{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/cannabis-law/3","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1975-markdown","title":"What Is Hemp & What Is It Used for?","slug":"what-is-hemp-and-what-is-it-used-for","content":"Most people know hemp as a natural-colored fiber that's used to make\r\njewelry and soft goods such as bags and clothing. Few people, however,\r\nknow about hemp's long and controversial history. Despite being one of\r\nthe oldest domestic crops in the world (according to the North American\r\nIndustrial Hemp Council, hemp has been cultivated for at least 12,000\r\nyears), hemp is illegal in many places. Here's what consumers need to\r\nknow about this ancient plant.\r\n\r\n### What Is Hemp?\r\n\r\nContrary to what many people think, hemp isn't simply the cast-off\r\nportion of psychoactive cannabis plants. There are many types of\r\ncannabis plants, and hemp is simply a variety of non-psychoactive\r\ncannabis. While hemp and psychoactive marijuana are technically born\r\nfrom the same species, they're differentiated by their chemical makeup\r\n(hemp contains less than 1% THC), uses and growing methods.\r\n\r\n### What Is Hemp Used for?\r\n\r\nFor thousands of years, hemp has been used to produce textiles, paper,\r\nclothing and household products. The plant offers a source of renewable\r\nmaterials for use in thousands of industries. The [seeds of\r\nhemp](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56b51b3c00e901000c00005b/are-hemp-seeds-a-superfood),\r\nfor example, are often used in high-end organic foods, while the extract\r\nfrom the seeds and flowers is commonly used in organic skin lotions. The fibers\r\nand stalks of the hemp plant are used in plastics and as construction\r\nmaterial. Meanwhile, the stalk of the hemp plant is used to make a variety of\r\nthings, including mulch, insulation and cardboard.\r\n\r\nHemp can also be used to develop a wide selection of [hemp CBD\r\nproducts](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f6ea9c65393944020d0000/what-is-hemp-cbd), which offer all of the [medical\r\nbenefits of cannabis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f4509e64633100064f0000/hemp-and-cannabis-for-medicinal-purposes-is-there-a-difference) without any of the potentially troublesome psychoactive effects. These\r\nproducts are used to treat nausea, seizures, anxiety disorders,\r\npsychotic disorders and depression. While the [positive medical\r\neffects of CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e12afb6539390006040000/cbd-oil-breaking-the-stereotypes-of-cannabis) are widely known, it's important to note that marijuana-derived CBD may be difficult to access in many areas, while hemp-derived CBD\r\nproducts may be easier to come by.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, there’s much debate\r\nabout whether the effects of hemp- and cannabis-derived CBD products are\r\nthe same. While hemp-derived CBD products may be easier to get a hold of,\r\nthe unfortunate fact is that they're likely not as effective as\r\ncannabis-derived CBD products, which are generally more potent.\r\n\r\n### Hemp Is an Eco-Friendly Crop\r\n\r\nIn addition to being valuable for many industries, hemp is also an\r\nincredibly eco-friendly crop that benefits the land and soil of the\r\nfarmers who grow it. As hemp matures, it consumes large amounts of CO2,\r\ncleanses the soil of toxins, and puts down roots that help prevent soil\r\nerosion and loss of topsoil.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, hemp needs less water than more traditional crops, such as\r\nsoybeans and corn, and requires no pesticides to flourish. Because of\r\nthese traits, hemp is even being investigated as a crop that could\r\npotentially be used to help restore the shrinking Everglades by leaching\r\nagricultural runoff from the ground and stabilizing soil.\r\n\r\n### How Hemp Differs From Marijuana\r\n\r\nAny consumer who pulls a chunk of hemp out of the ground and attempts to\r\nsmoke it will be vastly disappointed. While hemp has many uses,\r\nintoxication simply isn't one of them. Hemp differs from marijuana in\r\nthat it contains an incredibly small amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).\r\n\r\nWhile marijuana generally possesses a THC content of anywhere between\r\n3% and 30%, industrial hemp's levels are generally lower than\r\n1%. With that in mind, a person would have to smoke somewhere\r\nbetween 10–12 industrial hemp cigarettes in a matter of minutes to\r\neven begin to feel the mildest of psychoactive effects.\r\n\r\n### Why Hemp Is Illegal\r\n\r\nGiven its many uses, agricultural benefits and incredibly low potential\r\nfor psychoactivity, many consumers wonder why hemp is illegal. The\r\nanswer is complex. In 1937, the [Marijuana Tax\r\nAct](http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/mjtaxact.htm) set\r\nout to regulate the use of cannabis. In doing so, it put strict\r\nregulations and guidelines on the sale and development of _all_ cannabis\r\nvarieties, of which there are hundreds—including hemp.\r\n\r\nIn 1970, the [Controlled Substances\r\nAct](https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/csa.shtml)\r\nwas introduced, classifying all variations of cannabis as a\r\nSchedule I drug. This classification makes hemp illegal for cultivation\r\nin the U.S. Though hemp is grown widely in other countries such as Canada, the U.S. is forced to import all hemp due to the 1970 act.\r\n\r\n### The Future of Hemp\r\n\r\nAs of 2014, states that have developed their own set of industrial hemp\r\nrules and regulations have been allowed to grow hemp for research\r\npurposes. This amendment to the U.S. Farm Bill resulted in states like\r\nOregon and Colorado pioneering hemp agriculture efforts.\r\n\r\nIn early 2015,\r\na bill called the [Industrial Hemp Farming\r\nAct](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/134/cosponsors)\r\nwas introduced to the Senate and the House. If the bill passes, it would seek to remove the long-standing restrictions on the production and sale of industrial hemp by removing\r\nthe crop from the list of Schedule I controlled substances.\r\n\r\nAccording to Rep. Jared Polis, a Colorado-based democratic sponsor of the bill, \"The\r\nfederal ban on hemp has been a waste of taxpayer dollars that ignores\r\nscience, suppresses innovation and subverts the will of states.\"\r\n\r\nAs it stands now, the U.S. is the world's single largest consumer of\r\nhemp products—and the only major developed country that outlaws production of hemp. Fortunately, many experts in the cannabis industry believe that the legalization of industrial hemp isn't far off.\r\n\r\nIn addition to providing a considerable economic boost for the cities\r\nand states involved in cultivating industrial hemp, removing hemp from\r\nthe list of Schedule I controlled substances would also present a\r\ncleaner, more eco-friendly and more sustainable crop option for farmers\r\neverywhere.\r\n\r\nWhile the legalization of hemp is not yet a sure thing, many industry\r\nexperts feel optimistic about the future of this versatile plant.\r\n\r\nPhoto credit: [Tara Jones](https://www.flickr.com/photos/64630070@N07/5910200203/in/photolist-a1gjBv-cmeHfm-2Rngc5-6g2Hhq-GihwJ-5iv1aB-6VwZmJ-9w9UrP-2CJYsS-6VsWq2-9744JD-2CJYNL-6VsJsT-6fXrRP-7HYYuj-6VwN57-3K1SnT-6dZiwt-cfCWW-6bEbG8-6VwQku-8dLCpy-gfpCMR-6Vt7xa-aJkLtt-9dwQBS-5WoKsz-8mr8h7-aD8aEU-7Q8cD-59rKme-axtmr5-GvbNB-26cjT-Jtn4-4v9b6-5j2Qxc-4kCXBy-3TxWfm-4kCY5Q-7sF39i-BW9z-49mqmp-8TRF6F-6g2CW1-a1jbMJ-xgra1b-6mjYq-gfpCGa-7hNyyW)\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.492537313432836,"src":"/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/ee604/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.png","srcSet":"/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/69585/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.png 200w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/497c6/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.png 400w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/ee604/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.png 800w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/f3583/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.png 1200w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/17821/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.png 1527w","srcWebp":"/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/58556/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/61e93/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.webp 200w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/1f5c5/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.webp 400w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/58556/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.webp 800w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/99238/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.webp 1200w,\n/static/c3050b651958edc00f6ffa417b439fce/ef7ab/a47e91eaa980f145c8e45c24359dc0a7.webp 1527w","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"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":24,"numPages":3,"currentPage":3,"id":5061,"name":"Cannabis Law","slug":"cannabis-law","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}