Johnny’s House, a morning radio show in Orlando, Florida, discussed Florida’s new medical marijuana law on Jan. 5, 2017.
This is where cannabidiol, or CBD, comes into the mix.
CBD is nonpsychoactive, meaning it does not have mind-altering side effects. It also partially blocks the euphoric effects of marijuana caused by THC. CBD is potentially useful in controlling epileptic seizures and reducing pain and inflammation. The cannabinoid may also be effective in treating mental illness or addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Recreational cannabis generally contains high levels of THC and lower levels of CBD. Medicinal marijuana often is rich in CBD with little or no THC. Therefore, medical marijuana users will likely feel the therapeutic effects of the cannabis without achieving a high. “With medical, you’re looking for, in most cases, a relatively short effect of the material that you’re consuming,” explained Bearman. “It’s all about what is in the cannabis you are consuming and the goal you have in mind.”Dr. Michelle Sexton, a licensed naturopathic doctor in California, says cannabis use can alter a person’s perception of time.
A report by Harvard University says medical marijuana may help treat nerve pain and chemotherapy-related nausea. But few studies support its effectiveness in treating psychiatric conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers know much more about the psychological risks of cannabis use. Some studies have suggested medicinal marijuana use can cause anxiety, psychosis, pneumonia and other respiratory problems, according to the Harvard report. Despite the potential consequences associated with cannabis use, the number of legal medical marijuana patients in the United States continues to grow. As of March 1, 2016, more than 758,000 people in California legally sought medical marijuana, according to the online data resource Statista. Michigan had more than 182,000 medical marijuana patients. Washington and Colorado also had more than 100,000 medical marijuana users. Cannabis is the most popular illicit drug in the United States. In 2016, Gallup, a research-based consulting company, reported that 13 percent of U.S. adults currently used recreational or medical marijuana. Forty-three percent of adults said they had tried the drug at least once. The number of medical and recreational marijuana users is bound to swell in the coming months and years — thanks in part to Election Day 2016.Today, 29 states and the District of Columbia approve the medicinal or recreational use of marijuana.
Source: Business Insider
Denver is the first city in the United States to allow marijuana use in bars and restaurants.
Florida recently became a medical marijuana state. Seventy-one percent of Florida voters approved Amendment 2, a measure legalizing the medicinal use of cannabis for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or other conditions as determined by a licensed state physician. About 200 licensed doctors in Florida have completed a training course with the Florida Medical Association and are approved to recommend marijuana to qualified state residents. These doctors can be found in every major city in Florida, such as Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee. Despite having access to licensed physicians, most Florida residents cannot receive medical cannabis just yet. The Florida Department of Health has six months from election night to establish program regulations, including a possession limit. It has an additional nine months to implement those rules. Regulations could set restrictions on where marijuana dispensaries can set up shop, Morgan told Johnny’s House. He maintains that these businesses likely will not be seen near educational institutions or places of worship — contrasting a popular legalization misconception held by many. “That’s what our opponents said during the election. They’re going to set up next to a church. They’re going to set up next to a school. They’re going to have carts outside with marijuana lollipops and try to give them to kids,” explained Morgan. “What’s going to happen is these local governments are going to say, ‘No, you can’t put it next to the church. You can’t put it next to the school.’ They have rules that prevent that from happening.” However, cannabis dispensaries exist near these very locations in Colorado. A 2016 report by The Denver Post found more than two dozen Denver schools located near a store selling medical or recreational marijuana. Out of 215 marijuana shops in Denver, The Post identified 25 located within 1,000 feet of at least one school. Gina Carbone, a co-founder of Smart Colorado, a group that advocates protecting children from marijuana, suggested marijuana shops could encourage children to engage in drug use. She told The Denver Post that the city should reconsider allowing these shops to set up near schools. “We are making this attractive to kids and young people,” she said. A recent study found that marijuana laws affect education. A 2016 report published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence examined the possible impact of exposure to medical marijuana laws on rates of high school and college completion. Researchers found that young people aged 14 to 18 who were exposed to medical marijuana laws were less likely to earn a high school diploma or GED, enroll in higher education and earn a college degree. Sabet said some components of marijuana, such as THC and CBD, can be properly used for medications. But he says the movement to legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana is more about producing kid-friendly items, such as marijuana candies, than treating serious medical problems.Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information
“None of us want people to suffer from cancer, but most people who use medical marijuana do so for back pain,” Sabet told DrugRehab.com. “Miniscule amounts of those who use [medical marijuana] have cancer pain.” He also noted that marijuana use can result in death, referring to the number of drivers high on cannabis involved in fatal vehicular accidents. In Colorado, 94 people died in vehicular crashes involving a driver who tested positive for marijuana in 2014. This was the first year marijuana was available in retail stores. A 2016 report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed the number of deadly car accidents involving marijuana doubled in Washington after the drug was legalized in 2012. One in six Washington drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2014 had recently used marijuana, the study found.States with Limited Access Marijuana Product Laws:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Many marijuana dispensaries sell various types of cannabis strains that target different symptoms.
In theory, physicians could recommend medical marijuana to someone with a minor headache. “Most doctors do not recommend [medical marijuana] to their patients” said Sexton. “They don’t recommend it because it is not federally legal and therefore not approved by the FDA” Because of its Schedule I classification, no doctor can prescribe cannabis. However, physicians can write an approval for recommendation for patients. They can take this written documentation to a nearby dispensary and pick up their medication. Many marijuana dispensaries across the United States occupy brick-and-mortar shops filled with various types of cannabis strains designed to treat different symptoms. These medications come in a form that can be inhaled or consumed. Cannabis dispensaries often are rigorously secure. Only those with written documentation can enter a given location. Individuals cannot walk into a medical dispensary without a patient ID card. “They usually have one or two large people there for security purposes,” explained Bearman. “As the industry becomes more and more regulated, security personnel are being mandated by state governments.”CNBC: A look inside a marijuana dispensary in Colorado.
In Colorado, people must show a medical marijuana ID card before entering a dispensary. Coloradoans can purchase up to an ounce, about 28 grams, of marijuana at a time with this identification. People who reside out of state can buy up to a quarter ounce. The process of purchasing recreational marijuana is a bit more lax. For example, Washington residents aged 21 and older don’t need an ID card to purchase recreational cannabis. But purchases must be made at state-licensed stores. Recreational marijuana is taxed at a higher rate than medical marijuana in Colorado. The state approved through a voter initiative, Proposition AA, two taxes on recreational marijuana: A 15 percent excise tax and a 10 percent state sales tax. Many cities and counties implement their own tax, as well. Medical marijuana can be purchased for much less. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, medical cannabis has a 2.9 percent sales tax, in addition to local sales taxes. Licensed medical users in Colorado have an incentive to renew their medical licenses: Those who decide to renew can do so at a lower rate than before. As of Feb. 1, 2014, the cost of renewal decreased from $35 to $15.Source: Gallup
“I hope we can realize that we don’t need another tobacco industry,” said Sabet. “We have to strike the right balance. We don’t want to keep people in jail or criminal records. We do want to see a balanced policy that talks about the science and makes it harder to get pot candy.” However, he conceded that the mass commercialization of marijuana has influenced public perception and legalization. The marijuana industry is a booming business. In 2015, Americans spent more than $5 billion on legal medical and recreational marijuana. The continued legalization of medical cannabis has affected recreational legalization. A common trend has developed over the years: Many states that approve medical marijuana eventually legalize recreational cannabis.Several states have passed laws approving the recreational and medicinal use of cannabis.
“I do think there is a trend,” said Sexton. “Once medical legalization is passed and society gets accustomed to it, they become more open-minded.” Continued cannabis legalization likely means lower marijuana-related incarceration rates, which has been a hot-button topic in recent years.“I hope we can realize that we don’t need another tobacco industry. We have to strike the right balance. We don’t want to keep people in jail or criminal records. We do want to see a balanced policy that talks about the science and makes it harder to get pot candy.”In 2015, law enforcement made more than 574,000 arrests for marijuana possession, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Watch. This number exceeded the total arrests made that year for all violent crimes, including murder and rape. However, the advent of drug courts has allowed drug offenders to avoid incarceration. Drug courts provide these individuals the opportunity to seek court-ordered rehab in lieu of jail time. If a drug court decides the offender has a marijuana dependence, the judge can recommend he or she enter a treatment program that uses evidence-based techniques to help the individual overcome drug problems. The National Association of Drug Court Professionals believes cannabis use can result in addiction. The organization’s stance on the legalization of marijuana can be found on its website: “Drug Courts serve seriously addicted individuals with long criminal records who have alienated nearly everyone they love. In every case, they tell us it began with marijuana. Convinced that marijuana was safe, they learned it is, in fact, addictive, causing serious cardiovascular and respiratory disease, triggering mental illness and addiction to more serious drugs, and estranging friends, family and co-workers.” As of June 31, 2015, more than 3,000 drug courts operate nationwide, according to the National Drug Court Resource Center. At a rally on Oct. 15, 2016, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump announced his intentions to expand incentives for states and local governments to use drug courts and mandated treatment. Doing so would be a cost-effective, appropriate and humane response to addiction, he said. The Trump administration could impact the future of marijuana legalization in America. Trump has softened his stance on marijuana legalization in recent years. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2015, the former real estate magnate announced his opposition to recreational use, but he said he approves of medical use. He told Fox News in 2016 that medical marijuana can effectively treat people with various medical ailments. Research suggests medicinal benefits of the drug may exist. But studies also show significant physical and psychological consequences of marijuana use. Continued research — as well as marketing strategies, politics and public opinion — will determine the future of cannabis in the United States.
Published on: February 14, 2017
Last updated on: March 3, 2020