{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/federal-government/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2348-markdown","title":"Sign Dr. Oz's Petition to Increase Funding for Medical Marijuana","slug":"sign-dr-ozs-petition-to-increase-funding-for-medical-marijuana","content":"The opioid crisis rages on and yet critics of cannabis continue to call it a ‘gateway drug’. Dr. Mehmet Oz, in contrast to this, recently stated on Fox News that he believes cannabis may be [the ‘exit drug’](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/dr-oz-marijuana-can-help-the-opioid-epidemic) for opioid addiction. Dr. Oz has released a petition on [Change.org](https://www.change.org/p/national-institutes-of-health-fund-more-research-for-medical-marijuana-as-a-solution-to-the-opioid-crisis) asking the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the White House to quadruple its funding for cannabis research. NIH currently allots $111 million dollars for studies involving cannabis—only 0.3% of their entire spending total on research.\r\n\r\n[SIGN THE PETITION: Fund More Research for Medical Marijuana as a Solution to the Opioid Crisis](https://www.change.org/p/national-institutes-of-health-fund-more-research-for-medical-marijuana-as-a-solution-to-the-opioid-crisis)\r\n\r\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4qbSRy-Xog` \r\n\r\n### Outdated Marijuana Beliefs\r\n\r\nAccording to Dr. Oz, “Outdated beliefs and policies have prevented our country from funding medical cannabis research but the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has reviewed other scientific research and found evidence that patients treated with cannabis or cannabinoids were more likely to experience a significant reduction in pain symptoms. Yet the government still says cannabis has no proven medical value.“\r\n\r\nThis statement mimics the results from the recent HelloMD [study](http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/can.2017.0012) published in conjunction with the University of California, Berkeley. Results of this study which focused on chronic pain, opioids and cannabis showed that 97% of patients were able to decrease their opioid consumption when using cannabis.\r\n\r\n### Cannabis as a Viable Alternative to Opioids\r\n\r\nOpioids have their place for use in short-term acute pain, but their effectiveness in the management of chronic pain been falsely perpetuated by Big Pharma companies and physicians to patients since the late 1990s. With 91 deaths per day attributed to these addictive narcotics, more must be done to help raise the awareness that cannabis is a viable alternative to opioids. With this petition, we hope that NIH will start to take this issue more seriously and increase funding for these studies, which are desperately needed. Please join me in [signing this petition](https://www.change.org/p/national-institutes-of-health-fund-more-research-for-medical-marijuana-as-a-solution-to-the-opioid-crisis) NOW.\r\n\r\n[SIGN THE PETITION: Fund More Research for Medical Marijuana as a Solution to the Opioid Crisis](https://www.change.org/p/national-institutes-of-health-fund-more-research-for-medical-marijuana-as-a-solution-to-the-opioid-crisis)\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  \r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/14b42/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/f836f/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.jpg 200w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/2244e/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.jpg 400w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/14b42/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.jpg 800w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/47498/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.jpg 1200w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/54ac5/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/58556/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/61e93/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.webp 200w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/1f5c5/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.webp 400w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/58556/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.webp 800w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/99238/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.webp 1200w,\n/static/25fd4459915bad1dc64434317e16eabd/5e0b8/9230e46855adc93761dd4430453ec3a3.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2318-markdown","title":"How the RICO Laws Might Impact the Cannabis Industry","slug":"how-the-rico-laws-might-impact-the-cannabis-industry","content":"\nIn 1970, Congress passed a piece of legislation called the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. At the time, it was a considered a groundbreaking regulation intended to help the government’s efforts to heavily reduce organized crime. Though the original purpose was to give the federal organizations the power to go after high-profile mafia bosses, the act has since widened its net of influence to affect a variety of organizations or enterprises (corporation, partnership or business) that may be involved in racketeering. Anyone who acquires, establishes, operates or maintains any interest in an enterprise that illegally derives its income or commits illegal acts can be subject to prosecution.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nWhy this could be cause for concern for the cannabis industry is that now private citizens are using these federal racketeering laws to bypass state law to take marijuana grows and dispensaries to court. In early June, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Colorado decided that the distinctive smell from a nearby cannabis cultivation site might be lowering property values and that the site’s neighbors could legally sue them in a district court under the RICO Act. The case has the potential to create a damaging precedent that could have far-reaching consequences where individuals will look for ways to attack and delegitimize the cannabis industry through civil cases that lean on federal law.\n\n### Why RICO Could Be a Problem for the Cannabis Industry\n\nThe RICO Act lists 35 crimes that can be considered racketeering including robbery, gambling, bribery, arson, extortion, kidnapping and the manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance or prohibited chemical. If an individual or organization commits two or more of the 35 crimes under RICO in a 10-year period, it’s considered racketeering. Individuals and organizations can be charged with racketeering by the Department of Justice, prosecutors on behalf of the government and private citizens, but the difference between the type of charges can have a significant impact on the procedural process as well as the outcome.\n\nIn criminal cases, the accused defendant must be found guilty by a jury. There cannot be any reasonable doubt of the crime of the individual’s affiliation with the organization or enterprise. However, in civil cases brought up by private citizens, the burden of proof is much lower. All the plaintiff has to do to prove—and most likely win—their case is to submit a preponderance of evidence that shows the defendant’s illegal actions caused them losses of any sort. When that happens, plaintiffs can be awarded up to three times the amount of money they claimed to have lost due to the actions of the defendant. \n\nAt the time an individual or enterprise is accused of committing a crime, the government can immediately seize or freeze any property, belongings or assets that are suspected to be related to racketeering through a process called forfeiture. If a RICO charge is proven, defendants can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and face fines up to double the amount of money they received from their illegal activities. \n\nRELATED: [Legalized Civil Forfeiture Is Un-American](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59a5c2717aedf1361c9a4d39/legalized-civil-forfeiture-is-un-american)\n\n### Will the Cannabis Industry Be Protected from the RICO Act?\n\nBecause cannabis is still illegal at the federal level and considered a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, individuals and enterprises operating in state-legalized cannabis markets can potentially become embroiled in legal battles under RICO’s broad laws. In addition to cultivators and manufacturers, this means employees of dispensaries, brands providing marijuana products, shareholders and even a company that legally rents property to a cannabis collective could be charged with racketeering.\n\nWhile cannabis’s legal status in states such as Colorado and California remains protected, its vulnerability to civil RICO charges can make entering and operating in the already-risky industry even more precarious.\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/14b42/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.jpg","srcSet":"/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/f836f/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.jpg 200w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/2244e/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.jpg 400w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/14b42/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.jpg 800w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/47498/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.jpg 1200w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/54ac5/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/58556/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/61e93/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.webp 200w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/1f5c5/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.webp 400w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/58556/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.webp 800w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/99238/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.webp 1200w,\n/static/fbaef4f3994f22dfe2c3224e311663dc/5e0b8/4362416b33a1c5dd2471980c6994e926.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2291-markdown","title":"Federal Agency Seizes Thousands of Products from Cannabis Storage Company ","slug":"federal-agency-seizes-thousands-of-products-from-cannabis-storage-company","content":"Customs and Border Protection seized 1,000 pieces of merchandise from Boulder, Colorado based company [Stashlogix](https://www.stashlogix.com/) on April 28th of this year. Stashlogix produces lockable bags with odor lock containers that are designed to help store a variety of medications, though they are commonly used to store cannabis. The products are designed to specifically to keep medication out of the hands of children, but Customs and Border Protection seized many of their products because they claimed that they were drug paraphernalia. \r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### Drug Paraphernalia?\r\n\r\nStashlogix produces their bags in China, but have since been unable to import them due to the recent seizure at their port of entry. The seizure cost the company $12,000 directly and required the company to forfeit an additional $18,000 in raw materials as they halted production over the inability to import their products. The seizures and uncertainty about the future of the company have also led to the lay offs of three employees. The bags from Stashlogix look nothing like traditional drug paraphernalia, but instead looks like any compartmented bag. The Stashlogix website also does not mention anything about storing cannabis in the bags, and the founder of the company Skip Stone, has said that his children even store their various collections of toys in them. \r\n\r\nA few months ago, however, Stone received an official notification from Customs and Border Protection, which stated, “This is to officially notify you that Customs and Border Protection seized the property described below at Los Angeles International Airport on April 28, 2017.” The agency even noted that the products did not appear to be traditional drug paraphernalia, “standing alone, the Stashlogix storage case can be viewed as a multi-purpose storage case with no association with or to controlled substances,” but that did not stop the seizure of the merchandise. Customs and Border Protection looks beyond simple marketing and appearance of products to determine if it is allowed in the country or not.\r\n\r\n### Storage & Concealment of Marijuana\r\n\r\nThe agency particularly pays attention to how it is used by consumers and looks at factors like social media to see how it is being actively used. Customs and Border Protection directly mentioned some specific reviews of the Stashlogix bags online as a reason for their seizure. The reviews, which mentioned using the bags to store marijuana, led Customs and Border Protection to state, “there exists one consistent and primary use for the Stashlogix storage cases; namely, the storage and concealment of marijuana.” The agency also noted the presence of scent absorbing carbon patches in the bag, which could be used to conceal the smell of marijuana.\r\n\r\nOne interesting factor about this case is that the products were being imported into California, a state that has a legalized medical cannabis market and a developing recreational market. Despite the rules of the state, the federal government still controls imports and in turn can deny products that would otherwise be legal in the state in that they are entering. Stashlogix is also having large amounts of difficulty communicating with Customs and Border Protection on the future of their company and whether their bags will ever be able to be imported again. \r\n\r\n### Storage Designed to Keep Marijuana Away from Kids\r\n\r\nCustoms and Border Protection has given the company no indication on when they will respond to their inquiries and give them for information on future potential imports. The company is still determining if they will be required to move their manufacturing into the United States. This shows the growing rift between state and federal laws and how the contractions are effecting the industry. The seizure is causing widespread uprise in cannabis industries across the country, particularly because the Stashlogix bags are particularly designed to keep potentially dangerous medications out of the hands of children. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/14b42/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.jpg","srcSet":"/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/f836f/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.jpg 200w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/2244e/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.jpg 400w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/14b42/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.jpg 800w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/47498/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.jpg 1200w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/54ac5/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/58556/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/61e93/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.webp 200w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/1f5c5/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.webp 400w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/58556/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.webp 800w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/99238/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.webp 1200w,\n/static/de3570a14e92a8acc0e8999cccd77ffe/5e0b8/1fab1b82b0403f4573e04158ac29cd51.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5248,"name":"Federal Government","slug":"federal-government","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}