{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/news-and-events/11","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2127-markdown","title":"The Green Rush: Legal Cannabis May Be Worth More Than Just Billions ","slug":"the-green-rush-legal-cannabis-may-be-worth-more-than-just-billions","content":"Over the last few years, cannabis has taken center stage in America as the market for legal cannabis sales continues to grow. A recent report demonstrates exactly how much this budding new industry is worth. The State of Legal Marijuana Markets, by [Arcview Market Research](http://www.arcviewmarketresearch.com/), combines new market statistics and paints a comprehensive picture of the cannabis industry in the US, as well as where we can expect it to be in the coming years. \r\n\r\nBelow we will examine the major findings of the Arcview report and the reasons behind the immense growth within the legal cannabis marketplace. More importantly, we will look at how the development of the cannabis industry will affect employment. \r\n\r\nIf you’re interested in becoming part of America’s fastest growing industry, make sure you attend [Join The Green Rush](http://jointhegreenrush.org/), California’s largest cannabis jobs fair, at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Saturday, April 30th. The fair will unite thousands of passionate individuals like yourself with leading cannabis companies, and feature a variety of guest speakers, workshops, and more. For more information on the job fair and the cannabis industry, visit the [JTGR website today](http://jointhegreenrush.org/). \r\n\r\n## Cannabis in The US: A Quick Look at The Industry\r\n\r\nIn its latest report, Arcview Market Research led an in-depth investigation into America’s cannabis industry. And the numbers are impressive.  \r\n\r\nArcview found that the market for legal cannabis sales in the US grew over 54% since 2014, and expects the cannabis industry to be worth $7.1 billion by the end of this year. But it doesn’t stop there. \r\n\r\nThe market is expected to experience similar growth over the coming years. Based on industry trends, as well the fact that more and more states are coming to challenge outdated policies that prohibit cannabis use, Arcview suggests that the cannabis industry will continue to grow at a steady rate of almost 30% per annum. By 2020, the industry is expected to be worth over $22 billion. \r\n\r\nArcview identified three main forces that are driving the exponential growth of legal cannabis markets in the US. Firstly, it points to the explosive growth of adult use sales over the last years, made possible by new legislation that legalized recreational cannabis use in states like Colorado and Washington. \r\n\r\nBetween 2014 and 2015, the number of recreational sales of cannabis and cannabis products grew over 230%, and they’re not expected to slow down. This year will see seven states vote to legalize cannabis for recreational use and develop complex regulatory systems that treat the substance much the same as alcohol or tobacco.\r\n\r\nThis will pave the way for the adult use market to further develop and mature, and Arcview expects recreational cannabis sales to dominate over 50% of the entire legal cannabis market by 2020. \r\n\r\nArcview also pointed to the growing change in social perceptions of cannabis and its role in our society as another driving force behind the immense growth of the industry. \r\n\r\nThe report showed that in 2005 only 36% of Americans supported the idea of completely legalizing cannabis and cannabis use. Now, over 57% of Americans are in favor of the complete legalization of cannabis, and over 80% believe it should at least be legalized for medicinal purposes. \r\n\r\nThese changes to the social perceptions of cannabis and its role in our society both as a medicine AND as a recreational substance are driving a political shift across the nation, encouraging people to challenge outdated policies of prohibition. Instead, they are pushing their state and local governments to reflect their changing personal views and opinions and legalize cannabis to some degree. \r\n\r\nThis has lead 23 states to legalize medical cannabis, and four states (and the District of Columbia) to allow recreational adult use. In turn, over 85% of Americans currently find themselves living in a state where cannabis is legal to some extent. \r\n\r\nThe Arcview report states that this trend will continue to grow, labelling 2016 as “the tipping point in which a majority of US states transition from cannabis prohibition to some form of regulated legal markets.”\r\n\r\nFinally, Arcview argues that Americans are beginning to see legalization as a genuine and effective alternative to prohibition, and that this is in turn giving the cannabis industry enormous potential for further growth. \r\n\r\nThe report argues that the success of legal cannabis markets in states like Colorado and Washington have shown the American public that legalizing cannabis can be beneficial, and that many of the fears of prohibitionists were unjustified. \r\n\r\n“The success of these markets [Colorado and Washington] has provided the first clear evidence that legalization is a viable alternative to prohibition, a fact based counterpoint to the argument that it is in society’s best interests to sustain the prohibition of cannabis,” the report states. \r\n\r\n“Crime is down, falling prices have made the legal market increasingly competitive against the black market, regulatory compliance is high as businesses dare not risk losing their valuable\r\nlicenses, and product quality and diversity has increased.”\r\n\r\n## Be Part of America’s Fastest Growing Industry\r\n\r\nThe Arcview report paints a glowing picture of the cannabis industry in the US. One aspect the report did not touch on, however, is how the growth of this new industry will affect the job market. \r\n\r\nBut it doesn’t take a lot of digging to realize that the development of the legal cannabis trade will create thousands of jobs in a variety of sectors. As new legislation paths the way for a sophisticated and well-regulated industry, cannabis companies will be looking for talented individuals to help their businesses develop. \r\n\r\nThe cannabis industry is still very much in it’s infancy; the substance was only legalized in Colorado and Washington in 2012, and while medical cannabis has been legal in California for almost two decades, the major legislation governing the regulation of legal cannabis was only passed in October 2015.\r\n\r\nHowever, we are already beginning to see the first signs of the new job market that the legal cannabis industry will help to nurture. \r\n\r\nWeedhire, an online job board for cannabis professionals, [reported](http://www.forbes.com/sites/emmajohnson/2015/01/16/need-a-job-the-weed-industry-is-hiring/# 6441dfc331f3) seeing an average of 70.25% growth in employment opportunities across four main sectors of the cannabis industry in January 2015. More recently, the Marijuana Business Daily [reported](https://mjbizdaily.com/chart-week-snapshot-cannabis-employment-growth-colorado/) that the number of marijuana-related occupational licenses issued in Colorado grew 68% between 2014 and 2015, showing that more and more people are seeking qualifications to help them land a career with cannabis. \r\n\r\nAnd you don’t have to rely on hard statistics to see the potential for yourself; a [quick search for ‘cannabis jobs’](http://www.indeed.com/q-Cannabis-jobs.html) on Indeed.com generates over 440 active job listings in a matter of seconds, calling for professionals to fill a variety of positions in a variety of sectors, including sales, marketing, retail, and even finance. \r\n\r\nAs the legal cannabis industry evolves to become more regulated and sophisticated, more and more cannabis companies will be looking for professionals to help them meet a growing demand for their products and/or services. So that, working with cannabis won’t just involve standing behind the counter at a local dispensary. \r\n\r\nThe employment opportunities are vast, with cannabis businesses looking for everything from sales representatives, research assistants, and account managers, to graphics designers, photographers, and even copywriters. And it won’t stop there. \r\n\r\nIn its report, Arcview suggests that 2016 will see the cannabis industry heavily integrate technology to better target young consumers. “With the millennial generation driving a large portion of cannabis market growth, technology is poised to have a major impact in overall industry evolution in 2016,” the report states.\r\n\r\nThis means that cannabis businesses will be looking into new ways of automating production, engaging with consumers, marketing their products and services, and much more. In doing so, these businesses will generate a high demand for talented, passionate teams to help them drive their operations. \r\n\r\nAnd you could be part of all the action. To kickstart your career in the cannabis industry, make sure you head to [Join The Green Rush](http://jointhegreenrush.org/), California’s largest cannabis jobs fair, at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Saturday, April 30th. \r\n\r\nDozens of cannabis companies from various sectors will be exhibiting their products and services, while simultaneously keeping an eye out for talented professionals to join their team. Best of all, you can attend the event for free. Follow this link to [get your tickets today](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-the-greenrush-cannabis-job-fair-tickets-22676416773), and use the promo code **BLOG** to secure your free entry. For more information on cannabis jobs and the cannabis industry, visit the [JTGR website](http://jointhegreenrush.org/) today. \r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":2,"src":"/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/7dac8/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.png","srcSet":"/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/69585/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.png 200w,\n/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/497c6/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.png 400w,\n/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/7dac8/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.png 780w","srcWebp":"/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/a6aca/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/61e93/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.webp 200w,\n/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/1f5c5/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.webp 400w,\n/static/68ebfe48a8ff21e7eb2eae07e081392f/a6aca/02024eef533c932f85d215c926999921.webp 780w","sizes":"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px"}}}}},{"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_2198-markdown","title":"Telehealth Market Expected to Soar","slug":"telehealth-market-expected-to-soar","content":"For people who use telemedicine, the market's rapid growth won't come as\r\na surprise. Thanks to the unparalleled access and convenience offered by\r\nTelehealth, this care modality is booming among aging populations,\r\npeople struggling with exorbitant health care costs, and those who want\r\nto receive health care from the comfort and security of their homes.\r\nRead on to learn more about the upward mobility of the Telehealth\r\nmarket.\r\n\r\n**The Boom of the Telehealth Market**\r\n\r\nBy 2020, Telehealth's global market is projected to be worth [upwards of\r\n$34\r\nbillion](http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telemedicine-poised-grow-big-time).\r\nWhile Telehealth is available on a global level, North America is\r\ncurrently the single largest consumer, representing about 40 percent of\r\nthe total market. The reason Telehealth is becoming so popular in this\r\ncountry is twofold: one is that the population in North America is aging\r\nrapidly and is suffering from more chronic diseases and health\r\nconditions than ever before. The strain the aging population has put on\r\nhospitals has been huge and, as such, many hospitals are trying to\r\nreduce the frequency and length of hospital stays. This effort has\r\nresulted in a renewed focus on in-home health care formats, including\r\nTelehealth. When patients can be monitored and receive health care from\r\ntheir homes, the need for hospital accommodations drops sharply, and\r\npeople receive more personalized and timely care. The other is the\r\noutright convenience factor in that there is no scheduling issues with a\r\ndoctors office, time the waiting room, etc\r\n\r\n**More States Passing Telehealth Laws**\r\n\r\nAs of now, 49 states have Telehealth laws, and eight of those states are\r\ncurrently entertaining proposed Telehealth parity laws. The large number\r\nof states adopting Telehealth laws goes to show how prevalent the\r\npractice is becoming. Thanks to the remote nature of telemedicine,\r\nstates that pass laws allowing the practice can provide their residents\r\nwith things like teleconsultations and medication support on a remote\r\nbasis, which makes health care more accessible to a broader base of\r\npatients.\r\n\r\n**Telehealth and Cannabis**\r\n\r\nWhile Telehealth is used for many things, cannabis is barely one of\r\nthem. While California and Nevada do currently allow Telehealth cannabis\r\nevaluations, all other states require an in-person evaluation.\r\nUnfortunately, this does a dire disservice to patient access to cannabis\r\ntreatments. When Telehealth evaluations are restricted for cannabis,\r\npatients are left with the choice of visiting an in-person clinic (which\r\nmay be located in a seedy area of town or may be difficult for the\r\npatient to reach due to mobility or transportation issues) or simply\r\ngoing without much-needed cannabis care. If the Telehealth laws were\r\nexpanded, however, cannabis treatment would be available to a much\r\nlarger pool of patients, including the elderly, those limited by\r\ngeographical location, and those too embarrassed to walk into a physical\r\ncannabis clinic. It's estimated that [7 million\r\npeople](http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/patients-using-telehealth-services-hit-7-million-2018/2014-01-17)\r\nwill be using Telehealth services by 2018 and, if cannabis treatment\r\nwere included in Telehealth care, that number would only grow.\r\n\r\nWhile the current state of Telehealth and cannabis is limited to only a\r\nfew states, many experts expect that Telehealth for cannabis will\r\neventually morph into widespread Telehealth, which encompasses\r\neverything from Telehealth evaluations, recommendations and follow-up.\r\n\r\nAs it stands now, there are dozens of applications for Telehealth care.\r\nIn addition to providing easy access to capable health care providers,\r\nTelehealth care also removes many of the barriers that previously stood\r\nbetween patients and care, including distance, cost, embarrassment and\r\ndanger that may be associated with visiting cannabis clinics in a\r\nphysical location. Because of these things, Telehealth is exploding\r\n(RNCOS Business Consultancy is calling for Telehealth to experience an\r\n[18.5% growth by\r\n2018](http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnrampton/2016/01/04/how-to-start-your-own-content-marketing-business-in-2016/2/# 25d4cbe56744)\r\n- taking it to a worldwide value of \\$1.9 billion in the next two\r\nyears). Thanks to the fact that Telehealth medicine makes care easier to\r\naccess for aging or disadvantaged populations, it stands to reason that\r\nthe industry will only continue to grow in the coming years and that\r\nmore and more patients will soon have access to quality Telehealth\r\nmedicine, no matter where they are.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.6,"src":"/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/ee604/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.png","srcSet":"/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/69585/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.png 200w,\n/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/497c6/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.png 400w,\n/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/ee604/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.png 800w,\n/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/ec077/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.png 1073w","srcWebp":"/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/58556/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/61e93/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.webp 200w,\n/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/1f5c5/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.webp 400w,\n/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/58556/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.webp 800w,\n/static/bd0e5dac0475498fcdb94e10eae50959/8c78e/2f97ad0c878c1ad049cdda0d3bd49d36.webp 1073w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2070-markdown","title":"Marijuana's Dirty Secret: Energy Consumption","slug":"marijuanas-dirty-secret-energy-consumption","content":"As marijuana legalization laws sweep across the country, most consumers\r\nare jumping for joy -- widespread marijuana will cut back on potentially\r\ndangerous prescription drugs and help manage complex symptoms in people\r\nwith a multitude of conditions. While these factors are indeed true,\r\nmarijuana also has a dirty little secret most consumers don't realize:\r\nit's a huge energy hog.\r\n\r\n**Production and Power Supply: How the Two Are Connected**\r\n\r\nAs legalization laws pop up around the country, demand for quality\r\nmarijuana products has skyrocketed. All of this demand has given rise to\r\nhundreds of grow operations striving to produce quality products for\r\nconsumers; unfortunately, commercial marijuana production in cities like\r\nDenver has proven to be a huge strain on local power supplies.\r\n\r\nHere's why: In Denver alone, there are approximately 354 commercial\r\ncannabis grow operations. In 2014, these grow operations consumed a\r\nwhopping [200 million kilowatts of\r\nelectricity](http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/07/weed-growers-are-a-drag-on-denvers-energy-supply/397805/).\r\nWhile this number still represents less than 2 percent of Denver's\r\noverall power supply, electricity usage in the city has been growing at\r\nan annual rate of 1.2 percent, largely due to the [ballooning number of\r\ngrow\r\noperations](http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/07/weed-growers-are-a-drag-on-denvers-energy-supply/397805/).\r\n\r\nThe reason marijuana cultivation is so energy-intensive comes down to\r\nbasic growing practices. Thanks to excessive lights, fans, and cooling\r\nand hydroponic systems required to cultivate cannabis indoors, cannabis\r\ngrow operations consume eight times as much electricity per square foot\r\nas a typical office building. While it may seem like the obvious\r\nsolution is to place cannabis grow operations outdoors, this idea would\r\nbe virtually impossible to do given the current demand for cannabis\r\nproducts across the country.\r\n\r\nWhile an indoor grow operation is considerably more energy-intensive\r\n(indoor grow lamps are an estimated 500x more powerful than reading\r\nlights), the control allowed by an indoor grow operation is necessary to\r\ncontinue producing cannabis on a commercial level.\r\n\r\n**Going Green with Cannabis**\r\n\r\nWhile it's clear cannabis is a significant burden on energy grids around\r\nthe country (cannabis production currently accounts for [3 percent of\r\nCalifornia's total\r\nenergy](http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/07/weed-growers-are-a-drag-on-denvers-energy-supply/397805/)\r\nconsumption), few cities or states have plans in place to deal with the\r\nincreasing demand for cannabis and the strain on the power supply.\r\nFortunately, there are many ways for environmentally minded consumers to\r\nbe part of the solution rather than the problem. Here are a few tips to\r\nsupport cannabis operations that have less impact on the environment:\r\n\r\n-   **Buy from small operations.** Whenever possible, purchase cannabis\r\n    from small, local grow operations. While these operations likely\r\n    still use lights and heating and cooling systems, their impact on\r\n    the energy grid is likely to be far less than that of a major\r\n    corporate operation.\r\n-   **Opt for organic**. While they may be difficult to find, outdoor,\r\n    organic grow operations do still exist. These operations use\r\n    significantly fewer resources than large indoor operations and don't\r\n    spray their plants with toxic pesticides, which is a bonus\r\n    for consumers.\r\n-   **Look for eco-minded cultivators**. Some of the large grow\r\n    operations do more to protect the environment. Look for companies\r\n    that use sustainable energy systems (like solar, wind or hydro\r\n    heating, cooling or energy production) in their\r\n    production practices.\r\n\r\nWhile cannabis is certainly a powerful crop for dozens of purposes, the\r\nfact remains that large grow operations make a significant dent in the\r\nenergy grid of the cities in which they reside. Fortunately, consumers\r\ncan do their part to mitigate this impact by being aware of cannabis's\r\nenergy needs and seeking to support smaller, less harmful operations.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/universityblogspot/8383177905/in/photolist-dLMYJ6-nXCJn9-oVx1Uw-aEZ2rC-bxt93q-6BXw2G-aEZ2Do-mtyw5-68fiK3-4YRKNi-ahwvZu-pF6Hu1-nUQPF1-9Ljzuy-8GtNfE-rBsed-bqnR5J-eyKsaD-5fp63W-cZ5oPQ-2zwwU-99Vyvs-fn16yZ-9KjjZL-rBss4-7FoRbX-jAPEp9-99SqoZ-dAKCto-2gQMFw-7Hpw9n-5fjhJM-7FoX5z-oAF3Pr-d6u4HJ-6RGMBa-otWP8p-99VyCQ-5mdUhS-7FsKsG-7FoQCX-oTKfBZ-rBshd-mUaw7i-5hG64x-8q37K2-oK7JbJ-oRprSb-9a93Sm-mtzso)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/ee604/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.png","srcSet":"/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/69585/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.png 200w,\n/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/497c6/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.png 400w,\n/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/ee604/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.png 800w,\n/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/b491d/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.png 1161w","srcWebp":"/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/58556/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/61e93/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.webp 200w,\n/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/1f5c5/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.webp 400w,\n/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/58556/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.webp 800w,\n/static/7321bc14c3d3100c72185cb55c811871/68746/b55851c7c3767e850bb979133119ef78.webp 1161w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2192-markdown","title":"Pesticides in Marijuana: Should You be Worried?","slug":"pesticides-in-marijuana-should-you-be-worried","content":"If you've been following cannabis news, you likely know about Colorado's\r\nrecent cannabis recalls. Within the last month, Colorado's cannabis\r\nregulators have issued 13 marijuana recalls due to the use of unapproved\r\npesticides in marijuana grow operations. These recalls indicate a scary\r\nproblem in the cannabis industry, and it's one that all consumers should\r\nbe aware of\r\n\r\n**Pesticides and Cannabis**\r\n\r\nOne of the most high-profile recalls in recent history is the\r\n[recall](http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/03/21/la-contes-clone-bar-marijuana-recall-pesticides/50520/)\r\nthat hit La Conte's Clone Bar in Colorado, which sells marijuana grown\r\nby Colorado's Best Inc. During a recent recall, health officials\r\ndetected the presence of\r\n[imidacloprid](http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/imidagen.html) in 23\r\nbatches of the marijuana sold at La Conte's Clone Bar in Colorado.\r\nImidacloprid is a popular, nicotine-like insecticide that is often used\r\non agricultural crops but has not been approved for use in cannabis\r\ncultivation.\r\n\r\nWhile this specific recall relates to a single dispensary, it's\r\nindicative of a much larger problem. Washington state recently [fined\r\ntwo marijuana\r\ngrowers](http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2016/02/11/23553397/washington-state-fines-two-marijuana-growers-for-using-prohibited-pesticides)\r\nfor pesticide use and Colorado has seen [dozens of\r\nrecalls](http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28838784/denver-issues-two-more-recalls-pot-containing-unapproved)\r\nbefore this one. At the end of the day, the problem boils down to how,\r\nand what kind of pesticides are used in cannabis production.\r\n\r\nAs is true with any agricultural crop, growing marijuana is difficult.\r\nCannabis plants are prone to predation by insects and damage by disease\r\nand fungus. While these issues are easily managed in small grow\r\noperations, larger operations need to find a way to protect their plants\r\nand meet production demands. Because of this, they often [turn to\r\npesticides](http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/).\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, gaps between federal and state laws have made it\r\nvirtually impossible for cannabis farmers to find pesticides that are\r\napproved for use on their plants. In turn, this means that the\r\npesticides they're applying to keep their plants safe are illegal and,\r\noften, unregulated. Despite the fact that medical marijuana is now\r\n[legal in 23\r\nstates](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881)\r\nand the District of Columbia, and recreational marijuana is legal in\r\nfour, cannabis is still [classified as a Schedule\r\nI](http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml) substance, which places it in\r\nthe same group as drugs like Heroin, LSD and Quaaludes.\r\n\r\nWhile the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for\r\ntesting insecticides and pesticides and developing safety guidelines for\r\ntheir use on crops across the country, federal law explicitly bans the\r\napproval of pesticides for Schedule I substances, meaning that there are\r\ncurrently no legal pesticide options for marijuana farmers.\r\n\r\nThis agricultural loophole has created an enormous problem, wherein\r\notherwise responsible marijuana farmers are left to take matters into\r\ntheir hands to protect their crops and consumers are left to purchase\r\nmarijuana that may be tainted with dangerous pesticides.\r\n\r\n**The Difference Between Food and Marijuana Testing**\r\n\r\nInsecticides and pesticides are both used commonly in commercial food\r\nproduction. To keep food safe for consumption, however, the EPA sets\r\nstrict \"[tolerances](https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-tolerances),\" which\r\ndefine how much pesticide residue can remain in the meat of or on the\r\nskin of food. This ensures that pesticide residues stay at harmless\r\nlevels and keeps the food supply safe for human consumption.\r\nUnfortunately, commercially-produced cannabis doesn't go through the\r\nsame testing procedures.\r\n\r\nBecause the government has yet to step in and implement rigid testing\r\npractices for commercial cannabis, states are essentially on their own\r\nwhen it comes to pesticide use in marijuana crops. Some states, like New\r\nHampshire, have passed regulations that require only the [least harmful\r\npesticides](http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28917964/colorado-yields-marijuana-industry-pressure-pesticides)\r\n(Such as oils derived from Peppermint and\r\n[Neem](http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html) - a naturally\r\noccurring pesticide derived from the Neem tree) to be used on cannabis\r\nplants. Other states, however, have yet to pass pesticide regulation and\r\nare still lacking defined tolerances from the EPA, which creates a\r\ndangerous gap in standardized testing practices.\r\n\r\nAs it stands now, states don't receive any federal guidance when\r\ndetermining how they will [test commercial\r\nmarijuana](http://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/watchdog/documents/PesticideUseCannabisProduction.pdf).\r\nRight now, twelve states require random testing to look for pesticide\r\nresidues while states like New Mexico and Vermont only require cannabis\r\nto be tested after a complaint about pesticide contamination has been\r\nlodged. Delaware requires that dispensaries develop their own protocol\r\nfor testing cannabis but doesn't specify that cannabis samples must be\r\ntested for pesticide residue. Colorado, on the other hand, doesn't\r\nrequire any standardized testing and merely requires un-tested cannabis\r\nto label itself as such. In California, a law passed on the first of the\r\nyear that [requires that commercial marijuana be\r\ntested](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB266)\r\nfor pesticides, mold, and other contaminants. In all states, growers and\r\ndispensaries are required to pay for any testing conducted, which is\r\ncost-prohibitive for many. Because of these varied and often spotty\r\napproaches, consumers are best served by learning to protect themselves\r\nfrom pesticide-tainted cannabis.\r\n\r\n**Protecting Yourself From Pesticides in Cannabis**\r\n\r\nUntil standardized and monitored testing practices are implemented\r\nacross the country, consumers can protect themselves from purchasing\r\ncannabis tainted with pesticides by following these tips:\r\n\r\n-   **Always purchase from reputable sellers.** Quality cannabis\r\n    operations care about the safety of their product and will either\r\n    use non-toxic pesticides (like Peppermint oil) or will invest in\r\n    testing to ensure that their products are safe for\r\n    human consumption. Purchasing from these sellers is the best way to\r\n    ensure that you're purchasing pure products.\r\n-   **Ask about testing practices.** If you're in doubt about whether a\r\n    marijuana product has been tested for pesticide residues, don't be\r\n    afraid to ask. The seller should be able to provide you with\r\n    information about the testing that was done and who conducted it.\r\n-   **Know your state's laws.** Right now, states are taking many\r\n    approaches to marijuana testing. By knowing what testing\r\n    requirements looks like in your state, you can make educated\r\n    decisions about where and how to purchase marijuana.\r\n\r\nAs it stands now, cannabis testing and pesticide use are both largely\r\nunregulated. This places consumers at risk of buying tainted and\r\npossibly dangerous products. Until standardized testing and pesticide\r\nguidelines are implemented, the best way to mitigate those risks is to\r\neducate yourself about pesticide use and marijuana testing regulations.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/osumg/6780475930/in/photolist-bkaHgq-hKwMX1-boxv7T-jZrwXE-jZrAYW-dpuBXG-bsD2eD-oVnd6P-8aXcTA-8aXcP5-3v3yx-6dkuDb-Nt5QP-ce7RZw-3HRSHZ-nrqASz-e6EQGQ-6QKkBc-nKkc9E-23666p-52LCHk-NYaqJ-2AhCW9-8wQE8x-ds1MuW-ds1MwS-ds1MvU-9BJi2j-93nrci-pPtEg6-kkxxv-54tXqr-7k9FWP-qqCqiF-9BCAY4-54tWJB-hFp3Ud-wGBkw6-zstRyt-8DXJF9-rrtVjX-dj4Srj-p7wBdB-MxCAE-exLKGV-zsm7Sw-jZvf4G-iTxGZr-nDapnG-5wCTgg)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.550387596899225,"src":"/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/ee604/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.png","srcSet":"/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/69585/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.png 200w,\n/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/497c6/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.png 400w,\n/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/ee604/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.png 800w,\n/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/7d603/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.png 992w","srcWebp":"/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/58556/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/61e93/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.webp 200w,\n/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/1f5c5/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.webp 400w,\n/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/58556/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.webp 800w,\n/static/652f7a02ed399d2a4b282ae428c45865/34d2b/e5ac16c975174f3a3b3a6235d1b185b1.webp 992w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2212-markdown","title":"Debbie Wasserman Schultz: on the Wrong Side of Marijuana Issues","slug":"debbie-wasserman-schultz-on-the-wrong-side-of-marijuana-issues","content":"I've recently noticed that Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the\nDemocratic National Committee and a Florida representative, stands in\nopposition to medical-marijuana adoption in Florida, but 58 percent of\nthe state voted in support of a 2014 medical-marijuana bill. Florida\nrequires a 60-percent majority to pass the bill, so widespread medical\nmarijuana is not legal yet in this state. Even though I know medical\nmarijuana can treat a wide range of conditions, Florida only permits\nlimited use for cancer patients and those with epilepsy and Lou Gehrig's\ndisease. These medical marijuana users are restricted to a single strain\ncalled Charlotte's Web, which is administered as a low-THC cannabis oil.\nThe issue goes up for a vote again in November 2016, [according to the\nObserver](https://observer.com/2016/03/more-reason-to-hate-debbie-wasserman-schultz-her-ridiculous-war-on-medical-marijuana/),\nbut Schultz is taking measures to prevent the bill from passing again.\n\n**Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Position on Marijuana**\n\nSchultz holds a position that marijuana dispensaries over-prescribe and\nover-treat patients. She used the term \"pill mills\" to describe\ndispensaries during her opposition to the 2014 Florida bill. She has a\nstrong belief that legalizing \"mind-altering\" substances such as\nmarijuana lead to further drug use. [Sun Times\nreports](https://extract.suntimes.com/news/10/153/11412/debbie-wasserman-schultz-opposes-marijuana-legalization-links-to-hard-drugs)\nSchultz is worried about a \"huge heroin epidemic\" in Florida, but I've\nfound no evidence supporting this claim. She says she felt bothered by\nthe drug culture she encountered where she grew up in Long Island.\nHowever, I discovered that Schultz grew up in an affluent neighborhood\nin the region, so the basis of her life experience is uncertain.\n\nStill, she avoided questions asking why she was not opposed to\nopiate-painkiller prescriptions on the same grounds. I see the gateway\ntheory frequently used by opponents of medical marijuana, but science\nhas debunked this position since 1999. A [Congress\nreport](https://www.nap.edu/read/6376/chapter/2# 2) found no link between\nmarijuana use and harder drug use. However, there is a strong link\nbetween opiate-painkiller prescriptions and moving into harder drugs.\nThese painkillers can lead to addiction, many negative medical side\neffects and a tendency to try drugs such as heroin.\n\nSchultz receives significant campaign contributions from alcohol\ncompanies, [according to High\nTimes](https://www.hightimes.com/read/dnc-chair-accepts-huge-donations-alcohol-pacs-claims-pot-gateway-drug),\nsuch as Bacardi USA and Southern Wine and Spirits. Alcohol and tobacco\ncompanies are strongly opposed to marijuana legalization and\ndecriminalization, based on perceived revenue loss. These contributors\nmay influence Schultz's position on medical marijuana. She stands in\nopposition to many other Democrats on this matter, which has led to some\nconfusion about her motives.\n\n**The Benefits of Medical Marijuana**\n\nMedical-marijuana access can bring many benefits to Florida residents if\nthe 2016 bill gains approval.\n[HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/medical-marijuana-patient-survey) conducted\na survey to find out how medical-marijuana patients benefited from\nlegalization. The typical conditions treated with marijuana include\n[anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/anxiety),\n[stress](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a99f8b3f24d1300077ccb74/how-to-manage-stress-with-cannabis),\n[insomnia](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/insomnia)\nand [chronic\npain](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/chronic-pain), but\nmany conditions respond well to this treatment method. In fact, [84\npercent of\npatients](https://www.hellomd.com/medical-marijuana-patient-survey) reported\nimprovements in their symptoms and had limited negative side effects.\nPatients mentioned beneficial side effects, such as better moods and\nsleep, compared to using other treatment options.\n\nOther medications used to treat these conditions often come with many\ndetrimental side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, mood swings and\nconstipation. Non-medical marijuana patients sometimes face a situation\nwhere they're taking a primary medication to treat a problem; then they\ntake supplementary medication to manage the many side effects. Medical\nmarijuana's lack of negative side effects helps avoid this situation and\nhelps patients achieve positive medical outcomes.\n\nOne of the biggest benefits of treating chronic pain and other pain\nconditions with medical marijuana is the decrease of pain-killer related\ndeaths. [Opiate painkiller overdoses kill 44 people\ndaily](https://www.hellomd.com/medical-marijuana-patient-survey), but\ncannabis has not caused any overdose-related deaths.\n\n**Ways Florida Voters Can Support Medical Marijuana**\n\nThe next medical-marijuana bill goes on the Florida ballot in November\n2016 as Amendment 2. I recommend Florida voters take several steps to\ngrow support for the medical-marijuana amendment so that it passes into\nlaw. Opponents of the amendment such as Schultz put considerable effort\ninto preventing medical-marijuana adoption, but here are some ways that\nvoters can get more attention and support:\n\nShowing up to vote for Amendment 2 is one of the most important ways to\nsupport medical marijuana in Florida. Voter turnout may be higher than\naverage due to the Senate race, so every vote counts. Another way\nFlorida voters can help is by contributing to medical-marijuana\ncampaigns helping to build awareness on the benefits and advantages of\nlegalization. [United For Care](https://www.unitedforcare.org/) is one\nsuch organization building support for Amendment two in Florida.\n\nFlorida voters with the time to volunteer can help these organizations\nwith more hands-on methods like collecting petitions, getting on the\nphone to build support and encourage voting, staffing medical-marijuana\nawareness events, doing door-to-door canvassing or assisting in\nadministrative work. Voters can also write to their representatives to\nfind out their medical-marijuana positions and learn whether they're for\nor against the measure.\n\nMedical marijuana treats many conditions that currently require\nmedication with opiates or prescriptions with many negative side\neffects. More states are legalizing marijuana and taking advantage of\nthe benefits it brings to patients. Florida has another chance to pass a\nmedical-marijuana amendment in 2016, but it requires voter effort to\novercome opposition by Schultz and others standing against the bill.\nShe's on the wrong side of the issue, but I know the popular vote can\nchange the medical-marijuana landscape in this state.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortunelivemedia/10316396713/in/photolist-gHCejR-gHBDmH-bu5qpy-bvoeyE-bJi2De-bJi2iH-eoXAZg-nby8HE-cPKpXd-gHBH8i-aZhByz-omTT1J-o5BcwC-gHB4KV-gY21Jo-ndCWPS-gHBsuw-gHB8eN-gHBaYq-dhKA39-dhJRme-gHB6YH-5gNzX1-gHBaWH-gHBo1x-gHB6EC-gWjPY9-ok53gb-ooRQ9T-gVgLWD-gHBnTE-gHB4W5-gHAGdW-gHCg6X-gHBxwX-on5kRq-o5Cj3t-gHBkgo-o5Bcbs-dhJY8A-gHCabR-6v7cvp-o5BaWy-gHAX9t-on5mHW-on6WqM-gHBFdj-o5BmWs-o5BaFd-bvofAd)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAOCAIAAACgpqunAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAADYUlEQVQozwFWA6n8AEEn2FIu60Im1EIm4XNS2YZmbVk8M1pBOywjKAYBDg0HHgsFFwkEDQkFDAoFCQoFCgwHDA4IDxEKFBMLFwBmPPZrPfVZL+5jO+KVbHRzRiukalmYalNpU1UQBzcJAxkIBQwIBREIBQ0IBQwJBQ0LBg8MCBAOChEOChEAaz/3eEf4c0D/kV/DaEErjVdTwIRxil9ObE9USTLIHQ5pBgQNBAMFBwUNBwUNCAYPCggQDAkTDQoTDgsTAG8992w59Ws7/YdcjHE/LcJ4bbZ6bpVmXWBAN1c6yUMn6j8lwBwNVAsFGgcDBQgDBAkFBgoFCQwIDQ4JDwCGSviCTPmFVvGBVl1pOC25YmCfVVabYllqST9fP8VMK+1EKt49G8kvE5kYDVkXDk4UCz4TCzYRCSoRCSYAjVn5f0v8jFvxgVVbZj4yunRrkVlUQSokYUQqdlLQSy30PyfSNxayNxa2MSjYMy7hKyXONCvaNivUNCbJAIpb95V16Yp5sWtbXYRoWL5/ZY5iVT4iF4FUX3hQ2Egt7U0t5D8avjQWrzMmzTMs1iwlyjMs1j0y5jsw4gCed/XmxLzCx74yMjljZ2zMt6uVY15STkhzYJ5qR/5QL+5MLOM6F7Y2F7Y4Ktg+Neg4Lt43L905L+A7MeEArpnW98CozLitXGFss7vAgoyQjWpnq6uvgpSRu7b0VS/vTS3mMRShKxKcNirXPTboOzPlPDbpOzLkPDPlAI56rfrBo8akkCwtOJafpq6xt6BsZsOgln56edCupmlD51Qw9SgUkyEQjzAozzQt2jIq1To26Twz5jwz5QDFtL/ys5mpjX4lJS9ZX2iAhI1OKS5oP0Csg2vMl5BiOuhSMPAyGa8vGbU5L946MuM3L905NOY8M+ZAOO0Aj3ix5qCKvJqNWFdecHF4i5ObhIKKcktNyJqB05+Xc1TlWzr4NRnFMhzCPjToPjrvOTTlPD/yPDXpPzjtAKyWuOOXhJNoWigoK3h+fnyDhLzJypN7fJNkWMiainRkqmBSu007rzwlwTkx5D899Do26Tg67Ts26T457gC8rKfQh322cF99VU9wWlQ9KSyYeXKNb25pQj2Ya193cKlYVaBDOXRBMohCN+I7OPA6N+o4PPE/Pe9FQ/eObE3mqSjp2QAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","aspectRatio":1.4492753623188406,"src":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/ee604/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png","srcSet":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/69585/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 200w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/497c6/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 400w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/ee604/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 800w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/86756/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.png 997w","srcWebp":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/58556/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/61e93/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 200w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/1f5c5/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 400w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/58556/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 800w,\n/static/0085d1cb71c2138312b98d070cdab88e/a2a2c/8a588ee70c93a008e2269733364f6a02.webp 997w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2113-markdown","title":"Telehealth Provides Critical Access for Medical Marijuana Patients","slug":"telehealth-provides-critical-access-for-medical-marijuana-patients","content":"For patients around the country using marijuana as a treatment modality\r\nfor medical problems, Telehealth is one of the most pivotal factors in\r\nthat care. In addition to removing physical barriers that stand between\r\npatients and access to medical marijuana (distance, rural locations,\r\nvery few clinics, etc.), I believe that Telehealth medicine also allows\r\npatients to take advantage of life-changing medical marijuana support\r\nwithout the stigma associated with walking into a physical marijuana\r\nclinic, or driving to sometimes seedy area of town to find a doctor to\r\nperform a cannabis evaluation. Unfortunately, Telehealth care isn't easy\r\nfor patients to access in all parts of the country, and it's consumers\r\nwho are paying the price.\r\n\r\n**What Is Telehealth?**\r\n\r\n[Telehealth](http://cchpca.org/what-is-telehealth) is a broad term that\r\nencompasses a large selection of services and technologies. Through\r\nmeans such as online meeting platforms and other virtual health tactics,\r\nTelehealth delivers health, medical and educational services to\r\nconsumers around the country. In addition to use by medical marijuana\r\nproviders like myself, Telehealth medicine is also used in counseling,\r\nhome health, chronic disease management and even dentistry.\r\n\r\nTelehealth is a hot topic in many states right now. As of the end of\r\n2015, [all but eight\r\nstates](http://mobihealthnews.com/content/state-lawmakers-introduced-more-200-telemedicine-bills-2015)\r\nproposed bills related to Telehealth access and medicine. Every state\r\nexcept Rhode Island currently offers some form of Medicaid coverage for\r\ntelemedicine. Additionally, the majority of states reimburse patients\r\nfor live video visits, nine states (including California, Alaska, and\r\nArizona) reimburse patients for forward services, and 17 reimburse\r\npatients for remote monitoring services. Thirty-two states (and the\r\nDistrict of Columbia) require telehealth services to be paid by\r\ninsurance companies on the same level as in-person visits.\r\n\r\n**The Growth of Telehealth**\r\n\r\nWhile I'm happy to report that telehealth services are on the rise, only\r\none percent of the U.S. population currently has access to a telehealth\r\nprovider due to low doctor registration numbers and limited cannabis\r\ntelehealth laws across the country. Some telehealth companies are\r\nreporting annual revenues of [upwards of \\$77\r\nmillion](http://mobihealthnews.com/content/teladoc-conducted-575000-remote-visits-last-year)\r\nin 2015, which indicates a 77 percent increase from 2014. Telehealth\r\ncompanies often work with employers, health care providers and health\r\nplans to provide quality care to consumers everywhere.\r\n\r\n**Cannabis Laws and Telehealth Conflicts**\r\n\r\nAlthough access to medical marijuana is one of the most direct purposes\r\nof telehealth medicine, it's still hotly disputed around the country.\r\nWhile 23 states, as well as the District of Columbia, currently have\r\nlaws that make cannabis legal in some form, every state except for\r\nCalifornia and Nevada now disallow telehealth access to medical\r\nmarijuana. In California, the telehealth laws support patient access to\r\nmedical marijuana as long as the \"[Standard of\r\nCare](http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensees/Prescribing/Medical_Marijuana.aspx)\"\r\nis maintained. The Standard of Care means that medical marijuana\r\nproviders must use prudence and caution when consulting with, and\r\nprescribing treatment for, their patients.\r\n\r\n**How Telehealth can Improve Access to Medical Marijuana**\r\n\r\nIn addition to the fact that telehealth makes accessing medical\r\nmarijuana easier for patients who live in rural or remote locations,\r\ntelehealth medicine also removes many of the less obvious barriers to\r\ncare, such as access to evaluations and the availability of certified\r\ndoctors.\r\n\r\nAs it stands now, many patients are unable to obtain evaluations easily\r\nin their hometowns or states or have a difficult time accessing\r\ncertified doctors. In addition to there being a shortage of certified\r\ndoctors across the country, many traditional doctors are reflexively\r\ndismissive of marijuana because they did not study cannabis therapy in\r\nmed school and have had no real exposure to it since then. Finally, some\r\nvery ill patients also worry that informing their doctors about their\r\ndesire to try medical marijuana as a treatment modality will result in\r\nlosing access to potentially life-saving medical trials.\r\n\r\nWhile the medical benefits of medical marijuana are widespread and\r\nwell-studied, many states haven't warmed up to the idea of using\r\ncannabis as a standard treatment modality. Because of this, it's my\r\nbelief that telehealth medicine is one of the most direct and efficient\r\nways for needy patients to access quality medical marijuana providers\r\nwithout all of the red tape.\r\n\r\n**The Case for Telehealth Medicine**\r\n\r\nTelehealth is an important innovation that has the potential to bring\r\nquality healthcare to underserved populations. All around the country,\r\nthe conversation about telehealth is becoming a hot-button topic and\r\nlawmakers and consumers alike are beginning to realize how crucial this\r\nnew care modality is. Despite the fact that cannabis telehealth laws are\r\nstill restricted in many states, the [telehealth industry is\r\ngrowing](http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telemedicine-poised-grow-big-time)\r\nyear-over-year, and patients in places that offer telehealth access are\r\nbenefiting.\r\n\r\nWhile very few states allow telehealth access to medical marijuana, the\r\nstates that do are serving their residents better than many other places\r\nin the country. Telehealth care is an efficient way for patients to\r\naccess the benefits of medical cannabis without the stigma, difficulty,\r\ndanger, or stress of finding an in-person provider.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, many citizens still don't currently have access to\r\ntelehealth medical marijuana care. In light of this, I propose that\r\nlawmakers work to bring cannabis laws and telehealth laws into\r\nalignment, as they have done in California. While the concept of\r\ntelehealth cannabis care is new for many states, [medical marijuana\r\nproviders](https://www.hellomd.com/about-us) can serve their patients\r\neffectively, efficiently and safely so long as the Standard of Care is\r\nmaintained. When other states across the nation begin to realize the\r\nimportance of eliminating the conflict between telehealth and cannabis\r\nlaws, I believe that patient access to quality care will improve by\r\nleaps and bounds.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAOCAIAAACgpqunAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAADYUlEQVQozwFWA6n8AD9uiDdpfEt1b0p5dh1QZR8gGh0gHC0uJIV+ZYyFdHFtYW9rX2VjVk5IPRgWERUUEBIQC01IOoJ9aXx2YgA6c485cYw0bIgkZoYaVXAhJSAfIR0uLyWJgmeak397dmp0cGNsaVpLRzsWFA8WFRESEAtZVEWIgm1/emYAKHGWJG2RIWmKIGiKG159ICgmICAcLi8mioNppJ2LhoJ3fHhsdHBiSkY8FBMPFhUREhALZmJRi4ZxhH5rADiBpTZ9ojZ7nCp0mBtpjyAuLiEgGy8wJ4qEbKuml5KPhYaEeXp3akdEOxMSDRUUERQTDnJuXY+KdYmDbgA4ha0zgqozgKcqeqIfdKAhOD8iIBoxMiqIg2+wraGbmpSSkIiCf3NEQz0TEw8UEw8YFxKCfWqYkXuSi3QAOIq0N4iyNoevJ32nGHmrHkFPLyogLjEph4RztbOroqGcmpiOjot/Pj00DQ0IExIPHhwXlI14oJeBnJN8ADqKszqPuzaKtTKHsiiAr0pNSH1mT2BVRX17am5xcFddZGpweFhbXUpMVSssLxERDCYkHaKbg6KbgaSchAAwcpQ2j74zjLoqhbQffa9LTkppVkltXE6Jh3RUWl9WYXB1fpyHb4yPjbBgY3QJCAExLyinn4mjnIOlnoUAG2ODIYS1J5XKHYq9HYnAXXuAhGNThndwqaylSE1RW2Nqk6XLo5OylpWoR0dMDAoFOTgvp6CKn5eCo5uEADV9lUKexjdrgl2LnpWzsunXs+7gzOTl4ba2rENHQ1BZXX+XuJKp1ZekvCEiIAQFA0A+NaahipyWgKGaggBCfJI0W20XExGCb1/bxp/Zx6Ti2MHz7eHa2M6cg2uWgmxmY1VZWlN9em9eW041MilcWEqjnYWWj3qZknwANHKKIj1EFRUUSz0zv6+O08Ol2tHE1dTU3+Djv6ufxqaPybyeyb+dzsGe0cWh1cej2Mqn1sqn0MOix7ucAEiGiyZCQxcXFSEnJExIPHx1Za6rpc/R2rm9ytLY48fJx87EpuzgvPPmv/Hjuu3fturctuzet+7gue7fuABFf4QhOz4RDwwfIR8RFRQYHBo8QD+/wcjX3Oq0uME7PTsjJCJEQjtoZVWUjHTDuJfo2rPv4Lju37ju37hAPm9Qfn9nfQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","aspectRatio":1.3986013986013985,"src":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/ee604/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png","srcSet":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/69585/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 200w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/497c6/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 400w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/ee604/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 800w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/941c4/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.png 925w","srcWebp":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/58556/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/61e93/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 200w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/1f5c5/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 400w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/58556/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 800w,\n/static/20e28abe7e3ba0e646d306da31079155/502a6/8cdad4dea4ceadc5d0cb77faadebd7d3.webp 925w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2214-markdown","title":"Why Doctors in New York Aren't Recommending Marijuana","slug":"why-doctors-in-new-york-arent-recommending-marijuana","content":"For patients across the country, it's getting easier and easier to\r\naccess medical marijuana. Patients in New York, however, aren't having\r\nthe same luck. According to an investigation conducted by The Journal\r\nNews, New York State agencies have mishandled dozens of regulations that\r\ncontrol how doctors grant medical marijuana to patients. These mistakes\r\nhave led to failed dispensary openings, inaccurate information and\r\nconflicts throughout the entire New York medical system, mistakes which\r\nI believe can only be counteracted by the implementation of a more\r\ncohesive Telehealth and medical marijuana strategy. Here's what\r\nconsumers need to know.\r\n\r\n**New York's Medical Marijuana Laws**\r\n\r\nWhile New York [legalized medical\r\nmarijuana](https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/) in\r\n2014, the state's laws are currently incredibly restrictive. For\r\nexample, there are roughly [200,000\r\npatients](http://www.lohud.com/story/news/investigations/2016/02/24/medical-marijuana-new-york/79655424/)\r\nin the state waiting to be certified for medical marijuana, but only\r\n1,565 have achieved certification. Additionally, out of the 90,000\r\ndoctors in the state, only 455 have registered for the medical marijuana\r\nprogram. To make matters worse, the state refuses to release the names\r\nof these participating doctors in any publicly accessible format. This\r\nmakes it incredibly difficult for patients to access medical marijuana\r\ncare in New York.\r\n\r\nThe reason that doctors aren't registering doesn't come down to a\r\ndisinterest in doing so, however - it's the result of increasing\r\nconcerns about the potential for federal legal ramifications. Because\r\nNew York's medical marijuana laws are still residing in a legal gray\r\narea, many doctors refuse to certify patients in order to protect\r\nthemselves and their practices. Additionally, doctors who want to\r\nprovide medical marijuana are required to [carry additional malpractice\r\ninsurance](http://mjbizdaily.com/high-prices-dearth-of-doctors-hurting-ny-businesses/),\r\nwhich is a deterrent for many. As well as this the doctors are required\r\nto take an educational course as well as pay a \"enrollment fee\" to\r\nparticipate in the program. Many doctors also worry that participating\r\nin the medical marijuana program would impede their ability to prescribe\r\nother drugs, thus cutting down on their capacity to treat other patients\r\nadequately.\r\n\r\nAnd their fears aren't entirely unfounded. Even Kirsten Gillibrand, New\r\nYork's Democratic senator, states that doctors who prescribe marijuana\r\nin New York are \"putting themselves at risk.\" This is because New York\r\ndoctors are required by the Health Department to provide dosing\r\ninstructions for the medical marijuana patients they work with, a\r\nrequirement that is incredibly rare. In other states where medical\r\nmarijuana is legal, dosing recommendations are left up to medical\r\nmarijuana dispensaries rather than doctors. Because of this, it's\r\nobvious that New York's odd requirements place doctors at risk of facing\r\nfederal penalties if they get the dosing wrong on a medical marijuana\r\nproduct.\r\n\r\nWhile New York currently only allows non-smokable types of cannabis,\r\nsuch as oils and edibles, for use in therapy, the issues surrounding the\r\ncertification of patients in the state remains and consumers are\r\nsuffering as a result.\r\n\r\n**The Effect NY's Restrictive Laws Have on Patients**\r\n\r\nWhile New York lawmakers continue to fight about how, when and where\r\nmedical marijuana will be prescribed, a few pioneering clinics are\r\nattempting to cater to the needs of the state's consumers. One clinic\r\nlocated outside of Buffalo has ten participating doctors and receives\r\nmore than 100 phone calls each day from patients attempting to access\r\nmedical marijuana.\r\n\r\nThe clinic's lead physician, Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, realizes that the\r\nsmall number of providers and the ongoing legal ambiguity is only\r\nhurting patients. He says, \"While we wait for the politicians to make\r\ndecisions, what do we do for our suffering patients? I can't wait for a\r\n12-year-old that has less than four months to live… That is my duty, to\r\nrelieve that suffering.\" Dr. Mechtler isn't alone in these sentiments.\r\nThousands of patients across the state of New York want desperately to\r\naccess medical marijuana, but can't because of the state's restrictive\r\nlaws.\r\n\r\n**A Better Way: Why NY Should be Following CA's Model**\r\n\r\nThe fact that patients in New York are having such a difficult time\r\naccessing care is especially tragic when you take into account how\r\neffective medical marijuana can be as a treatment modality. Here at\r\nHelloMD, my team recently conducted [a patient response\r\nsurvey](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).\r\nThe survey collected answers from 1,400 medical marijuana consumers in a\r\nvariety of states. As far as I can tell, this survey is currently the\r\nmost comprehensive of its kind.\r\n\r\nThe results of the study go to show exactly how firmly medical marijuana\r\npatients believe in the effectiveness and importance of cannabis as a\r\ntreatment option: 84 percent of respondents reported that cannabis helps\r\nthem cope with their symptoms, while 66 percent reported using the herb\r\nas their primary treatment modality. 64 percent of respondents reported\r\nconsuming marijuana daily, and no respondents reported negative\r\nconsequences of marijuana use. This survey is proof of the importance\r\nand effectiveness of medical marijuana treatments and should be taken\r\ninto account as states like New York evaluate their medical marijuana\r\npolicies.\r\n\r\n**Conclusion**\r\n\r\nWhile access to medical marijuana has improved around the country, it's\r\nclear to me that residents of New York state are still struggling to get\r\nthe care they need. Thanks to low numbers of participating physicians,\r\nno way for the public to access lists of approved doctors and incredibly\r\nslow and restrictive patient certification processes, New York is\r\nlagging behind many other states in terms of their ability to offer\r\nconsumers unimpeded access to medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, the only people suffering as a result of these failings\r\nare the consumers themselves. While the situation in New York looks\r\nbleak currently, I believe firmly that access to care would improve\r\ngreatly if the state would follow the leads of states like California,\r\nwhere medical marijuana access is a readily available to all patients. I\r\nbelieve that only when patients can access the cannabis-focused care\r\nthey need will New York begin to truly serve its residents.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/10301380936/in/photolist-gGigE9-tgXSSB-dPr95W-a7fJFg-pfVCxj-eSTiRb-6VkKnw-cEdMrC-aashHE-ejT1nm-ftcNbQ-de9is3-iiA7ek-5MAJa8-t34ebZ-4GzqRr-qMu6ZH-Areaen-MEQQR-uCBodk-Bg4Df1-8KBmzX-hZYH6v-8UavLd-2RZoXU-bz76Vb-6m2G85-ejVE1u-u3Dsj-9Cry2t-dbmiQK-BY72nr-8vTJVq-pFHzg8-vVmrMz-8U7rDT-dburo5-aA7APE-daYWm9-rnFULV-dzwnbQ-ozKxXE-dRqWLo-89FSsM-dtTF5i-fKzgHo-dAVgoP-rdZd85-pWiGV4-fcHP6b)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4814814814814814,"src":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/ee604/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png","srcSet":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/69585/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/497c6/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 400w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/ee604/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 800w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/f3583/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 1200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/3e83c/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.png 1201w","srcWebp":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/58556/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/61e93/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/1f5c5/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 400w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/58556/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 800w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/99238/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 1200w,\n/static/6c3fecac3906a6babbbd1b4e2c39e17a/0c6f9/1e97a6f5d757ba260c66cf0d9e520162.webp 1201w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2155-markdown","title":"Legalization of Marijuana is Destroying Mexico's Drug Cartel ","slug":"legalization-of-marijuana-is-destroying-mexicos-drug-cartel","content":"The \"War on Drugs\" has been a massive failure. But there is a new force in the market, marijuana legalization. The war on drugs was a massive campaign that began stirring in\r\nAmerican politics way back in 1914 and was [popularized by President\r\nNixon](http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-solutions-drug-policy/brief-history-drug-war)\r\nand, later, President George H. W. Bush. This war on drugs has been an\r\nexpensive and [tragically ineffective\r\nprogram](http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/06/opinion/branson-end-war-on-drugs/)\r\nthat costs the American people approximately $500 *[each\r\nsecond](http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock)*.\r\n\r\nWhile the war on drugs has historically been meant to discourage and\r\nblock the distribution and use of recreational drugs, it has actually\r\n[had the reverse\r\neffect](http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/28/opinions/winslow-drug-war-folly/).\r\nAs the war on drugs has escalated in both expense and intensity, the\r\nprice placed on illegal drugs has skyrocketed in places like Mexico.\r\n\r\nThis has resulted in more drug-related fighting resulting in [85,000\r\npeople](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/02/us-mexico-drug-cartel_n_7707136.html)\r\nbeing killed in Mexico alone since 2006 when then-President Felipe\r\nCalderón signed-off on a military response to drug cartels. It has also\r\nresulted in no fewer drugs crossing the American border - with one\r\nnotable exception. The exception is marijuana and the reason for this is\r\nthe widespread legalization of the plant throughout the United States.\r\n\r\nSo, is it possible that we're actually discouraging smugglers from\r\ntransporting and growing marijuana... by legalizing it? The answer is\r\nyes and, so far, legalization has proven to be a far more effective\r\nstrategy to discourage illegal drug cartels than the War on Drugs has\r\never been.\r\n\r\nHere's what you need to know.\r\n\r\n**Legalization and Crashing Drug Prices**\r\n\r\nBefore the legalization of marijuana in the U.S., most cannabis bought\r\nand sold here had been grown in and smuggled from Mexico. This drove the\r\nprice of marijuana in Mexico to historic heights - at one time up to\r\n[\\$90 for a\r\nkilogram](http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/12/01/367802425/legal-pot-in-the-u-s-may-be-undercutting-mexican-marijuana).\r\n\r\nThose exorbitant cannabis prices had a wider effect than many people\r\nthink. In addition to encouraging Mexican drug lords to continue in\r\ntheir brutal and illegal industries, high cannabis prices also torpedoed\r\nthe Mexican government's attempt to help citizens build local economies\r\nby growing legal crops. Because the financial prospect of growing and\r\nselling marijuana was so appealing, many Mexican citizens gravitated\r\ntoward it (and, ergo, toward the dangerous job of working for the\r\nCartels).\r\n\r\nToday, however, the price of marijuana has dropped, which has thrown the\r\nMexican cartels into dire straits. This, in turn, has led to much less\r\ncannabis crossing the border via Mexican smugglers. According to a\r\n[report by Time\r\nMagazine](http://time.com/3801889/us-legalization-marijuana-trade/), the\r\nU.S. Border Patrol seized 2.5 million pounds of Marijuana in 2011. By\r\n2014, that number had dipped to 1.9 million pounds. This decline doesn't\r\nhave much to do with the War on Drugs, however. Instead, it's due to the\r\nlegalization of marijuana across the U.S.\r\n\r\n**How American Legalization has Destroyed Mexican Demand**\r\n\r\nAs affordable, legal marijuana becomes more prevalent in the U.S., the\r\ndemand for smuggled marijuana from Mexico has fallen flat on its face.\r\nIn 2008, roughly\r\n[two-thirds](http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP325.html) of\r\nall the cannabis consumed by U.S. citizens was imported from Mexico.\r\nToday, that number has fallen to roughly one-third. Likewise, cannabis\r\naccounted for 20%-30% of the Mexican drug cartels' revenue as recently\r\nas 2008.\r\n\r\nAs legalization has swept the U.S., though, these numbers have\r\nplummeted. Now that there is plenty of quality, affordable marijuana\r\navailable legally to consumers in the U.S., there's virtually no need to\r\npurchase expensive varieties from Mexico which are almost certainly\r\nlinked to violent cartel activity.\r\n\r\nIn what is possibly one of the largest victories linked to the American\r\nlegalization of cannabis, Mexico itself is now considering adopting laws\r\nlike the U.S. has, which would [decriminalize or legalize\r\ncannabis](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34731182) in\r\ncertain settings. If these laws go through, it would represent the final\r\nstraw for the powerful and dangerous cartels in Mexico - decimating\r\ntheir profits and obliterating the demand for their products.\r\n\r\n**The Future of Legalization and Mexican Marijuana: Why Pending States Should Follow California's Lead**\r\n\r\nAs waves of legalization continue to sweep the U.S., it stands to reason\r\nthat we'll keep seeing a decline in the price of, and demand for,\r\nmarijuana from Mexico. Despite the fact that the Federal Government has\r\nspent upwards of $15 billion on the War on Drugs since 2010 alone, it's\r\nclear that this approach has never been the most effective one.\r\n\r\nIn addition to making marijuana rare, and thus increasing the demand and\r\nprice of the product, the War on Drugs has only allowed the Mexican\r\ncartels to be more brutal than ever before.\r\n\r\nBecause of this, legalization is the only thing that truly has the\r\npotential to put the cartels out of business. When quality cannabis is\r\navailable to consumers from right here in the U.S., the demand for\r\nMexican products falls sharply. Because of this, [states like\r\nIllinois](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/medical-marijuana-business-licenses-illinois_n_6608060.html),\r\nFlorida, Georgia, Kansas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin (all of\r\nwhich have [pending marijuana\r\nlegislation](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002481)\r\non the ballot for 2016) would be well-served to follow California's lead\r\nto make medicinal cannabis easily accessible to consumers. This year\r\nCalifornia too has legalization as a initiative on the November ballot.\r\n\r\nIn addition to being the most common-sense approach to destroying the\r\ndrug crime that's been running rampant in Mexico for the last several\r\nyears, improving consumer access to legalized marijuana is one of the\r\nbest ways for U.S. lawmakers and citizens to further deplete the Mexican\r\nmarijuana market. With California as a model to follow, legalizing\r\nmarijuana throughout all states is an efficient way for U.S. lawmakers\r\nto ensure that drug crime, high marijuana prices, violence, and\r\ndestroyed economies become a thing of the past in Mexico.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/degu_andre/5819199737/in/photolist-9SdVkX-9SdVJB-9SgP5q-9fWxC3-9RXtgT-9SgLxy-9S1oMu-9fWzky-bqGdsv-b7pABe-9S1oxY-9fWwUG-9SdTLa-bznfy5-9SdUm4-9SgL1w-63tkzx-8YX5rc-f7HJ24-6PXWY7-9SgM69-9fWyMo-aocW8E-9S1ne5-bEYxur-bAnr7S-aqwCkb-7NMvHT-9fTqEP-62CZHV-9SgMRJ-f7TXi1-f7DJ6T-f7DJ1e-f7XX6Y-9fTsFa-f7WYVQ-8HRe4b-f7WZeQ-f7WZbh-6G2fFr-f7GLdV-f7GLrn-E2KhMo-5HCV5w-f7DHrK-f7TXmN-f7WYZG-hX48WJ-cugpnL)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/ee604/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png","srcSet":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/69585/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 200w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/497c6/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 400w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/ee604/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 800w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/a9ac2/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.png 945w","srcWebp":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/58556/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/61e93/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 200w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/1f5c5/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 400w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/58556/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 800w,\n/static/82fb35fb0657aea3f4756322dc7cc80f/57e2d/89d78c1a3ad5c201d0eb880e46dc0b10.webp 945w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2020-markdown","title":"Illinois's Restrictive Marijuana Laws: Failing Patients","slug":"illinoiss-restrictive-marijuana-laws-failing-patients","content":"At the start of the Illinois' five-year medical marijuana use pilot\nproject, I had great optimism for its success. Most experts were\npredicting that as many as [70,000\npatients](http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article50653235.html) would be\nsigned up by the end of five years. Now at the halfway mark, the state\nhas only been able to sign up 4,000 qualified participants. Based on\nwhat I've seen so far, it would be impossible for me to not attribute\nthese low sign-up numbers to the strict regulations set in place by the\nstate at the beginning of the pilot program.\n\n**Restrictive Laws to Blame**\n\nThe lawmakers of Illinois have set down some of the most restrictive\n[medical cannabis\nlaws](http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3503) in the\ncountry. They added in specific restrictions like state ID, patient\nbackground checks and participant fingerprint requirements, measures\nthat will certainly be both time-consuming and costly to the patient,\nand may even prevent many patients from applying.\n\n**Doctors Targeted**\n\nThe program also requires there to be an established physician-patient\nrelationship before a prescription can be written. I have read reports\nthat at least two doctors are in hot water over this issue, and many\nother doctors are reluctant to prescribe cannabis to their patients. In\nfact, some doctors are reporting that their employers have requested\nthat they not prescribe cannabis at all. I believe this puts an undue\nburden on the patients, who now have to search for a doctor willing to\nprescribe medical marijuana and spend months building a relationship\nwith them before they can apply.\n\n**Overly Restrictive Medical Conditions**\n\nWhile these extra precautions are certainly hindering the effectiveness\nof the medical marijuana pilot program, I contend that the low number of\nmedical conditions that actually qualify for the program has been the\nbiggest roadblock. The latest report I read showed that the Illinois\nDepartment of Public Health (IDPH) has only approved just [35 different\nillnesses](http://norml.org/legal/item/illinois-medical-marijuana). This\nlist includes ailments such as cancer,\nAIDS,\nParkinson's\ndisease,\nlupus,\nand rheumatoid arthritis.\nUnfortunately, this list is also missing dozens of important medical\nconditions that can be managed with medical cannabis, such as\ndepression,\nbipolar,\n[diabetes](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness-marijuana/other-diabetes),\nand Crohn's\ndisease.\n\nLast year, the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board recommended the addition\nof 11 other diseases to the IDPH's list of qualified medical conditions.\nUnfortunately, the IDPH announced that it would not be making any\nchanges to the list of qualified condition. This year, the board reduced\ntheir request to just eight additional ailments, such as chronic\npain,\nPTSS\n(Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome), autism and\nosteoarthritis.\n\n**What We Already Know**\n\nA recent study by HelloMD\nsupports the notion of expanding the list of qualified medical\nconditions. Out of the 17,000 patients surveyed, which may well be the\nlargest survey of its type among medical marijuana users, the most\ncommon reason for using medical marijuana was for treating anxiety,\npain, stress, insomnia, depression, migraines and arthritis. These\nresults seem to fall in line with what the Medical Cannabis Advisory\nBoard is recommending. Even more impressive is the fact the 84 percent\nof the study participants believe very strongly that the use of medical\ncannabis has helped to control their symptoms. In addition, 96 percent\nwould recommend the use of medical marijuana to friends and family\nmembers.\n\nMore than 22,000\npeople\nsigned a petition at Change.org in reference to medical cannabis, to be\nsent to Governor Rauner, with many of the signers leaving heartfelt\nmessages behind. The hope is to entice the state to expand the list of\nmedical marijuana conditions before the program slides into total\ndisarray. Even celebrities like [Jim\nMcMahon](http://abc7chicago.com/news/jim-mcmahon-says-marijuana-helped-him-kick-pain-pills/1177764/)\nand Melissa Etheridge have touted the benefits of medical marijuana.\n\n**Far Reaching Consequences**\n\nWith the number of approved applicants falling well below the\nanticipated figures, my biggest fear is that the 23 licensed\ndispensaries will start to close up shop. HelloMD's [Medical Marijuana\nPatient Survey\nResults](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf)\nshowed that 61 percent of customers purchase their cannabis locally.\nWithout these local dispensaries, patients will find it difficult to\nfind the cannabis they need. These approved dispensary owners claim that\nthey need to see an increase of about [20,000 to\n30,000](http://www.rebootillinois.com/2016/01/27/top-lists/emilyolsen/5-problems-with-the-illinois-medical-marijuana-program/52010/)\nqualified patients in order to become profitable. I think this increase\nis highly unlikely, given the state's refusal to expand the list of\nqualified medical conditions and the registration that the patients have\nto go through.\n\nOther states like New Jersey and Minnesota are also seeing dismal\napproved patient numbers due to restrictive regulations. Unfortunately,\nit is the patients who are dealing with chronic pain, anxiety, stress\nand other medical conditions on a daily basis that are suffering the\nmost. Some are filling the gap by using prescribed opioids to manage\ntheir symptoms, but these drugs can be addictive and dangerous, and come\nwith a long list of negative side effects.\n\n**The Path Forward**\n\nI think that Illinois should look at California's medical marijuana use\nlaws. The state has been at the forefront of this issue, approving the\nmedical cannabis law in 1996 and being the first state to license a\nmarijuana dispensary. California now has a long list of medical\nconditions that can be used to secure approval for medical marijuana\nuse. The state also issues more than 17 different types of cannabis\ndispensary licenses to make both opening one and staying compliant with\nregulations easier.\n\nI believe that Illinois could capitalize on the success of California by\nusing it as a model for its medical marijuana law. Unfortunately, if\nIllinois continues down this broken path, it won't take long for the\nentire program to crumble. Governor Bruce Rauner has hinted that he may\nbe interested in expanding the pilot program by two years. However, it\nseems to me that without immediate changes the program may not last that\nlong, and it is the patients who will continue to suffer the most.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/gletham/5380121646/in/photolist-9cqwJ3-rkpBpY-8LfqcV-djqPJa-eyVSTm-b6xQXz-7GQ5tq-5t8F1k-7Bb2e-5Fxh7A-9PiAFR-7W183D-bvq8cP-cTBdG7-a24inV-6aEHLS-9RMLN5-uPcHcK-wuZu-5jF2fi-86vU1w-7ts5cm-asy8Pc-ixBeu-7rGCTR-bpHD8d-bPmf1H-9b17Pj-exUZRo-pALm3e-cTBfwq-bzvGPH-aSsAKH-87iYPd-99hmB9-cRtPdW-99efxa-mVhawE-bL3ECz-oa3bZY-6PnNVM-ejVx6B-9EqwaD-6tx5jQ-iFZYiT-a8ekvR-dq7Dx5-6tsYkK-5Q6WBu-CUcuRr)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4492753623188406,"src":"/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/ee604/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.png","srcSet":"/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/69585/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.png 200w,\n/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/497c6/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.png 400w,\n/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/ee604/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.png 800w,\n/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/195fb/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.png 1130w","srcWebp":"/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/58556/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/61e93/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.webp 200w,\n/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/1f5c5/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.webp 400w,\n/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/58556/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.webp 800w,\n/static/d94b650cda43670a4c1c10a0beede05c/30d61/22a8c52ac0462ae3a727cd3cef12e6be.webp 1130w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2000-markdown","title":"Women Take Charge in Cannabis Industry","slug":"women-take-charge-in-cannabis-industry","content":"[Luna Stower](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lunastower?authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=FopU&locale=en_US&trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2CclickedEntityId%3A35975284%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1456248027260%2Ctas%3Aluna), freelance writer and cannabis educator, is HelloMD's newest guest blogger. She recently attended the Women Grow Leadership Summit in Denver in early February. Below Luna shares her experience, highlighting the growing influence women have within the burgeoning cannabis industry.\r\n\r\n**“YOU ARE HERE.”**\r\n\r\nThe bold-red message was clear: Woman, you are welcome. Overcome with a sense of belonging, I felt included and valued for the first time at an industry event - not a dismissed side-thought.  And I wasn’t alone.\r\n\r\nDressed in dazzling reds, 1,400 [Women Grow Leadership Summit](http://womengrow.com/2016-women-grow-conference/) attendees poured excitedly into downtown Denver’s historic Ellie Caulkins Opera House, ready for the rapid-fire inspiration of lightning talks by prestigious keynotes. Despite frigid weather, the vibrant buzz of professionals from across the continent created a special warmth.\r\n\r\n**Enter Women Grow (Not Your Average Stoner-Chicks)**\r\n\r\nDespite men’s overwhelming dominance in the workforce, women are highlighted as the fuel behind the blossoming Cannabis sector in headlines and covers of Newsweek, the Economist, TIME and National Geographic. The networking group of female-identified cannabis entrepreneurs has grown to 1,100+ male and female members in 35 chapter-cities in just two years, with reports projecting 2016 legal Cannabis sales to grow 25% ($6.7 billion), giving women room to grow.\r\n\r\nLadies of all ages and backgrounds shared peace-pipes, struggles and dreams, becoming insta-family over vapor and belly-laughs. From interviews on the Drug War and card-swapping to intimate chats, it became clear that conscious Cannabis capitalism was proof that leading with love can be quite lucrative.\r\n\r\n**The (en)Lightning talks**\r\n\r\nInvestors, social media gurus, battle-worn policy activists, nurses and pet-patient advocates addressed our deep inner fears of failure. Women are emboldened by race and gender oppression, the brazen babes’ insightful humor, profound messaging, and shameless audacity were a call to action - and for self-love.\r\n\r\nCancer-survivor and rock legend [Melissa Etheridge](http://fortune.com/2015/09/17/melissa-etheridge-cannabis/) gushed, “Can you believe you’re in a room this big with other women who do the herb?!”  Comparing medicinal freedom to GLBTQ rights, Cannabis was her saving grace from painful chemotherapy treatments and doctors’ fear-mongering.\r\n\r\nBetty Aldworth exclaimed: “Be your own f*****g Trophy Wife! Say ‘yes!’ Set aside fear, and jump with voracity… Take one more shot at the revolution. What’s terrifying is to not matter as much as you can in this life. So I said ‘YES.’  And got to shape national discourse... despite crippling doubt and fear.”  \r\n\r\n[Cannamoms](http://cannamoms.com/) founder Moriah Barnhart shared her daughter’s excruciating journey from toxic Chemo treatments to recovery with Hash oil. Dressed as Wonder Woman, Jeanne Sullivan demanded we “stop being afraid to ASK!”\r\n\r\nMaureen MacNamara urged: “The world’s thirsty for your wisdom, knowledge and ingenious ideas.  With negative thoughts, the world - and this industry - loses. If we sit on our brilliance, the patient doesn’t win. The time is now for your ideas to flourish…  So get the hell out of your own way.”\r\n\r\n**“The only difference between ILLNESS and WELLNESS is an ‘I’ and a ‘WE’”**\r\n\r\nPositive, wise words replaced negative, hard-wired insecurities with self-love. Whether ‘coming-out’ to our community or cultivating our powerful skills, we’re only living integrated lives when we harmonize our dynamic selves with the work we do.\r\n\r\nIn this empowered state we can, and will, be the high-integrity leaders of this Billion-dollar industry -- stewarding, respectfully, with the divine, fruitful, feminine energy this plant has held for millennia.\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/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/ee604/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.png","srcSet":"/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/69585/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.png 200w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/497c6/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.png 400w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/ee604/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.png 800w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/f3583/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.png 1200w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/f90fa/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/58556/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/61e93/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.webp 200w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/1f5c5/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.webp 400w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/58556/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.webp 800w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/99238/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.webp 1200w,\n/static/699c848f4630400968c7cd055ffedb65/5e0b8/1ec902e2c0903648201f455b1e99bc69.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2050-markdown","title":"Veterans Deserve Medical Marijuana ― Might Get It Soon","slug":"veterans-deserve-medical-marijuana-might-get-it-soon","content":"Did you know that doctors who work for the United States Department of\nVeterans Affairs (VA) aren't allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to\nveterans? It doesn't matter if the doctors and patients live in states\nwhere medical marijuana is legal. Moreover, doctors can't even talk to\nveterans about the advantages of marijuana AT ALL! How's that for free\nspeech in America?\n\n**Congress Takes Action (Seriously)**\n\nAs you might have guessed, as a doctor, this marijuana gag order makes\nme gag. There's reason to be optimistic, though. Some of our elected\nleaders are coming around. For instance, in 2016, 21 U.S. House members\nand senators sent a letter to the VA. This group included Democrats and\nRepublicans, and the message was in favor of medical marijuana.\n\nYou see, the no-cannabis VA policy was set to expire in late January\n2016. Therefore, those lawmakers were trying to change the minds of VA\nleaders. Their letter stated that VA doctors who practice in states\nwhere medical marijuana is lawful should be able to discuss this kind of\ntherapy.\n\nThe Senate actually approved that rule change back in November 2015. At\nthe time, it was included in a funding bill. But of course, politics is\ncomplicated. The bill got rewritten, and this policy was taken out.\nTherefore, it never became law. And I thought medical school was hard!\n\n**Can the CARERS Act Save the Day?**\n\nThere's still hope for this legal change. It could become part of the\n2016 appropriations bill. If it does, though, it would need to be voted\non each year to remain law. Or it could become a separate law. If that\nwere the case, it would be a permanent statute, and Congress wouldn't\nhave to keep voting on it annually.\n\nIndeed, in March 2015, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sen. Kirsten\nGillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., proposed just such a law.\nIt's called the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect\nStates (CARERS) Act of 2015.\n\nIf CARERS passes, states could legalize medical marijuana as they deem\nfit. Also, medical researchers would have more freedom to study the\nbenefits of this therapy. And yes, VA doctors could finally recommend it\nto their patients as state law permits.\n\n**Battling PTSD**\n\nMany veterans who are returning from battle face special health issues.\nPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of them.\n[PTSD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/559ade1b36643300061c0000/recovery-from-trauma-the-role-of-medical-marijuana-in-ptsd-treatment)\nis a term for the depression and anxiety that happen after a trauma. The\ndisorder often involves vivid flashbacks, nightmares, social isolation\nand a tendency to become violently startled. It can also lead to\ninsomnia and extreme eruptions of anger.\n\nNaturally, the horrors of combat often bring about PTSD. However,\nscientific evidence is showing that medical marijuana can really reduce\nits effects.\n\nTake, for instance, [a\nstudy](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522104850.htm)\nthat was led by Dr. George Greer of the nonprofit Heffter Research\nInstitute. Between 2009 and 2011, researchers looked at how medical\nmarijuana affected those with PTSD. The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs\n[published](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.2013.873843)\nthe results, which were highly encouraging. The average patient who used\ncannabis had his or her PTSD effects lessened by a whopping 75 percent!\n\n**Reducing Chronic Pain**\n\nIf you're a vet, you might be dealing with chronic physical pain due to\nthe wounds you sustained when you were fighting for our country. When it\ncomes to pain relief, medical marijuana shows great promise as well.\n\nFor example, in December 2015, the [Journal of\nPain](http://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(15)00837-8/abstract) put\nout the results of a major study on cannabis and chronic pain, one that\nbegan in 2004. Dr. Mark Ware of Montreal's Research Institute of the\nMcGill University Health Centre led this endeavor. (Medical marijuana is\nlegal in Canada.) Several Canadian pain treatment facilities worked\ntogether on this study. Researchers carefully followed 215 adults, each\nfor a one-year period. All of those participants had the option of\neating, smoking or inhaling their cannabis. Meanwhile, a control group\nof 216 chronic pain patients went without marijuana for a year.\n\nIt demonstrated that, while marijuana provided pain relief, it didn't\nlead to any higher rates of serious side effects. On top of that, the\ncannabis frequently put many of the patients in better moods.\n\n**Hope for Vets Who Want Medical Marijuana**\n\nFinally, remember that no VA doctor will ever be forced to prescribe\ncannabis. And no veteran should ever be pressured to take it. It'll\nsimply become another treatment option that doctors and patients should\nbe allowed to talk about in privacy. If the DEA gets their act together\nand take cannabis off of the Schedule 1 list, formal studies in the\nUnited States could finally begin in earnest. When the VA actually\nrealizes that that all studies from around the world to date show the\nenormous benefit of cannabis to treat PTSD and chronic pain, our brave\nmen and women who've served in the armed forces can get the relief they\ndeserve.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/8958723249/in/photolist-eDDNiF-6R7toY-6R7Dhb-6RP4r7-6RK17R-6R3u8R-6R3yeK-6R3zg8-6R7rnj-6R3qvD-6R7vUq-6R7wCs-6R7BYW-6R3qcn-6R3nHn-6R3uSR-6R7D5L-6R7vb9-6R3pZc-6R7skG-7ZkGBK-wzZThs-wA7tk4-6RHwLc-7jSRoo-6KzRrX-6ZJwL2-7aG8wk-8tRr4Z-aQZTfT-8uYY6S-8uYXBh-8uVTqx-eUpwjj-8vkFVw-c3vzES-9jZf4X-aXQCZt-ppZi6S-8EGRT4-fjZ3DE-8QSLjk-8zPfCv-76Y8EM-9pnwow-8rX3tY-79xHCG-5PbtDn-9NtCVv-8uYX59)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4598540145985401,"src":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/ee604/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png","srcSet":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/69585/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 200w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/497c6/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 400w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/ee604/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 800w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/e4889/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 1081w","srcWebp":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/58556/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/61e93/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 200w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/1f5c5/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 400w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/58556/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 800w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/4bc19/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 1081w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":120,"numPages":13,"currentPage":11,"id":5567,"name":"News & Events","slug":"news-and-events","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}