarijuana is often demonized because of its illegal past, but most people don’t realize what is going on in the pharmaceutical industry that claims to be completely legal. Marijuana has yet to claim a single life by overdose. Yet, cannabis has had a hard time shaking its past as a trafficked drug, when it’s actually legal opioids that are taking the lives of so many people. \r\n\r\nThe illegal prescriptions are not only the result of shady doctors and pharmacies, but also the wholesale companies that do not report these suspicious behaviors to the DEA. Even though these wholesale companies are legally required to report questionable behavior by doctors or pharmacies, they often get off the hook with a small slap on the wrist by paying a fine that doesn’t even cut into their extremely large profits. The marijuana industry focuses on providing their patients with a safe, healthy product that works as an alternative to the heavy and addictive pharmaceuticals that are currently on the market. \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 me","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/14b42/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.jpg","srcSet":"/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/f836f/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.jpg 200w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/2244e/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.jpg 400w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/14b42/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.jpg 800w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/47498/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.jpg 1200w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/54ac5/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/58556/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/61e93/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.webp 200w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/1f5c5/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.webp 400w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/58556/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.webp 800w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/99238/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.webp 1200w,\n/static/61de2946afd2ebc62d206e5d0f6f66d0/5e0b8/8863f51fdf3b437e657db7c5571d27d2.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2102-markdown","title":"California Marijuana Legalization: Prop 64","slug":"california-marijuana-legalization-prop-64","content":"In this post, our CEO, [Mark Hadfield](https://www.hellomd.com/people/mark) talks about the impending cannabis legalization vote in November. Will cannabis go legal, and if so, what are the ramifications? Will you need a medical recommendation after the vote? What will happen with taxation? As a true cannabis industry insider, Mark gives his insights on the state of cannabis legalization and where we might find ourselves post November ballot on Prop 64.\r\n\r\n### The Vote is Coming...\r\n\r\nOne thing we hear a lot about, is the impending vote for legal recreational cannabis in California, now on the ballot for 8th November, 2016. This legislation – known as [Prop. 64]( https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_64,_Marijuana_Legalization_(2016)) (Adult Use of Marijuana Act) – would enable any adult over the age of 21, to legally purchase cannabis without a doctor’s recommendation, along with certain tax provisions as well as enacting some restraints on monopoly type business interests.\r\n\r\n### Will Prop 64 Pass?\r\n\r\nThe Yes side is very well funded with over $11m raised as at September 1st, 2016. The opposition has raised just $200,000. At time of writing [60% of Californian’s]( http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_516MBS.pdf) support the legalization of recreational marijuana with just 37% against. It’s not guaranteed, but it looks very likely to pass in November.\r\n\r\n### What does Prop 64. Mean to You?\r\n\r\nThere is a misconception that after the November vote, one should just be able to walk into a dispensary and make a purchase (without a doctors note). The truth is that implementing Prop. 64 will be a complex and lengthy process that for the most part, has not yet even been planned for. Regulators have not started the planning, because they don’t know what will be in the final legislation, should it pass. With a state the size of California, along with the various business and lobbying interests fighting for their piece of the pie, the reality is that it will take at least twelve months and perhaps longer before the first legal recreational outlets are available. A good working estimate from most we have talked with, is not before January 2018.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, you will continue to be able to purchase your cannabis, so long as you are a qualifying medical patient with a valid doctor’s recommendation.\r\n\r\n### Tax Incentives to Maintain your Medical Status\r\n\r\nOne of the reasons lawmakers are interested in recreational cannabis, is because of the opportunity to tax sales, and thus increase budgets for needy projects. Prop. 64 outlines a 15% sales tax, as well as a $9.25 per ounce on growers for flowers, and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Additional costs may arise through the enforced three tier distribution model, as well as additional taxes which may be levied by local government bodies. All of this could increase the price of recreational marijuana by as much as 30% or more to the consumer, while for the most part medical consumers are largely exempted from taxes (while still may be impacted by other market forces).\r\n\r\nStudies show the that regular users can spend up to $1,800 per year on cannabis today (which could increase by $540 in taxes and fees), or simply reduce the amount that a person could afford. With the price of an annual doctor’s recommendation around $50, there appears to be a strong financial incentive to maintain your medical status, should you have one.  Indeed, this has been the case in Colorado where more than two years since recreational marijuana was implemented, around 40% of people still maintain their medical patient status (where effective taxes are between [15% and 25%]( https://www.brookings.edu/research/qa-legal-marijuana-in-colorado-and-washington)). \r\n\r\n### Product Selection (Med vs Rec)\r\n\r\nLooking again to Colorado for guidance on what might happen in California after the vote, one thing many don’t realize is that you have access to different products (and advice) when you are a medical patient vs a recreational user.\r\n\r\nWhen visiting a dispensary in Colorado, you are immediately asked at the door upon entry whether you are a medical, or a recreational user IE: are you a holder of a medical card? If the answer is yes, you are allowed entry to the ‘medical section’ of the store, where a greater product selection, and one more medically targeted is available to you. Additionally, the advice offered on product selection may be different for medical users.\r\n\r\nRecreational users have to enter through to the recreational side where products tend to be less strong and less varied in terms of consumption methods or options for CBD heavy products, and advice which is more tailored towards recreational users.   \r\n\r\n\r\n### What Defines a Medical Patient?\r\n\r\nUnder the law in California, a medical marijuana patient is one who has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, whereby the therapeutic use of cannabis is recommended by a doctor with a license in good standing with the medical board. \r\n\r\nBeyond the legal definition however, things become a little less clear. If I have a medical recommendation for a qualifying condition that comes and goes, but I like to use cannabis on a Friday night to relieve stress and help me sleep, am I am medical user, or a recreational one?\r\n\r\nWhat if I use cannabis instead of wine when people come over for dinner (because I want to reduce my sugar intake) or I simply want to drink less alcohol. Is this recreational or medical? What if the reason I want to reduce my sugar intake, is because I am overweight? What if it’s because am diabetic? Is this medical?\r\n\r\n### To Conclude\r\n\r\nAt HelloMD, we believe that millions of people could (and will) benefit from the therapeutic use of cannabis for their health & wellness. With 110 million Americans suffering with chronic pain alone, this number could far exceed the number of people who are clearly recreational users. Think about health concerns related to PMS, pre-menopausal symptoms, migraines, anxiety, insomnia; the list goes on and on. \r\n\r\nIf you are someone who identifies with one of the examples given above, you may well value continued access to quality medical advice from a licensed doctor, an excellent medically focused product selection, and lower prices for your medications, regardless of what the law allows after the November vote (and whatever time it take to get implemented) thereafter.   \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.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.408450704225352,"src":"/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/422ae/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.png","srcSet":"/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/69585/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.png 200w,\n/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/497c6/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.png 400w,\n/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/422ae/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.png 669w","srcWebp":"/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/87da1/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/61e93/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.webp 200w,\n/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/1f5c5/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.webp 400w,\n/static/cfbbad516f819a7510febebb4459f498/87da1/bd7a0c49840422d70034c1e938ba5ed6.webp 669w","sizes":"(max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2224-markdown","title":"Doctors Lack Proper Cannabis Education","slug":"doctors-lack-proper-cannabis-education","content":"### Doctors Need Additional Medical Training\r\n\r\nMarijuana sentiments have changed greatly in the United States over the past 20 years. California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes 20 years ago and today, 25 states and the District of Columbia now have legalized medical marijuana use. Despite that 50% of the states in the United States have some medical marijuana program in place, medical schools in the United States still do not include the benefits of medical marijuana in their curriculums. This lack of knowledge can leave doctors feeling ill equipped to make recommendations on medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nMarijuana is a complex plant, made up of many different cannabinoids and other qualities that make it very beneficial for patients experiencing a wide array of medical conditions. Marijuana also comes in many different strains and can be administered in a variety of ways, leaving many doctors feeling overwhelmed with the number of options and possibilities for treatment. In most states, doctors are simply required to verify that a patient has a condition that makes them eligible for medical marijuana use. Many doctors feel as if they should know more about the product and be able to guide their patients in the right direction as they start using medical marijuana, rather than just approving them for the program. A 2013 study out of Colorado showed that 80% of doctors surveyed said that physicians should receive medical training on marijuana before prescribing it to patients. \r\n\r\nDoctors who are well versed in cannabis are also alarmed by the lack of marijuana knowledge that many of their colleagues have. HelloMD’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Perry Solomon, has described the gap in marijuana education as something that needs to be urgently addressed, \r\n\r\n>“Education of physicians regarding cannabis is a vital link that is now, for the most part, missing from the cannabis ecosystem. The vast majority of medical schools do not teach anything regarding the endocannabinoid system or cannabis in general. They do, however, teach about the opioid epidemic in the United States and how to treat a person who appears in the ER with a heroin or prescription drug overdose. Yet they do not mention a word about cannabis, a viable alternative for pain control.”\r\n\r\n### Continuing Education\r\n\r\nSome states require continued education courses for doctors who desire to give marijuana recommendations, and many doctors are in favor of these moves. New York has a physician registration process for doctors, which requires a certification process. Doctors must attend a 4 hour class and pay $249 to be able to prescribe marijuana. This education is part of a larger registration process that 656 doctors in the state have completed. Other states are interested in following in the footsteps of New York to establish their own registration and education processes. In Massachusetts, doctors are required to take marijuana education courses offered by the American Medical Association. Other states are developing programs to educate their doctors on medical marijuana or recommending doctors seek alternate education from programs like the Medical Cannabis Commission. Dr. Perry Solomon expressed his concern that these current programs alone are not enough,  “This type of education is a good start, but physicians need to stay current since the number of strains that exist, as well as the amount of various products available, are constantly growing.”\r\n\r\n### Education Should Go Mainstream\r\n\r\nThis education gap that physicians experience highlights the lack of formal research available on medical marijuana. The extremely limited amount of studies on marijuana, due to its position as a Schedule I substance by the DEA, limits what doctors are taught. Doctors are also more wary of cannabis because of its Schedule I classification, “Doctors who have current practices don’t want to learn about cannabis because it is a Schedule I drug, and they think it may negatively impact their medical license. There are a few courses given to learn about cannabis, but unless you are able to recommend it to your patient, most physicians don’t want to bother,” expressed Dr. Perry Solomon. Despite its standing with the DEA, cannabis has shown to be extremely beneficial for a range of medical conditions. There are large amounts of the information available on the efficacy of cannabis, though it is mostly anecdotal. \r\n\r\nThere is some new hope, however, for bringing marijuana into the mainstream of doctors education. In February of 2016, a new textbook on medical marijuana was released called Medical Cannabis, Basic Science & Clinical Applications. The book, which is written by Dr. Gregory Smith, explains the different types of medical cannabis available and what is most effective at helping particular conditions. The book also details how the human body processes marijuana and the possible side effects. This new textbook could be a crucial aspect in educating both doctors and medical students alike. \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/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/14b42/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/f836f/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/2244e/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 400w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/14b42/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 800w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/47498/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 1200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/54ac5/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/58556/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/61e93/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/1f5c5/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 400w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/58556/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 800w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/99238/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 1200w,\n/static/aef0de66c5190963a04fe3c30ccbc29d/5e0b8/b22dd6e9ebc1ead19cb13eb3684a2cb3.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2199-markdown","title":"Marijuana Takes on Big Pharma on the Opioid Front","slug":"marijuana-takes-on-big-pharma-on-the-opioid-front","content":"A paper released by the [National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)]( https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/07/14/how-medical-marijuana-could-literally-save-lives/?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.eebc90c829ec) has shown that state-sanctioned medical marijuana dispensaries have been linked to a decrease in painkiller abuse and opioid overdose-related deaths. The new paper by the NBER collected more extensive data than previous studies on the subject. The paper compared the number of admissions into substance abuse treatment programs and the number of opioid overdose-related deaths between states that do and don’t have medical marijuana. The NBER showed a 15–35% decrease in substance abuse treatment facility admissions in states with legal medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \r\n\r\n### Fewer Opioid Deaths in States With Medical Cannabis\r\n\r\nThe NBER paper parallels a _Journal of the American Medical Association_ (JAMA) study that shows a 24.8% decrease in deaths from opioids in states with medical marijuana. JAMA also reported that a survey of 79 studies found that chronic pain patients experienced a 30% or greater improvement in their pain while using cannabis in comparison to the use of a placebo. This information becomes increasingly important with more than 16,000 opioid overdose deaths in the United States in 2013 alone.\r\n\r\nMedical marijuana already proved its prowess as a viable alternative for opioid painkillers because of its ability to quell pain and decrease the epidemic of opioid-related deaths. At HelloMD, we see an increasing trend in patients using cannabis on a regular basis rather than opioids, providing even more anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of medical marijuana to take the place of, or be used in conjunction with, standard pharmaceuticals.\r\n\r\n### Decreasing Opioid Prescriptions in Legal Cannabis States\r\n\r\nThe _Journal of Health Affairs_ has released an even more compelling study out of the University of Georgia that outlines a [direct correlation between the decrease of pharmaceutical use and the increase of cannabis use](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/13/one-striking-chart-shows-why-pharma-companies-are-fighting-legal-marijuana/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=nextdraft&utm_term=.18b4b65df8e1). In the 17 states where legalized medical marijuana was put in place by 2013, prescriptions written for painkillers and other medications decreased dramatically. The study found that the average doctor prescribed per year:\r\n\r\n* 265 fewer doses of antidepressants.\r\n* 486 fewer doses of seizure medications.\r\n* 541 fewer doses of anti-anxiety medications.\r\n* 1,826 fewer doses of opioid painkillers. \r\n\r\nThere were also significantly fewer doses written for prescriptions related to nausea, psychosis, sleep disorders and depression. To corroborate that the prescription decreases were tied to medical marijuana, the changes in prescription amounts for conditions that aren’t typically associated with medical marijuana use were also monitored. There was no change in the number of prescriptions of medications such as antibiotics, anti-viral drugs and blood thinners, showing the connection between increased marijuana use and the decrease in prescriptions for medications such as opioids and antidepressants.\r\n\r\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/578e5cb0687e76000700000c/embedded_images/578e5cb2687e76000700000d/Screen_Shot_2016-07-19_at_9.33.42_AM.png)\r\n \r\n### Big Pharma Fights Back Against the Legalization of Marijuana\r\n\r\nPeople are seeking out marijuana more and more for medicinal use, and pharmaceutical companies are taking notice. Big pharmaceutical companies lobbied the federal government to prevent legislation that may reschedule marijuana (it’s currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug, which means the government considers it to have no medical benefits) or provide an avenue to nationwide medical legalization. \r\n\r\nMultiple companies jumped on the new interest in marijuana by formulating synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which could have the same effects as THC derived from cannabis. At least one pharmaceutical company, after developing a synthetic THC product, wrote to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) expressing its opposition to rescheduling cannabis due to the abuse potential of the plant and extensive growing effort needed to produce an adequate supply. \r\n\r\nRELATED: [OBAMA OPIOIDS SOLUTION MISSING CANNABIS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5704127770f200000800000c/obama-opioids-solution-missing-cannabis)\r\n\r\nIt’s not surprising that the pharmaceutical companies are fighting against medical marijuana legalization: $165 million were saved in the 17 medical marijuana states in 2013 due to the decreased number of traditional pharmaceutical prescriptions. \r\n\r\nLastly, the use of medicinal marijuana in legal states may create an estimated annual savings within Medicare of up to a half billion dollars if all 50 states were to allow for marijuana’s medicinal use. What’s clear is that Big Pharma will now do whatever it takes to prevent declassification of cannabis in the federal system and broader legalization.\r\n\r\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. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/14b42/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/f836f/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.jpg 200w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/2244e/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.jpg 400w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/14b42/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.jpg 800w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/47498/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.jpg 1200w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/54ac5/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/58556/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/61e93/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.webp 200w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/1f5c5/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.webp 400w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/58556/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.webp 800w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/99238/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.webp 1200w,\n/static/f965286a172465f02d677c3168b9d191/5e0b8/a39cf541a7c8c6ce2b397e76b887c5fe.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2047-markdown","title":"Rescheduling Marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II","slug":"rescheduling-marijuana-from-schedule-i-to-schedule-ii","content":"Congress has expressed interest in rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule II substance in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced it will rule on the idea of rescheduling cannabis this summer, possibly as early as June. Changing the status of marijuana to a Schedule II substance would make it no longer illegal, rather it would be considered a substance with potential medical use, but with a “high possibility for abuse”. Schedule II substances are defined by their possibility to lead to physiological or physical dependency and include Percocet, Oxycontin, and Fentanyl. \r\n\r\nSome people in the marijuana industry have expressed concern that if marijuana is made a Schedule II substance that it would shut down the existing marijuana industry due to pending FDA approval on marijuana products. FDA approval would take years and hundreds of millions of dollars that most if not all cannabis businesses cannot afford. Clinical testing by the FDA, however, does not make the current cannabis industry automatically legal or immediately create approved pharmaceuticals. The process of rescheduling marijuana and circulating it as an official pharmaceutical could take time, but the industry should be able to continue to operate at its current capacity in the meantime. \r\n\r\n### Rescheduling Doesn't  Shut Down Industry\r\n\r\nThe Controlled Substances Act of 1970 gives Congress, and other relevant federal agencies, the ability to schedule and reschedule substances. The CSA directly outlaws state-approved enterprises of marijuana production and distribution. The Cole and Ogden memos, however, allow the marijuana industries to remain open in the states where they have been approved. The Cole and Ogden memos are a series of memorandum issued by the US Justice Department and allow for highly regulated, state-approved operations. The one main condition of the Cole and Ogden memos is that the state-approved marijuana industries cannot violate specific concerns of the Department of Justice, such as distribution to minors and the involvement of cartels in marijuana production. \r\n\r\nThe memos highlight the ability of enforcement discretion by the US president and administrative officials, allowing them to choose how and under what circumstances laws will be enforced. Since the Obama administration does not prioritize the enforcement of the CSA, in regards to cannabis within states with legalized marijuana industries, this should not change in the wake of rescheduling. \r\n\r\n### What Does Schedule II Mean for Existing Businesses?\r\n\r\nCurrently, the federal government has allowed for the marijuana industries in legal states to continue without intervention. If, at its current status, the marijuana industry is not being shut down, it is unlikely that if the government reschedules cannabis, declaring that it is less dangerous than previously thought, that they would then to work to close the industry. If there is any change, rescheduling cannabis is likely to relax the bureaucratic hurdles in the marijuana industry, rather than changing the way that state legal businesses operate now. \r\n\r\n### A Precedent Has Been Set\r\n\r\nThe Obama administration issued the Cole and Ogden memos in 2012, setting up the system in which the marijuana industry was allowed to continue in state-approved markets despite the CSA. These memos do not change if cannabis is rescheduled or when the Obama administration is no longer in power. The memos would have to be specifically rescinded in order for them to no longer apply. It is also not likely that these memos would change under the next president. Both Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump have indicated that they are comfortable with the current approach to marijuana legalization. Clinton has also explicitly argued for rescheduling  and a state-based cannabis regulation system. Recommitting to the Controlled Substances Act would be complicated and costly. Reinstating the whole CSA would require shutting down the marijuana industry in every state where cannabis is legal. The politics of trying to move backwards on the current system in place for cannabis would possibly be too laborious and costly for any first term president to take on. \r\n\r\n### What's the End Result of Rescheduling?\r\n\r\nOver 80% of Americans approve of medical marijuana and 50% of americans support recreational marijuana legalization. Rescheduling will not do much to change the existing market, however, it does have many positive implications for the future of medical marijuana. Moving marijuana to a Schedule II substance would ease the restrictions on research, allowing for more clinical trials to be conducted across the United States. If rescheduling happens, the FDA approved medical marijuana products will be very different from what we see on the shelves now. There will most likely be more tablets and liquid forms of marijuana, made from isolated cannabinoids and compounds, rather than whole flowers. The FDA approved cannabis industry will provide a different aspect to the medical marijuana field than the current dispensaries offer.\r\n\r\nAsk a question about this article or rescheduling of marijuana in [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/marijuana-topicals/deeply-soothing-body-butter) 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.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/14b42/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.jpg","srcSet":"/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/f836f/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.jpg 200w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/2244e/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.jpg 400w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/14b42/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.jpg 800w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/47498/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.jpg 1200w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/54ac5/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/58556/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/61e93/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.webp 200w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/1f5c5/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.webp 400w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/58556/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.webp 800w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/99238/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.webp 1200w,\n/static/74c07c182e9552a282a747ac7dcf4048/5e0b8/69683861e17eabc39c9304cf6c13dfc8.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2019-markdown","title":"Canadian Prime Minister's Case for Marijuana Legalization","slug":"canadian-prime-ministers-case-for-marijuana-legalization","content":"Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, spoke at an economic conference in early June and provided very sound reasoning for marijuana legalization: marijuana legalization is what is best for the children of Canada. It sounds shocking but Trudeau explains legalization should not be thought of as tax revenue builder or a window into new industry, but an act of safety. His ideas focus on two simple principles, that legalization could decrease the access that young people have to marijuana and that it would prevent billions of dollars from flowing into the hands of gangs and cartels. \r\n\r\n### Protecting Teens Through Legalization\r\n\r\nCanada is already ranked # 1 in the availability of marijuana to the underage population. Trudeau believes that through regulation and control of marijuana, it is possible make it more difficult for young people to obtain cannabis. The legalization of marijuana will not increase accessibility of marijuana, but if it is taken off the streets and put into stores, teens will have a more difficult time getting a hold of it. According to a Monitoring the Future study conducted state-side, nearly 80% of 12th graders said that it would be easy for them to obtain marijuana. \r\n\r\nTrudeau’s idea that legalization could reduce teen marijuana use could hold a lot of clout. A Washington University School of Medicine study showed that the number of teens with marijuana related problems, dependency or trouble with family and school due to cannabis, fell by 24% between 2002-2013, during which 13 states legalized medical marijuana. The overall number of teens using marijuana fell as well. After recreational marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington, federal data showed no significant increase in marijuana use among teens from year to year. \r\n\r\n### Keeping Money Out of the Hands of Cartels\r\n\r\nTrudeau argues that creating a legal channel for marijuana reduces the underground marijuana market. As is the historical problem with prohibition, the industry has been driven into the hands of illegal cartels. Illegal drug cartels promote violence internally and abroad and can cause issues with border security. The illegal drug trade also comes with added gang violence from turf wars and rivalries, violence that can touch both innocents and gang members in the crossfire. \r\n\r\nPartial legalization has already helped reduce illegal drug trade in the US. A kilo of marijuana has dropped $30 to $50 on the black market in the past few years due to legal production state-side. Cartels have been hard pressed to keep up with the quality of domestically produced marijuana in the US and in Canada, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s national drug threat assessment. US border seizures have also dropped from four million pounds of cannabis in 2009 to one and a half million pounds in 2015. \r\n\r\n### Legalization Can Do What Prohibition Cannot\r\n\r\nKeeping marijuana illegal has only served to magnify many problems. Many of the safety concerns that opponents of marijuana legalization have are coming true while marijuana remains illegal. The increased regulations provided by legalization will increase the safeties of countries as a whole. With the addition of a possible decreased availability for underaged peoples and the reduction of money moving into illegal industries, marijuana legalization looks like the best idea going forward for the future of Canada and the United States.\r\n\r\nInterested in asking a question about this? Go to [HelloMD Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/answers) and ask one of our doctors or community. \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/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/14b42/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.jpg","srcSet":"/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/f836f/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.jpg 200w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/2244e/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.jpg 400w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/14b42/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.jpg 800w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/47498/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.jpg 1200w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/54ac5/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/58556/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/61e93/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.webp 200w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/1f5c5/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.webp 400w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/58556/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.webp 800w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/99238/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.webp 1200w,\n/static/ad91a89f6b68264152eac079eda28ba9/5e0b8/45f0d4184f3671f8c1facf562b0f5840.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2175-markdown","title":"Problems with California’s Medical Marijuana Regulations","slug":"problems-with-californias-medical-marijuana-regulations","content":"### MMRSA - It Has Issues\r\n\r\nThe Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA) was the much needed update to medical marijuana policy in the state of California. MMRSA puts new regulations of the sizes of plots, pesticide standards, organic status availability, and quality assurance standards. MMRSA also provides the frame work for different types of licenses related to marijuana growth and manufacturing, as well as the allowance for for-profit marijuana production. Another major aspect of MMRSA is the implementation of a taxation system that would bring in local and state tax revenue from the medical marijuana industry. Individual cities also were required to submit ordinances by March 1st if they wanted to set restrictions and maintain control over medical marijuana regulation in their borders. \r\n\r\nThe major problem with MMRSA, however, is a dramatic increase in the cost of cannabis and manufactured products that contain marijuana. The act outlines a new mandatory distribution level that will add extra steps, and cost, to the production of all different kinds of marijuana products. The new required distributers will be the middle men between each step in the process as a form of external management, essentially doubling the amount of steps needed to get marijuana products to market. Distributers are projected to ask for about 15-35% of the value of the cannabis product as a fee for each management step. The cost of distributers fees, in addition to the cost of the added steps, is going to lead to a dramatic mark up on the cost of cannabis products. \r\n\r\n### Skyrocketing Cost of Marijuana\r\n\r\nThe skyrocketing price of marijuana production will only be exacerbated by an extra 15% tax mark up. The exorbitant prices will put a great strain on the patients that use marijuana as medicine everyday and could also bar people from seeking out marijuana for treatment. The added steps can also add time to marijuana processing, creating situations where people may not get the medication they need in a timely manner. Another potential issue is the room for the illegal marketplace to grow under the stress of the overpriced legal market. \r\n\r\nThis could be potentially detrimental to the many patients that benefit from medical marijuana everyday and the industry as a whole. Its not too late, however, to work to fix this problem. If you’re a California resident you can contact your local representative by following these steps:\r\nGo to this [CA government website](http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/) to find your local representative & reach out to your local representatives by email, phone, or an in person meeting to voice your concerns about the mandatory distribution step outlined in MMRSA. \r\n\r\nInterested in asking a question about this article? Go to [HelloMD Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/answers) and ask one of our doctors and community. \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.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/47148237@N06/14669459877/in/photolist-omhPm2-dKkUmw-jPvVXv-oPjAyR-e8WfNC-8tAE2V-7nbVUm-7MzmN1-yDGpZ-cXN5MQ-pdtSbN-dJ3779-jRpm4h-pfvMA8-8NZJHH-pftMx3-ab3Ma8-qzfUbY-osVoFw-oprmjn-os8FtU-7pxZhL-hG5fSV-cJ673U-7pxZky-ptDMWD-nVBGrW-5XuyUi-9DG3AD-pNx6qm-6PbdHi-vqpcC-3QrJJF-5XyDZf-jRnQ9P-8Qbyp3-7pxZeh-vDpqN-4vxRpC-bWuXnX-oki2x-rgpD18-6L2ztT-qojJRi-amrhMe-5rHgnb-hXMZLt-nzgy1x-rv2yck-oc5nDY)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/14b42/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.jpg","srcSet":"/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/f836f/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.jpg 200w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/2244e/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.jpg 400w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/14b42/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.jpg 800w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/47498/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.jpg 1200w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/54ac5/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/58556/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/61e93/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.webp 200w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/1f5c5/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.webp 400w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/58556/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.webp 800w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/99238/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.webp 1200w,\n/static/84d4d45bd94fc8f7b43692460f3ab79d/5e0b8/6e87837b714c2c613fd243b493f05c56.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2151-markdown","title":"Cannabis Juicing: A New Health Trend","slug":"cannabis-juicing-a-new-health-trend","content":"### Move Over Kale, Cannabis is the Next Juicing Trend \r\n\r\nDonald Abrams, the Chief of Hematology Oncology at San Fransisco General Hospital, has become an advocate for marijuana over his years of research into the medical benefits of cannabis. In his new short film, Leaf, Abrams provides new insight into consuming cannabis in its raw form, rather than cured for consumption through smoking. The film introduces the newest form of consuming raw cannabis, juiced. Much like any other pressed juice that has become popular in the United States, cannabis juice is easy to consume and digest. It has even been argued that cannabis should be considered a vegetable because its fits the description as a “plant cultivated for food, edible herb or root.” Marijuana, like many other vegetables can loose some critical enzymes and nutrients when heated, meaning smoking marijuana could potentially leave behind health benefits. \r\n\r\n### Why Juice?\r\n\r\nJuicing cannabis provides many medical benefits of marijuana, in the form of cannabinoids, without the high. Plus it contains extra benefits including: calcium, fiber, iron, and fatty acids. Dr. William L. Courtney believes that cannabis in its raw form can be preventative as well as healing, “It (cannabis) has captured these molecules that help our bodies regulatory system be more effective. The bottom line is it’s a dietary essential that helps all 210 cell types function more effectively. I don’t even refer to it as medicine anymore, strictly as a dietary essential.” Drinking cannabis juice regularly has been anecdotally found to assist with immune function and provide anti-inflammatory benefits, partially by reducing damage caused by free radicals. Cannabis can also help restore two way communication pathways in nerves if they have been disrupted, further helping reduce inflammation in the body. It has also shown to improve overall cell function, bone metabolism, and neural function. Juicing cannabis allows people to consume the full profile of the plant. Dr. Courtney has seen positive effects from nearly 8,000 people who have begun a protocol of juicing cannabis. \r\n\r\n### Will Not Make You High\r\n\r\nJuiced raw cannabis does not provide any psychoactive side effects because the raw plant only contains THC-A. To become psychoactive THC, the plant must be heated. Without the heat, there is no high. Due to the delivery method, the body can handle much higher doses of cannabinoids from juiced marijuana, meaning you are getting far more positive cannabinoids in your body with every dose. The FDA has established a daily allowance of 600mg of CBD, which is a quantity that is impossible to reach without consuming cannabis through juicing. Increasing the number of cannabinoids in the human body has greatly positive effects. Ethan Russo, a senior medical advisor for GW pharmaceuticals, explained the benefits, “CBD works on receptors, and as it turns out, we have cannabinoids in our bodies, endogenous cannabinoids, that turn out to be very effective at regulating immune functions, nerve functions, and bone functions. The endogenous cannabinoid system acts as a modulator in fine-tuning a lot of these systems, and if something is deranged biochemically in a person’s body, it may well be that a cannabinoid system can bring things back into balance.” \r\n\r\n### Anecdotal Evidence\r\n\r\nKristen Peskuski, a woman featured in the short film Leaf, suffered from many ailments ranging from endometriosis to anemia to lupus. She first tried smoking marijuana, but she found very little relief. Once she started drinking cannabis however, she was able to see a dramatic decrease in symptoms. Her OBGYN believes that drinking cannabis juice may have even helped her with her pregnancy, something that was originally thought to be impossible for her due to her severe endometriosis. Katie Marsh, who shared her story with Fox News, had similarly life changing results from juicing cannabis. Marsh suffered from acute rheumatoid arthritis and had excruciating side effects from her medication that was virtually ineffective. She could barley get out of bed and take care of herself, so she tried juicing cannabis after many unsuccessful trials with other natural anti-inflammatory remedies, such as ginger and turmeric. Within a few days of consuming juiced cannabis Marsh was able to stop taking prednisone and ibuprofen, and nearly a year later her condition is completely in remission. \r\n\r\nThere is little risk in juicing cannabis, out of Dr. Courtney’s 8,000 patients only two have reported an allergic reaction. Also, 1 out of 1,000 have reported feeling physcoactive effects, but this rare reaction could be do to extreme sensitivity of the patient or an unusual marijuana plant. Dr. David A. Greuner, a double board certified surgeon and the managing director and co-founder of the Surgical Associates of New York City, believes that juicing raw cannabis has all of the same positive benefits of smoking marijuana. He states that juiced cannabis can help relieve pain and nausea in cancer patients and help increase the appetites of patients who suffer from HIV. \r\n\r\n### How Do You Juice Cannabis?\r\n\r\nIn order to juice cannabis it must be fresh, not marijuana that has been cured for smoking. Dr. Courtney recommends juicing both the buds and leaves. Cannabis can be juiced like any other vegetable in a cold pressed juicer. Due to its bitter taste, people often mix cannabis juice with other fresh vegetable juice, such as carrot juice, so much away for the taste you like. The juice is convenient and easy to drink, but finding fresh cannabis plants may be difficult for some people in states where they are not allowed to personally grow marijuana. Juicing cannabis has opened new doors for providing people with immense health benefits. \r\n\r\nInterested in asking a question about this? Go to [HelloMD Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/answers) and ask one of our doctors or community. \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.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tamara_smith_/5980079247/in/photolist-a7rtdB-cQ23uA-96jQbv-cCRU4u-ftrNbF-2t9M8h-9uoW3D-9HY3r6-d6ESqN-eTHrdF-7VeirB-wMV2R-eTHSjR-pje3Pz-eiXTrj-8kzBwT-F7Pf4-fdVG3u-fLqnNo-p5MU8s-4wvPbq-eTH9BR-8frUpS-eiXTqS-8KzUp9-8WmDNZ-7Ar59A-8q4csA-dDewff-4NeeF7-93t1re-74etNo-eJJGmw-4b71cJ-amNfLq-7nxtfe-9QxrCD-aEhw6Z-7PB8J1-5a3ZZg-ajQG5p-c3L6YE-5Z6Ds-eiTR7P-bfaDtB-nHy8Pp-dHBUkJ-9ysaa7-6nGSqj-8a4SbN)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4388489208633093,"src":"/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/ee604/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.png","srcSet":"/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/69585/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.png 200w,\n/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/497c6/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.png 400w,\n/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/ee604/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.png 800w,\n/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/41a27/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.png 919w","srcWebp":"/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/58556/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/61e93/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.webp 200w,\n/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/1f5c5/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.webp 400w,\n/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/58556/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.webp 800w,\n/static/b4380cf011a50173e78320bef533dd89/2a742/577f36825149fe8a2fa9b788d984e25d.webp 919w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2182-markdown","title":"California Slated to be Center of Marijuana Industry","slug":"california-slated-to-be-center-of-marijuana-industry","content":"California’s tech industry is going to have to move aside to make way for the next big thing, marijuana. HelloMD is one of the many companies that moved its sights from tech to marijuana and has found success. HelloMD recently got [profiled in Bloomberg](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-10/hoping-to-avoid-burnout-some-startups-turn-to-pot) for its new take on the tech boom in the Bay Area by filling a much needed void. Medical marijuana has been legal in California since 1996, but the industry is recently gaining more mainstream legitimization. The need for a reputable way to get a medical marijuana card in a safe environment bore the idea for HelloMD. The ‘think tank’ environment of the Bay Area tech industry has allowed for companies like HelloMD to innovate in new ways, but is the rest of the California economy soon to follow into the marijuana industry?\r\n\r\n### California’s Marijuana Laws\r\n\r\nCalifornia has long been a leader in the marijuana industry, being the first state to legalize medical cannabis. The “hippie” movement in parts of the state has lead to a common association between California and marijuana, and cannabis has long been ingrained in pop culture linked with the state. California produces and sells more cannabis than any other state, even though there are other states where marijuana is medically, as well as recreationally, legal. Medical marijuana sales in California hit $2.7 billion last year, totaling half of the legal marijuana sales in the country. \r\n\r\nThe marijuana industry in California is only slated to dramatically increase in the coming years. California has had recreational legalization on the ballot multiple times, and it is up for another vote again this November where it is slated to be approved. A possibly more influential state law is moving into effect in California: marijuana businesses will be allowed to turn a profit. When medical marijuana was first legalized, all companies who grew, processed, or sold marijuana were required to be non-profit businesses. Many cities in the state are now rushing to permit commercial marijuana cultivation to get business to move in as this new law comes into effect.\r\n\r\n### The Future of California’s Marijuana Production\r\n\r\nMany of the cities racing to get the new marijuana growing businesses are in the Southern California desert, a much different location than where the majority of the marijuana growing happens in the state currently. Humbolt County, in northern California, is most often associated with marijuana production in the state, but the operations slated to open in southern California are not going to be run-of-the-mill farms. Companies plan on setting up large scale indoor grow facilities for marijuana that allow them to produce large quantities despite the desert climate. These high-tech grow houses will use solar panels and more efficient irrigation tactics to produce the more than 100 tons of marijuana that projected to be grown in the state. Price of land in the areas who approve commercial marijuana cultivation tripled almost overnight as companies looking to capitalize on the new industry moved in. \r\n\r\nThere is some concern among smaller growers about being pushed out of the industry, but they are already working to combat this potential issue. Smaller grower are already turning towards the co-op approach by pooling their products under one name. California is capitalizing on the ever growing the marijuana industry in the state, and country as a whole, and it may pay off with new jobs and over $10 million worth of marijuana produced in the state, a lot of which will come out of communities which desperately need the economic boost. \r\n\r\n### Does the rest of America line up with the trends?\r\n\r\nThe most recent Gallup poll showed that majority of americans are in favor of marijuana legalization for the third consecutive year. 58% of the americans support marijuana legalization, both young and old. Younger generations support marijuana legalization at higher rates than older generations, but older generations are backing marijuana legalization now than in more recent years. Cannabis has numerous medical benefits and can provide a much needed economic boost. Marijuana legalization can establish a better country for current and future generations - for more info about why legalization is good for you and the whole of the nation, check out our recent article on Why Moms Should Support Marijuana Legalization.\r\n\r\nInterested in asking a question about this? Go to [HelloMD Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/answers) and ask one of our doctors or community. \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.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/marc_cooper/25593807241/in/photolist-EZCXdD-xportw-xqU62u-5UsLwb-z4YfLL-xrFNA4-EtySst-qDFHGs-bTTMan-xa6Ag3-z86BsD-9HYGar-9WmrGV-9ky7d7-z86oJc-xponRS-7Xaey9-FbrXer-xrFSSF-xa4TKq-xa5new-yafDEW-xa5Scb-D8JthL-mmi8ZB-92LBPi-yae2Rd-z6fggm-z86wAe-yafaxo-dNzgiu-wuG3Zd-z6fB8f-z7fouM-yPEruo-vKsDDJ-xa4yrq-yae7ub-wuFKC9-djKqVD-wuQpze-eiZSNf-8jNSdQ-aUpm9i-wuEYXC-wuNUM6-wuPTK4-wuQhp2-yPEm7j-xqSqY7)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAANCAIAAAAmMtkJAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAADG0lEQVQozy3G7U8TdxwA8O+PbXEkc1MimYsyipUHLVA66VpqW9aOkxaQPgCl5Xrc9dreQ++hh6XtAQetjBbUSoIPLMS4ZK98abI328yymWCimW5RNIoMlkWN7sX2P6jLks+LDyDPIvJfAvY6Kt17b+VxVfkBkm8i9gakfkHSOkrf+p+0DuI6CDeB/xkxP6H4jxD7HlDwMsSuVZfv1q1tVV/YBO03lLmD8vfQzH2Y24Dio/88hLmHSNtA0/eR+ntV9m7VxG0k3wKUufHhymb9lWcfLW/D7MZbC49haQsqO3B+By1vvwHLO6iyjc7+UbW4iUpPoLQD839CcRv0VOEoPffxWHkf8+3uudvvVJ7Cpeew+gKtPocrf8M3/8LVf97m6xdw8S+4/Aouvty7eKc+f20/WYHm2vdbaqtN9TXYsQ7M1Y8F4hiR+WKIdg4S1nCqKbNau/TDByu/7lrbevfqs4bSd/0JjurrCFn2u1v2gMWo/7y1wdp2qMvY0mM29luOEZiX8vTG+lxy+IQ03I17rKE+x/DJHn/QS3brKXtdYtBE+swCYYHRoC1O2GTGKSXtEtPFUVZ67HgSt7NR8yRrK0/5i+mQSndP4u25qEHETdxYe5psUyhDMnIYXLYDQ97GaKAjGTHJtG2CdWZYlyp+eTrbu1wIrFW4Cwv00lTfuWl3Oes8Ldtyyc9SYwbC3xT1NcKgq2vc38PjmET50vGBUwyW40dmlWhJxSsF6qwWWZrxFTO+hVyglPUWZLcm2gqSXeO7JigjBD2t5JBRiLbLtDk1bhCJJoU2TyYc08KJadGjSR6V90ylvGpqQBUHNGlY5b1KvF8i3QrphqHeOsb3qRgypnBjLtaao5sVSjfL6fJCpyY7zuRH5pXkrBgqpnvnFf8kE5nhTnKEg8EHFCoIPQ49Zm/xYxYi0MHjbTxukMkjEtUs0O3xiKEomLKsTUnYBfL4KdbJk51J3EKOmJMRa3zUCk5LjbWzxm7dM+o7HA7o42E9Ha6jI7rx0JHhwUNs9ECe26cJB79KN8iJ+jzXkEvomEjjREyncp+8BpxeGqJx/TshAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","aspectRatio":1.492537313432836,"src":"/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/ee604/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.png","srcSet":"/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/69585/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.png 200w,\n/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/497c6/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.png 400w,\n/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/ee604/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.png 800w,\n/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/bb2e7/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.png 1109w","srcWebp":"/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/58556/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/61e93/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.webp 200w,\n/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/1f5c5/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.webp 400w,\n/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/58556/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.webp 800w,\n/static/7c024aa8ce4175ba51b348fd76629ff9/7b011/d9889fb3e95ff0808cabfae8f300e73d.webp 1109w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2057-markdown","title":"Myth-busting Marijuana: How the Gateway Theory Holds No Clout","slug":"myth-busting-marijuana-how-the-gateway-theory-holds-no-clout","content":"If there is one thing that every american has heard about marijuana it is that marijuana is a gateway drug. But what does a gateway drug even mean? Many of medical marijuana’s most vocal opponents rally their campaign around the idea that cannabis is a stepping stone towards harder drugs, such as cocaine, heroine, and methamphetamine, but where is the evidence for this claim?\r\n\r\n### What is the Gateway Theory?\r\n\r\nThe gateway theory first got its start from the idea that the use of marijuana would lead people down a rabbit hole of harder drug use because cannabis primes the brain for taking harder drugs due to a phenomenon known as cross-sensitization.  Cross-sensitization describes a reduction of reactivity in the dopamine centers of the brain leaving users with a heightened response when exposed to more THC or other drugs. Cross-sensitization, however, is not unique to marijuana. It has been seen to occur with a alcohol and nicotine, which are also commonly taken before users progress to harder drugs. Despite all of the concern about marijuana providing a gateway to other drug use, the National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that majority of marijuana users do not go on to take other drugs. Factors that lead people down a path of hard drug consumption hinge greatly on social factors, such as economic status, where a person lives, or their interpersonal relationships. \r\n\r\n### Bending the Truth to Prove the Gateway Theory\r\n\r\nMany studies that attempt to prove the gateway theory  revolve around the fact that the correlation between marijuana and hard drug use is the same as causation. There is no clear connection, however, that shows that the future use of hard drugs is dependent on previous use of marijuana. A popular study by Dr. Jodi Gilman in 2014 stated that even a small amount of marijuana had the ability to change the the neural matrix of core reward systems in the brains of young marijuana users. Yet this study faced a myriad of backlash from other researchers because it lacked accurate controls. The study, however, is still widely quoted and used as evidence by anti-marijuana advocates. \r\n\r\nStudies that disprove the gateway theory are often discredited because they were conducted outside of the United States or by marijuana advocacy groups. This discrepancy in what studies are accepted to be true shows the deceptive qualities of many of the anti-marijuana campaigns. Yet the tide is beginning to turn as more states legalize marijuana, both medically and recreationally.\r\n\r\n### What about Alcohol and Nicotine?\r\n\r\nIt is impossible to claim that marijuana is a gateway drug if its effects are echoed across two other widely available substances, alcohol and nicotine. 54% of high school seniors in a Texas A&M and University of Florida study, which used data from Monitoring the Future, had tried alcohol, compared to only 14% who had tried marijuana. More students had also tried nicotine compared to cannabis. Across the students surveyed almost all of them tried alcohol before marijuana or nicotine. Alcohol is legal in almost every country in the world, and is widely used without much thought or concern.  \r\n\r\nIf the effects of marijuana are no more dramatic than those of alcohol, why does marijuana receive this detrimentally negative title as the singular gateway drug? Marijuana has been used as a scapegoat drug as politicians fear that legalization will cause a dramatic increase in the use of marijuana, yet a multi-year study by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), a non-profit independent research institute showed no correlation between legalization and increased marijuana use by teens. \r\n\r\nChris Christie, the governor of New Jersey and one of marijuana’s most staunch opposers, has openly stated that one of the biggest concerns with marijuana is its ability to be a gateway to other drugs. He claims that marijuana legalization will further the problem of drug addiction that the United States already faces. Though he has allowed a small amount of medical marijuana to be permitted in New Jersey, he still opposes it recreationally and medically across the country. Christie has spoken openly against “blood money” that states like Colorado have brought in from marijuana legalization. Christie, however, has expanded production of hard alcohol in New Jersey since 2013 for increased tax revenue for the state. This large discrepancy in policies between marijuana and alcohol show a clear education gap people even in high points of government that marijuana’s title as a gateway drug could easily be applied to many substances that are widely used and profited from. \r\n\r\n### Decreasing Substance Abuse with the Help of Marijuana\r\n\r\nMarijuana has shown to provide many medical benefits which could even serve to reduce the number of people exposed to highly addictive opioid drugs. Cannabis has shown to be extremely effective in helping patients find relief from short term and chronic pain problems. The misuse of opioids, which can stem from once legitimate prescriptions for pain and later turn into addiction, have been rising steadily in the United States. In 2012 alone, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids. Legal opioids also create a dangerous path towards heroine addiction, 4/5 heroine users started their habit by misusing prescription opioids. Roughly 62% of overdoses in the United States in 2014 could be attributed to opioids and heroine. Marijuana has not been seen to have the same addictive trends as opioids, while still being able to provide adequate pain relief.\r\n\r\nIt is time for anti-marijuana groups to see the truth in cannabis: that it is a life save, not a life taker. Medical marijuana can provide benefits to patients suffering from hundreds of ailments, without potentially detrimental side effects that are present in other medications. If the title of gateway drug should be given to any substance alcohol is the best candidate. Alcohol is more widely used than marijuana and produces the same cross-sensitization effects. It is time for marijuana to step out of its scapegoat position and into its rightful, legitimized spot in the medical field. \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.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/debbcollins/14251552756/in/photolist-nHmW7Q-6JcNPG-ehc35T-4ZE2Jc-rCB3g-pUwGwi-mmJK9X-4pH7w1-hm7fvj-4ZJhcw-qkHhAi-mzbja3-rCB38-rCB3a-6oLU2s-3JwVU-rCB37-fnttMC-3mh34s-5rEFDZ-rCB3c-jB7Ki2-bqSQx1-6ooFLQ-3mcCVt-oqjdEr-77NrYQ-6eyq4-6QRhVu-pBEuZ5-bGkPo6-4M8tk-4V4GM5-2qNyxc-bgjf36-dxjxRR-c6s22L-4LyN5B-4LyN3n-ymyhnb-cYRJnS-bAmvoB-61cpLv-bnWuQe-4EaD5e-g9ask-4o6iux-P2XUC-cYRC4d-oHwakg)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/ee604/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png","srcSet":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/69585/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 200w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/497c6/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 400w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/ee604/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 800w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/91e09/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 1170w","srcWebp":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/58556/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/61e93/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 200w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/1f5c5/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 400w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/58556/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 800w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/f9fd3/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 1170w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2112-markdown","title":"Brookings Institute: Recommendation Could Improve Access ","slug":"brookings-institute-recommendation-could-improve-access","content":"The Brookings Institute, a nonprofit research and policy think tank,\nrecently released a paper entitled \"[Ending the U.S. government's war on\nmedical marijuana\nresearch](http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/10/20-war-on-marijuana-research-hudak-wallack/Ending-the-US-governments-war-on-medical-marijuana-research.pdf?la=en).\"\nIn it, authors John Hudak and Grace Wallack call on officials to stop\nimpeding research into cannabis, especially in light of the increasing\nnumber of states that are legalizing medical marijuana. In a country\nwhere [76 percent of\ndoctors](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-76-percent-of-doctors-approve-of-medical-marijuana-use/)\napprove of medical marijuana, [24\nstates](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/01/06/marijuana-legal-states-medical-recreational/4343199/)\nhave legalized medical cannabis and [seven more\nstates](http://www.cheatsheet.com/business/5-states-and-one-city-ready-to-legalize-marijuana.html/?a=viewall)\nare on the precipice of approval, it's confusing that the federal\ngovernment would continue to throw up major roadblocks that interfere\nwith adequate and important research.\n\nFrom the Brookings paper, researchers Hudak and Wallack boldly state\nthat, \"It is time for the federal government to recognize the serious\npublic policy risks born from limited medical, public health and\npharmaceutical research into cannabis and its use.\" It's their fear,\nthey explain, that increasing usage - in both the medical and\nrecreational realm - may be putting patients and partakers at risk\nbecause cannabis hasn't undergone some of the stringent testing and\napproval phases that the FDA imposes on other medicinal substances. An\nautumn 2014 compilation of statistics suggests that there may be more\nthan [2.4 million medical marijuana\npatients](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005889)\nin the U.S., and this doesn't include the recreational users in Colorado\nor Washington, two states that have recently changed their cannabis\nlaws.\n\nIn one\n[critique](http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2015/10/new-brookings-report-calls-for-ending-the-us-governments-war-on-medical-marijuana-research.html)\npublished after the release of the Brookings paper, blogger, lawyer and\nOhio State law professor [Douglas A.\nBerman](http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/faculty/professor/douglas-a-berman/)\nadds his voice in calling for the government to stop impeding important\nresearch into the benefits of medical cannabis. As part of the law\nprofessors blog network, Berman routinely writes about [marijuana law,\npolicy and reform](http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/),\noften highlighting how people on the national stage react and respond to\nthe issue of medical cannabis, and what, in particular, is impacting his\nhome state of Ohio. He also [pointed to a Gallup\nsurvey](http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2015/10/latest-gallup-poll-shows-58-support-for-marijuana-legalization-and-23-support-for-those-under-50.html)\nthat showed 58 percent support for marijuana legalization across all age\ngroups, with the support ratio rising to two thirds for those under 50\nyears of age.\n\nIt's that same support by the common man, and by even more doctors, that\nhas the Brookings' paper authors so very concerned. While some groups\nmay point to the dangers of marijuana, typically referring to its\nrecreational use while ignoring its medicinal value, Hudak and Wallack\nsimply point out that we, as a whole, may not yet fully understand\ncannabis intimately enough to continue relying on it as a medicine\nbefore more depth is achieved through scientific study.\n\nAnd on that issue, there isn't much dissent. In fact, news articles\ncontinuously appear from respected news outlets like\n[Newsweek](http://www.newsweek.com/why-its-hard-do-marijuana-research-69753)\nand [USA\nToday](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/18/feds-limit-research-marijuana-medical-use/31547557/),\nbemoaning the dearth of research studies on marijuana due to federal\nbarriers. USA Today, in particular, points out that the federal\ngovernment spent 1.1 billion dollars from 2008 to 2014 to study\nmarijuana from the stance of how it could be abused or how addictive it\nmight be. Less than 300 million dollars - a mere quarter of the total\namount spent - actually went to research on how marijuana could actually\nbe beneficial to patients.\n\nLooping back to the high percentage of doctors who approve of medical\nmarijuana or would prescribe it themselves if already legal or pending\nlegalization in their states, it would be hard to find a bigger\nopponent-turned-proponent than CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Several years\nago, he penned an important piece on exactly [why he changed his\nmind](http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/)\nand why other doctors might consider doing the same. He points out that\nhe \"mistakenly believed the Drug Enforcement Administration listed\nmarijuana as a schedule 1 substance because of sound scientific proof,\"\nonly to find that \"they didn't have the science to support that claim.\"\nBeyond that, he began to look closely at medical cases where medical\nmarijuana made a huge difference in the lives of patients where\ntraditional FDA-approved substances failed. In particular, he looked to\nthe case of a little girl in Colorado named Charlotte who was able to\nbreak free from a hugely destructive cycle of seizures by taking a\nspecific blend of medical cannabis.\n\nIn short, for Dr. Gupta, seeing was believing. Along the way, Gupta also\ntore down old beliefs about marijuana's addictive or destructive\nproperties, many of which were based on personal beliefs in the absence\nof sensible research. He also found \"hundreds of journal articles,\nmostly documenting the benefits\" dating \"between the years 1840 and\n1930.\"\n\nBetween Gupta's well-respected medical opinion, the paper penned by\nBrookings' writers Hudak and Wallack, high levels of support in the\nmedical community and rising levels of support amongst the general\npopulation, it would seem that the writing is (finally) on the wall.\nPerhaps more acceptance in general will lead to more approval and less\nrestriction at the governmental level. That approval would open the\nfloodgates for meaningful research and may benefit millions of patients.\n\nIn fact, millions of patients already achieve health benefits through\nthe use of cannabis in states that already allow its prescription and\nuse. Tens of millions of patients suffering from all types of\n[ailments](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/health-conditions), such as\n[migraine\nheadaches](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5abea5dcf24d1300077ccbac/how-does-cannabis-work-to-relieve-migraines),\n[multiple\nsclerosis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5936cf68a81c05002adae2f7/new-studies-indicate-cannabis-helps-with-multiple-sclerosis),\n[chronic\npain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562150d03232620006450000/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain),\n[glaucoma](https://hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c27a1d65613800063c0000/medical-marijuana-preserves-vision-and-reduces-glaucoma-pain),\n[diabetes](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5ae8fa71049b4f000a64e944/how-marijuana-may-help-manage-diabetes-onset-and-severity),\n[depression](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/depression)\nand\n[AIDS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55aec80f3837390006020000/how-medical-marijuana-alleviates-symptoms-of-hivaids)\nmay also benefit from loosened restrictions on medical marijuana.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdgovpics/6322449697/in/photolist-aCGd2p-aCG85p-aCJUZW-aCJTBJ-aCGbEX-aCJRb5-aCG8kr-aCGiF2-aCJNU9-aCGgHX-aCGaji-aCJVUY-aCGh6c-aCG9dB-aCJVtm-aCJYM5-aCJZbb-aCJZCs-aCJWiW-aCGbka-aCJXTm-aCGaPX-aCGcDx-aCJXjy-aCG7NB-aCG8EM-aCJWS7-qAEEc9-bLU7jF-bxZqho-pWrLRt-qTe2k6-bxZpYA-bxZqg7-qALJi2-bxZqmo-bLU71M-bxZqd3-bxZq27-bLU75k-bxZqo9-bxZqeY-bxZqbU-bxZqjW-bxZpXh-bxZq7U-qQW32J-pWrLEX-9yo8x9-bxZq9j)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/ee604/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png","srcSet":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/69585/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 200w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/497c6/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 400w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/ee604/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 800w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/2f01b/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 1001w","srcWebp":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/58556/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/61e93/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 200w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/1f5c5/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 400w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/58556/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 800w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/177b8/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 1001w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":108,"numPages":13,"currentPage":10,"id":5567,"name":"News & Events","slug":"news-and-events","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}