{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/war-on-drugs/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2242-markdown","title":"How to Tell Your Parents You Use Marijuana","slug":"how-to-tell-your-parents-you-use-marijuana","content":"### \"Mom, Dad, I'm Not a Stoner...Really.\"\r\n\r\nHave you thought about discussing your cannabis use with your parents? Cannabis consumption can be a contentious issue between generations due to the stigma attached to it. It can be hard to break parental perceptions regarding cannabis, because many of our parents grew up at the peak of [reefer madness and marijuana propaganda.](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/the-history-of-marijuana-propaganda). \r\n\r\nIf you remember anything about drug education surrounding marijuana back in your own school, you can  imagine the horror stories your parents were told about cannabis use (or abuse) when they were kids. But, here we sit in the age of legalization and despite what your parents may think today, perceptions of cannabis have changed greatly in recent years. Plus, the majority of Americans agree with legalization, so you have that going for you.\r\n\r\nMaybe now is the time to chat with Mom and Dad about your own marijuana consumption.\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### Parents: My Brain is Not an Egg in a Frying Pan\r\n\r\nMany people lived a large part of their life during the peak of the War on Drugs. Drugs became the scapegoat of all the issues that the country was facing, especially during the 1980s when First Lady Nancy Reagan made it her mission to have every child say “Just Say No.” to drugs, which focused the lens on cannabis. The billions of dollars spent on the War on Drugs since that time resulted in a dismal failure, but the stigma against marijuana remains.\r\n\r\n![](https://hellomd-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/58b49f05e99d85000ba3172d/embedded_images/58b49f08e99d85000ba3172e/Screen_Shot_2017-02-27_at_10.51.39_AM.png)\r\n The War on Drugs delivered images like this to your parents.\r\n\r\nFast forward to now, and it can be hard to convince your parents that a drug they were once told could turn you into a crazy, lazy, crime-creator could actually help ease their arthritis pain, quell anxiety or even make you a happier person. Yet, an open dialogue is the only way to break down the barrier between misrepresentation and the truth about cannabis. \r\n\r\nRELATED: [CANNABIS 101: THC VS CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-thc-vs-cbd)\r\n\r\n### 1. Help Educate Your Parents\r\n\r\nAs a mid twenties millennial, the way I approached cannabis with my parents was at first extremely matter-of-fact. Though it may seem that an emotional appeal of  other peoples’ success with marijuana-as-medicine may be the best way to change perceptions, I found that a science-first approach works best. \r\n\r\nThere are a numerous well documented scientific studies on cannabis that show its efficacy on a variety of medical conditions and how cannabis itself interacts with the body. To understand how cannabis can be a viable medication, it's best to tell your parents how it does not always produce psychoactive side effects. Instead, I told my parents how cannabis is full of [cannabinoids](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabinoids-and-the-immune-system) other than THC, like [CBD, which provides amazing medicinal benefits](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cbd-cannabidiol-the-medicine-of-the-future), all without even getting me high.\r\n\r\nCannabis is also full of [terpenes](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/what-are-terpenes-and-what-is-their-effect) which are non psychoactive and extremely beneficial to our health. Terpenes create the aromas and flavors within different strains and also deliver medicinal benefits to consumers. A terpene such as limonene can act as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and has even been purported to contain anti-cancer properties. Terpenes are good for us!\r\n\r\nThere are a variety of resources you can look to for scientific, peer-reviewed journal articles on the benefits of cannabis.  Google Scholar can be one of your best friends by providing you access to many journal articles for free with a single click. \r\n\r\nThese studies, which come out of extremely reputable universities, can give your parents an insight into the success of cannabis in a purely scientific form. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/download-our-medical-marijuana-patient-study) also provides you with a searchable platform were you can look at a variety of articles on many different medical conditions. These articles are also full of links to peer reviewed studies that show all of the good that cannabis can do in a condensed platform. \r\n\r\nAfter you have educated your parents on the scientific studies behind cannabis, then personal appeals will become that much more impactful. Focusing on scientific studies first when introducing cannabis to my parents gave them the context to look at [peoples’ personal successes](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/marijuana-insomnia-migraines-liz-s-success-story) as a medical triumph. HelloMD has a full range of interviews, in written and video form, which show how people have greatly benefited from cannabis. These types of personal appeals put scientific information into an even more real and understandable form. \r\n\r\n### 2. Mom, Dad, It's Just a Plant\r\n\r\nCannabis has been demonized for generations now, but in the end, it is just a plant. Cannabis as a healing and spiritual herb has been closely tied with human history for thousands of years, being featured in ancient Chinese and Indian history. Cannabis is also the same plant as hemp, just with different amounts of various cannabinoids that draw the line between a medical product and a food stuff. \r\n\r\nI found that a great way to change my parents perception of cannabis was to have them look at hemp itself. Hemp can now be found in almost any grocery store with a health foods section. Hemp seeds are full of essential fatty acids and important minerals, as well lots of protein. Hemp oil features many of the same important dietary qualities of hemp seeds and is filled with good-for-you fats that keep you full and energized. It’s is a great addition to anyone's diet and it doesn't have any of the negatives that are associated with cannabis. Using hemp can be a great bridge between the many misconceptions of cannabis and can show that the basic parts of the plant can have health benefits, even without large amounts of cannabinoids. \r\n\r\n### 3. Tell Your Parents that Bongs are Retro\r\n\r\nCannabis quality has changed greatly, even just in the last ten years. Cannabis is no longer only rolled up in a joint and smoked and a bong, it almost seems retro. Cannabis comes in many different forms, strengths, and with a variety of different administration methods. I have found that cannabis stigma increases when the consumption method is smoking, especially if you talk to your parents about smoking a spliff or a bong. Try talking to your parents about the multitude of ways it can be consumed discreetly and effectively.\r\n\r\nTo many people, the idea of smoking flower evokes thoughts of a specific smell, and conjures the old stoner image. Let's be honest too, specifically, your parents are probably afraid you will be the stoner they hoped you would not be. Yet, the forms of cannabis today, are most likely completely unrecognizable to your parents and also outside of the realm of the taboo. From topical products, to edibles to tinctures, cannabis can be taken in a variety of ways that do not involve smoking at all, and they need to be made aware of this. \r\n\r\nMany cannabis products today, are specifically curated and bred to target a particular condition or symptom. CBD is all the rage today, and  is an anti inflammatory, an analgesic and an anti anxiety. CBD specific strains are known to help children who struggle with seizures live a more normal life and the intensely autistic calm violent tendencies. \r\n\r\n### You Can Change Perceptions\r\n\r\nThe bottom line is that marijuana is not a demon drug it has been made out to be and your influence and knowledge can help change the perceptions of those around you, even with your parents. With some science to back you up and some anecdotal evidence of medical success stories, even the most conservative of parents may have a change of heart (well maybe not the most conservative). \r\n\r\nStay positive, be who you are and feel empowered to educate your parents on the positive aspects of cannabis, of which there are many. Who knows, maybe one day you will even catch your Mom on the couch enjoying an edible to take the edge off after a stressful day at work. Anything is possible.\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/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/14b42/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.jpg","srcSet":"/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/f836f/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.jpg 200w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/2244e/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.jpg 400w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/14b42/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.jpg 800w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/47498/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.jpg 1200w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/54ac5/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/58556/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/61e93/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.webp 200w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/1f5c5/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.webp 400w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/58556/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.webp 800w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/99238/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.webp 1200w,\n/static/d9f3faa049c08d522e4728138776295c/5e0b8/387afc2c3dece0833f62e29b4372d45b.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2234-markdown","title":"Voters in California, Massachusetts and Nevada legalize REC.","slug":"voters-in-california-massachusetts-and-nevada-legalize-rec","content":"Alex Halperin writes a weekly newsletter called '[Weed Week](https://www.weedweek.net/)' which is a Saturday morning newsletter on America's fastest growing and most interesting industry. Leading cannabis executives and advocates appreciate its credibility and evenhanded perspective on the latest in cannabis politics, business, health, criminal justice and culture You can [subscribe to Weed Week here](https://www.weedweek.net/).   \r\n\r\n#### From this Week's Edition: \r\n\r\nVoters in California, Massachusetts and Nevada [legalized](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/marijuana-legalization.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news) REC. About 25 percent of Americans now live in states that have legalized marijuana for adult use. \r\n\r\nThe results will put unprecedented pressure on the federal government to reform cannabis laws. As President Obama said in a recent interview with comedian Bill Maher, multiple states legalizing could make the federal prohibition “[untenable](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/08/medical-marijuana-sails-to-victory-in-florida/).”\r\n\r\nIn a night that was a stunning repudiation of the pollsters' art, the nine marijuana initiatives on state ballots performed more or less as predicted. So far, of the five states that voted on REC, only Arizona, which has a thriving MED market, [rejected it](http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/11/08/arizona-recreational-marijuana-proposition-205-election-results/92893564/), by about four points. As of this writing, with 94% of votes in, Maine’s REC initiative [appears to have the lead](http://www.pressherald.com/2016/11/08/mainers-consider-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/) in a very close race.\r\n\r\nAll four states voting on MED approved it. In Florida, voters [legalized MED](http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/florida-overwhelmingly-votes-to-legalize-medical-marijuana/2302028) with 71% in favor. In Arkansas, a MED initiative has a [comfortable lead](http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/nov/09/state-on-verge-of-approving-medical-pot/) with most precincts reporting. North Dakota’s MED initiative [passed](http://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?text=BQ&type=SW&map=CTY) with about 64% of the vote and Montana’s Initiative to [expand MED](http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/montana-ballot-measure-182-expand-medical-marijuana) access also passed comfortably. \r\n\r\nEach of the MED states also voted for [Donald Trump](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-president.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=span-abc-region&region=span-abc-region&WT.nav=span-abc-region), who is now president-elect. \r\n\r\nTrump is a teetotaler who claims to have never drank or used drugs. He has been [consistent in his support](http://fortune.com/2016/07/12/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-marijuana/) for MED, and somewhat [less consistent](http://www.businessinsider.com/where-donald-trump-stands-on-weed-legalization-2016-11), in his support for states’ rights to regulate the plant as they choose.\r\n\r\nMost directly worrisome to the cannabis world is that Trump has surrounded himself with anti-drug hardliners, who are out of step with the country’s, and the Republican Party’s, gradual acceptance of the plant. \r\n\r\nVice-president elect Mike Pence has voted to escalate the war on drugs in Mexico and in 2014, called for [tougher sentences for possession](http://www.ibtimes.com/vice-presidential-debate-marijuana-reform-2016-where-do-tim-kaine-mike-pence-stand-2426351), “I think we need to focus on reducing crime, not reducing penalties,” he said. \r\n\r\nTrump’s closeness to Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor who was the only major Republican candidate to vocally endorse federal marijuana prohibition was also a source of alarm in the marijuana world. \r\n\r\nOf late, Christie has been sidelined due to the “[Bridgegate](http://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2016/11/in-first-interview-after-bridgegate-convictions-christie-says-hes-not-finished-107150)” trial in which two of his former aides were convicted, and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and prosecutor, has emerged as another candidate for attorney general. The last time Giuliani’s position on marijuana has been through much scrutiny was in [2007 during his short-lived presidential campaign](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/giuliani-medical-marijuana-unnecessary/). \"I believe the effort to try and make marijuana available for medical uses is really a way to legalize it,” he said at the time. “ There's no reason for it.\"\r\n\r\nThroughout the campaign, neither Donald Trump nor Hilary Clinton wanted to talk much about pot, but Trump’s election creates the possibility of tensions between a newly emboldened industry and an administration filled with anti-drug hawks. Whether this stand-off will transpire, and what forms it could take, is anyone’s guess.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3157894736842106,"src":"/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/14b42/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.jpg","srcSet":"/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/f836f/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.jpg 200w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/2244e/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.jpg 400w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/14b42/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.jpg 800w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/47498/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.jpg 1200w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/30294/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.jpg 1347w","srcWebp":"/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/58556/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/61e93/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.webp 200w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/1f5c5/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.webp 400w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/58556/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.webp 800w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/99238/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.webp 1200w,\n/static/728c9b8a4b582b111b9323b222573445/76870/65faf1f92087e390cd09e2d1ccae754f.webp 1347w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2116-markdown","title":"Ten States to Vote on Legalization in November ","slug":"ten-states-to-vote-on-legalization-in-november","content":"Marijuana legalization is a hot topic across the country and ten different states have cannabis related bills on their ballots this coming November. Five states have recreational cannabis legalization on the agenda and five more have medical marijuana going up for a vote. Four of the states up for recreational legalization have “regulate marijuana like alcohol” campaigns, which proved successful in achieving recreational legalization in Colorado.  The most politically decisive vote could possibly be recreational cannabis legalization in California. If California alone legalized recreational marijuana consumption, it would double the number of people who have access to recreational marijuana across the country. Here’s a preview on what’s on the ballot in three months. \r\n\r\n### California (Proposition 64) - Rec. Legalization\r\n\r\nCalifornia was the first state to legalize medical marijuana nearly 20 years ago. Now, after failing to pass in 2010, recreational legalization is back up for a vote in the state. Proposition 64 would allow for people to possess one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants. The proposition also allows for gifting of up to a quarter ounce of marijuana to a person of legal age and includes stipulations for cannabis cafes. If the proposition is passed, it would prompt the creation of a new Bureau of Marijuana Control, which would take over for the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation that is currently in place in the state. The proposition includes a 15% sales tax, as well as a $9.25 per ounce cultivation tax at the wholesale level. In the spirit of California’s boutique marijuana growing industry, the proposition would only allow for “micro growers”, who grow under 10,000 square feet of product, to operate in the state until 2023 when “mega growers”, who have plots of more than a half acre indoors or an acre outdoors, would be allowed to open. The polls indicate that the vote will come out in favor of legalization.\r\n\r\n### Maine (Question 1) - Rec. Legalization\r\n\r\nMaine’s Question 1 would allow for adults 21 and over to possess two and a half ounces of marijuana as well as six flowering and twelve immature plants. Question 1 also allows for the gifting of two and a half ounces of marijuana or six plants to other adults of legal consumption age. The regulation of the marijuana industry would fall under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Local governments would also have the option to approve or ban commercial marijuana sales within their county lines. Maine would collect a 10% retail tax on cannabis. The question, if passed, would also allow for cannabis cafes. In preliminary polls 53% of Maine voters are in favor of legalization, but it will be a very close race to call. \r\n\r\n### Arizona (Proposition 205) - Rec. Legalization\r\n\r\nProposition 205 would allow people 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, as well as six plants. It would also create a state agency that would oversee and regulate the new state industry. The proposition would also limit the number of dispensaries to one tenth of the number of liquor stores in the state, leaving room for fewer than 180 dispensaries total. Arizona would collect a 15% tax on marijuana products, 80% of which would go towards schools and the other 20% to substance abuse education programs. Arizona's strict drug laws, however, would remain in place. Currently if there is any presence of marijuana metabolites, even if inactive, a person is theoretically driving under the influence. Also, possessing 28 g of marijuana would be legal, but possessing 29 g would still be considered a felony. Current polls indicate that legalization may not be likely this coming November in Arizona. \r\n\r\n### Massachusetts (Question 4) - Rec. Legalization\r\n\r\nQuestion 4 would allow for adults over 21 to possess one ounce of marijuana in public and ten ounces at home. If recreational marijuana is legalized in Massachusetts there would also be the opportunity for cannabis cafes. Massachusetts would put a 3.75% tax on marijuana, coupled with the 6.25% sales tax already in place in the state. Localities can also ban marijuana sale, but if they choose to approve it they are able to add another 2% tax to marijuana products within their county or city lines. Massachusetts currently is a tight race, polls have fluctuated from in favor of to against legalization at various polling times. \r\n\r\n### Nevada (Question 2) - Rec. Legalization\r\n\r\nNevada, who recently got medical marijuana programs moving in the state, is looking into recreational marijuana as well. Question 2 would allow for people 21 and over to possess one ounce of marijuana and six plants, but only if they live more than 25 miles away from a dispensary. Nevada would also collect a 15% wholesale tax on marijuana. The polling in the state is encouraging, but legalization is not inevitable. \r\n\r\n### 5 States for Medical Legalization\r\n\r\nMedical marijuana legalization is up for approval in Florida, Missouri, Michigan, Montana, and North Dakota. Florida's medical marijuana legalization bill lost by the small margin of 2% in 2014, but the use of marijuana for debilitating medical conditions is back on the ballot in November. Missouri does not yet have a formal bill on their ballot, but the correct number of signatures has been collected and it is expected to be put on the ballot after the validation of signatures. Michigan is also waiting for the validation of signatures before a formal bill is put on the ballot for November. Montana is voting on an expansion of their current state approved program. Montana first approved medical marijuana in 2004, but the new bill will add to the list of conditions that qualify, repeal limits on the number of patients doctors can recommend, and end unannounced inspections of prescribing doctors. The North Dakota Compassionate Care Act is up for a vote in November as well. It would allow for patients with qualifying conditions, such as cancer, AIDs, and epilepsy, to get medical marijuana from a dispensary or grow marijuana if they do not live within a 40 mile radius of a dispensary. Some other states are also in the process of collecting signatures to put medical marijuana legalization on the ballot this year.  These states include Arkansas, which has a few more weeks to collect signatures before their deadline. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/ee604/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.png","srcSet":"/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/69585/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.png 200w,\n/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/497c6/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.png 400w,\n/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/ee604/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.png 800w,\n/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/f596f/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.png 1194w","srcWebp":"/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/58556/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/61e93/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.webp 200w,\n/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/1f5c5/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.webp 400w,\n/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/58556/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.webp 800w,\n/static/1e2020c9a0094739ee8a2778ec050ecf/e4334/7aa6e127b0316fccf18a85f566506699.webp 1194w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2147-markdown","title":"The DEA Drops the Ball","slug":"the-dea-drops-the-ball","content":"The DEA announced this week that marijuana will continue to remain illegal for any purpose. After considering rescheduling marijuana from its current position as a schedule I substance to a schedule II substance, the DEA has decided to keep marijuana where it is. This decision to maintain marijuana’s current position means that the DEA believes that cannabis has absolutely no medicinal use. The DEA cited a lack of scientific studies and no consensus among medical experts for its decision, “at this time, the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy,” [stated](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/) the report. \r\n\r\n### What are the positives?\r\n\r\nThere are some positives that have come out of this new report by the DEA. The report found no evidence that the use of marijuana leads to abuse of other illicit substances, officially putting an end to the “gateway theory”. Once a rallying cry for anti-marijuana advocates, the DEA has finally discredited the “gateway theory” due to lack of evidentiary support. The report by the DEA was also followed by a series of new rules in the Federal Register to dictate the future of cannabis research. The DEA has officially removed the monopoly on the production of cannabis for research, which was previously held by the University of Mississippi. This new expansion, in theory, allows for more competition in the production of marijuana for study, providing the platform for the growth of higher quality marijuana for use in medical studies. \r\n\r\nThese relaxed growing regulations also come with an expanded ability for marijuana research. The research of marijuana is no longer limited to universities, so private companies can now dive into cannabis research as well. This will allow for even more pilot programs that can hopefully provide the clinically tested evidence that the DEA is looking for.\r\n\r\n### What does it mean for the current industry?\r\n\r\nThere should not be much noticeable change in the current marijuana programs that are run in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana. The Ogden memos, put into place by the Obama administration, currently allow for the continuation of state-legalized industries despite the Controlled Substances Act. There could even be some positive aspects from the cannabis industry continuing in its current position, however precarious it is. Alex Halperin reported in Rolling Stone that, “[I]f the federal government determines that medical marijuana must be subjected to FDA approval, companies would have to enter a process that can take years to complete and cost more than $1 billion per product. Few, if any, cannabis companies in the U.S. have the resources for that, which might open the door for Big Pharma to muscle in and take over the business.” Cannabis maintaining its position as a schedule I substance could save the industry a lot of money and allow for the continuation in the diversity of products we see on the market today.\r\n\r\n### What do people in the industry have to say?\r\n\r\nThere have been mixed responses from people across the marijuana industry, ranging from content to skeptical with the decision. HelloMD’s Chief Medical Officer, [Perry Solomon, MD](https://www.hellomd.com/people/PerrySolomonMD),  had much to say about the DEA’s newest decision. \r\n\r\n>\"The FDA making more growing sites available is wonderful. Unfortunately, it will take several years for whatever product the other sites grow to become available for study and all studies will still have to be approved. Then the studies have to be done and results evaluated which can take another year or so. So, the time frame from today to seeing published studies can be 2-5 years from now, perhaps longer, doubtfully shorter.\r\n\r\n>It is, however, a terrific public relation stunt. It makes it look like the FDA is actually moving forward with allowing more research to be done, which it is…years from now. There are thousands of studies from all over the world that have shown the efficacy of using cannabis for many medical conditions. 25 states and DC currently have cannabis laws in place that allow for it to be used for various medical conditions.\r\n\r\n>Part of the denial from the DEA could also be in their self interest. With 2.8 BILLION dollars in their budget, they have their own self perpetuating agency to maintain. Part of the issue that the DEA is also left with is how to schedule cannabis. If they move it to Schedule 2 like Percocet, how is the prescription written by a physician? You can’t just write “cannabis”. There is no exact analysis of what you are prescribing as there is with any “normal” drug like aspirin or even Percocet. Who will be manufacturing the cannabis, how is it dispensed to patients, is it edible, tinctures, etc?  The logistics are enormous. The easiest course is to de-schedule cannabis completely, so it can be over-the-counter. The patient can then pick whatever type of product, concentration, etc. of cannabis they want. Of course analysis of the product needs to be tightly controlled in that situation as well.\"\r\n\r\nIt is clear to people in the medical marijuana industry that the good cannabis can do is undeniable, but the DEA continues to deny it. The DEA, however, does not benefit from legalized marijuana. The DEA receives billions of dollars a year, a lot of which goes to searching out and seizing illegal drugs. Much of the DEA’s revenue comes from seizing products like marijuana, meaning that legalizing marijuana would cut off one of their main sources of revenue. Though it may be a long road coming, this commotion around marijuana rescheduling could help the future of the cannabis industry. \r\n\r\n### What does this mean for the future of cannabis?\r\n\r\nAll of the news coverage on the DEA’s decisions to maintain the status of cannabis has definitely brought the marijuana industry prominently into the daily news cycle. From investors to everyday people, the issue of marijuana is front and center in peoples minds. With more opportunities for research, hopefully more private companies will look into researching marijuana. The coverage on cannabis has also brought the issue of marijuana legalization into the minds of voters. Marijuana legalization is up for a vote eight states this coming November, and current country wide polls show an overwhelming majority of the American people in favor of medical marijuana legalization and over 50% in favor of recreational legalization. It is not likely that marijuana’s maintained position as a schedule I substance will change its political standing, even with the impending presidential change. Both Clinton and Trump, the democratic and republican presidential nominees respectively, are in favor of maintaining the current system of state-run marijuana industries. In the coming years, hopefully we will see a variety of clinical marijuana studies that show what we see time and time again in anecdotal evidence, that marijuana can be extremely beneficial for aiding people with a range of medical conditions.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/ee604/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.png","srcSet":"/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/69585/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.png 200w,\n/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/497c6/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.png 400w,\n/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/ee604/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.png 800w,\n/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/035d9/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.png 990w","srcWebp":"/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/58556/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/61e93/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.webp 200w,\n/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/1f5c5/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.webp 400w,\n/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/58556/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.webp 800w,\n/static/4ab433f84ed209e101824603e976aa3c/8b5b8/1cd94091c3635f9373ee00565932e200.webp 990w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2057-markdown","title":"Myth-busting Marijuana: How the Gateway Theory Holds No Clout","slug":"myth-busting-marijuana-how-the-gateway-theory-holds-no-clout","content":"If there is one thing that every american has heard about marijuana it is that marijuana is a gateway drug. But what does a gateway drug even mean? Many of medical marijuana’s most vocal opponents rally their campaign around the idea that cannabis is a stepping stone towards harder drugs, such as cocaine, heroine, and methamphetamine, but where is the evidence for this claim?\r\n\r\n### What is the Gateway Theory?\r\n\r\nThe gateway theory first got its start from the idea that the use of marijuana would lead people down a rabbit hole of harder drug use because cannabis primes the brain for taking harder drugs due to a phenomenon known as cross-sensitization.  Cross-sensitization describes a reduction of reactivity in the dopamine centers of the brain leaving users with a heightened response when exposed to more THC or other drugs. Cross-sensitization, however, is not unique to marijuana. It has been seen to occur with a alcohol and nicotine, which are also commonly taken before users progress to harder drugs. Despite all of the concern about marijuana providing a gateway to other drug use, the National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that majority of marijuana users do not go on to take other drugs. Factors that lead people down a path of hard drug consumption hinge greatly on social factors, such as economic status, where a person lives, or their interpersonal relationships. \r\n\r\n### Bending the Truth to Prove the Gateway Theory\r\n\r\nMany studies that attempt to prove the gateway theory  revolve around the fact that the correlation between marijuana and hard drug use is the same as causation. There is no clear connection, however, that shows that the future use of hard drugs is dependent on previous use of marijuana. A popular study by Dr. Jodi Gilman in 2014 stated that even a small amount of marijuana had the ability to change the the neural matrix of core reward systems in the brains of young marijuana users. Yet this study faced a myriad of backlash from other researchers because it lacked accurate controls. The study, however, is still widely quoted and used as evidence by anti-marijuana advocates. \r\n\r\nStudies that disprove the gateway theory are often discredited because they were conducted outside of the United States or by marijuana advocacy groups. This discrepancy in what studies are accepted to be true shows the deceptive qualities of many of the anti-marijuana campaigns. Yet the tide is beginning to turn as more states legalize marijuana, both medically and recreationally.\r\n\r\n### What about Alcohol and Nicotine?\r\n\r\nIt is impossible to claim that marijuana is a gateway drug if its effects are echoed across two other widely available substances, alcohol and nicotine. 54% of high school seniors in a Texas A&M and University of Florida study, which used data from Monitoring the Future, had tried alcohol, compared to only 14% who had tried marijuana. More students had also tried nicotine compared to cannabis. Across the students surveyed almost all of them tried alcohol before marijuana or nicotine. Alcohol is legal in almost every country in the world, and is widely used without much thought or concern.  \r\n\r\nIf the effects of marijuana are no more dramatic than those of alcohol, why does marijuana receive this detrimentally negative title as the singular gateway drug? Marijuana has been used as a scapegoat drug as politicians fear that legalization will cause a dramatic increase in the use of marijuana, yet a multi-year study by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), a non-profit independent research institute showed no correlation between legalization and increased marijuana use by teens. \r\n\r\nChris Christie, the governor of New Jersey and one of marijuana’s most staunch opposers, has openly stated that one of the biggest concerns with marijuana is its ability to be a gateway to other drugs. He claims that marijuana legalization will further the problem of drug addiction that the United States already faces. Though he has allowed a small amount of medical marijuana to be permitted in New Jersey, he still opposes it recreationally and medically across the country. Christie has spoken openly against “blood money” that states like Colorado have brought in from marijuana legalization. Christie, however, has expanded production of hard alcohol in New Jersey since 2013 for increased tax revenue for the state. This large discrepancy in policies between marijuana and alcohol show a clear education gap people even in high points of government that marijuana’s title as a gateway drug could easily be applied to many substances that are widely used and profited from. \r\n\r\n### Decreasing Substance Abuse with the Help of Marijuana\r\n\r\nMarijuana has shown to provide many medical benefits which could even serve to reduce the number of people exposed to highly addictive opioid drugs. Cannabis has shown to be extremely effective in helping patients find relief from short term and chronic pain problems. The misuse of opioids, which can stem from once legitimate prescriptions for pain and later turn into addiction, have been rising steadily in the United States. In 2012 alone, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids. Legal opioids also create a dangerous path towards heroine addiction, 4/5 heroine users started their habit by misusing prescription opioids. Roughly 62% of overdoses in the United States in 2014 could be attributed to opioids and heroine. Marijuana has not been seen to have the same addictive trends as opioids, while still being able to provide adequate pain relief.\r\n\r\nIt is time for anti-marijuana groups to see the truth in cannabis: that it is a life save, not a life taker. Medical marijuana can provide benefits to patients suffering from hundreds of ailments, without potentially detrimental side effects that are present in other medications. If the title of gateway drug should be given to any substance alcohol is the best candidate. Alcohol is more widely used than marijuana and produces the same cross-sensitization effects. It is time for marijuana to step out of its scapegoat position and into its rightful, legitimized spot in the medical field. \r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/debbcollins/14251552756/in/photolist-nHmW7Q-6JcNPG-ehc35T-4ZE2Jc-rCB3g-pUwGwi-mmJK9X-4pH7w1-hm7fvj-4ZJhcw-qkHhAi-mzbja3-rCB38-rCB3a-6oLU2s-3JwVU-rCB37-fnttMC-3mh34s-5rEFDZ-rCB3c-jB7Ki2-bqSQx1-6ooFLQ-3mcCVt-oqjdEr-77NrYQ-6eyq4-6QRhVu-pBEuZ5-bGkPo6-4M8tk-4V4GM5-2qNyxc-bgjf36-dxjxRR-c6s22L-4LyN5B-4LyN3n-ymyhnb-cYRJnS-bAmvoB-61cpLv-bnWuQe-4EaD5e-g9ask-4o6iux-P2XUC-cYRC4d-oHwakg)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/ee604/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png","srcSet":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/69585/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 200w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/497c6/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 400w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/ee604/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 800w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/91e09/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.png 1170w","srcWebp":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/58556/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/61e93/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 200w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/1f5c5/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 400w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/58556/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 800w,\n/static/a03ec406bc0edaeaf2d1798d57774883/f9fd3/52e5c3770ce807a0d683db9cded7ce37.webp 1170w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2112-markdown","title":"Brookings Institute: Recommendation Could Improve Access ","slug":"brookings-institute-recommendation-could-improve-access","content":"The Brookings Institute, a nonprofit research and policy think tank,\nrecently released a paper entitled \"[Ending the U.S. government's war on\nmedical marijuana\nresearch](http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/10/20-war-on-marijuana-research-hudak-wallack/Ending-the-US-governments-war-on-medical-marijuana-research.pdf?la=en).\"\nIn it, authors John Hudak and Grace Wallack call on officials to stop\nimpeding research into cannabis, especially in light of the increasing\nnumber of states that are legalizing medical marijuana. In a country\nwhere [76 percent of\ndoctors](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-76-percent-of-doctors-approve-of-medical-marijuana-use/)\napprove of medical marijuana, [24\nstates](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/01/06/marijuana-legal-states-medical-recreational/4343199/)\nhave legalized medical cannabis and [seven more\nstates](http://www.cheatsheet.com/business/5-states-and-one-city-ready-to-legalize-marijuana.html/?a=viewall)\nare on the precipice of approval, it's confusing that the federal\ngovernment would continue to throw up major roadblocks that interfere\nwith adequate and important research.\n\nFrom the Brookings paper, researchers Hudak and Wallack boldly state\nthat, \"It is time for the federal government to recognize the serious\npublic policy risks born from limited medical, public health and\npharmaceutical research into cannabis and its use.\" It's their fear,\nthey explain, that increasing usage - in both the medical and\nrecreational realm - may be putting patients and partakers at risk\nbecause cannabis hasn't undergone some of the stringent testing and\napproval phases that the FDA imposes on other medicinal substances. An\nautumn 2014 compilation of statistics suggests that there may be more\nthan [2.4 million medical marijuana\npatients](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005889)\nin the U.S., and this doesn't include the recreational users in Colorado\nor Washington, two states that have recently changed their cannabis\nlaws.\n\nIn one\n[critique](http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2015/10/new-brookings-report-calls-for-ending-the-us-governments-war-on-medical-marijuana-research.html)\npublished after the release of the Brookings paper, blogger, lawyer and\nOhio State law professor [Douglas A.\nBerman](http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/faculty/professor/douglas-a-berman/)\nadds his voice in calling for the government to stop impeding important\nresearch into the benefits of medical cannabis. As part of the law\nprofessors blog network, Berman routinely writes about [marijuana law,\npolicy and reform](http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/),\noften highlighting how people on the national stage react and respond to\nthe issue of medical cannabis, and what, in particular, is impacting his\nhome state of Ohio. He also [pointed to a Gallup\nsurvey](http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2015/10/latest-gallup-poll-shows-58-support-for-marijuana-legalization-and-23-support-for-those-under-50.html)\nthat showed 58 percent support for marijuana legalization across all age\ngroups, with the support ratio rising to two thirds for those under 50\nyears of age.\n\nIt's that same support by the common man, and by even more doctors, that\nhas the Brookings' paper authors so very concerned. While some groups\nmay point to the dangers of marijuana, typically referring to its\nrecreational use while ignoring its medicinal value, Hudak and Wallack\nsimply point out that we, as a whole, may not yet fully understand\ncannabis intimately enough to continue relying on it as a medicine\nbefore more depth is achieved through scientific study.\n\nAnd on that issue, there isn't much dissent. In fact, news articles\ncontinuously appear from respected news outlets like\n[Newsweek](http://www.newsweek.com/why-its-hard-do-marijuana-research-69753)\nand [USA\nToday](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/18/feds-limit-research-marijuana-medical-use/31547557/),\nbemoaning the dearth of research studies on marijuana due to federal\nbarriers. USA Today, in particular, points out that the federal\ngovernment spent 1.1 billion dollars from 2008 to 2014 to study\nmarijuana from the stance of how it could be abused or how addictive it\nmight be. Less than 300 million dollars - a mere quarter of the total\namount spent - actually went to research on how marijuana could actually\nbe beneficial to patients.\n\nLooping back to the high percentage of doctors who approve of medical\nmarijuana or would prescribe it themselves if already legal or pending\nlegalization in their states, it would be hard to find a bigger\nopponent-turned-proponent than CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Several years\nago, he penned an important piece on exactly [why he changed his\nmind](http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/)\nand why other doctors might consider doing the same. He points out that\nhe \"mistakenly believed the Drug Enforcement Administration listed\nmarijuana as a schedule 1 substance because of sound scientific proof,\"\nonly to find that \"they didn't have the science to support that claim.\"\nBeyond that, he began to look closely at medical cases where medical\nmarijuana made a huge difference in the lives of patients where\ntraditional FDA-approved substances failed. In particular, he looked to\nthe case of a little girl in Colorado named Charlotte who was able to\nbreak free from a hugely destructive cycle of seizures by taking a\nspecific blend of medical cannabis.\n\nIn short, for Dr. Gupta, seeing was believing. Along the way, Gupta also\ntore down old beliefs about marijuana's addictive or destructive\nproperties, many of which were based on personal beliefs in the absence\nof sensible research. He also found \"hundreds of journal articles,\nmostly documenting the benefits\" dating \"between the years 1840 and\n1930.\"\n\nBetween Gupta's well-respected medical opinion, the paper penned by\nBrookings' writers Hudak and Wallack, high levels of support in the\nmedical community and rising levels of support amongst the general\npopulation, it would seem that the writing is (finally) on the wall.\nPerhaps more acceptance in general will lead to more approval and less\nrestriction at the governmental level. That approval would open the\nfloodgates for meaningful research and may benefit millions of patients.\n\nIn fact, millions of patients already achieve health benefits through\nthe use of cannabis in states that already allow its prescription and\nuse. Tens of millions of patients suffering from all types of\n[ailments](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/health-conditions), such as\n[migraine\nheadaches](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5abea5dcf24d1300077ccbac/how-does-cannabis-work-to-relieve-migraines),\n[multiple\nsclerosis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5936cf68a81c05002adae2f7/new-studies-indicate-cannabis-helps-with-multiple-sclerosis),\n[chronic\npain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562150d03232620006450000/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain),\n[glaucoma](https://hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c27a1d65613800063c0000/medical-marijuana-preserves-vision-and-reduces-glaucoma-pain),\n[diabetes](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5ae8fa71049b4f000a64e944/how-marijuana-may-help-manage-diabetes-onset-and-severity),\n[depression](https://www.hellomd.com/learn/depression)\nand\n[AIDS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55aec80f3837390006020000/how-medical-marijuana-alleviates-symptoms-of-hivaids)\nmay also benefit from loosened restrictions on medical marijuana.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdgovpics/6322449697/in/photolist-aCGd2p-aCG85p-aCJUZW-aCJTBJ-aCGbEX-aCJRb5-aCG8kr-aCGiF2-aCJNU9-aCGgHX-aCGaji-aCJVUY-aCGh6c-aCG9dB-aCJVtm-aCJYM5-aCJZbb-aCJZCs-aCJWiW-aCGbka-aCJXTm-aCGaPX-aCGcDx-aCJXjy-aCG7NB-aCG8EM-aCJWS7-qAEEc9-bLU7jF-bxZqho-pWrLRt-qTe2k6-bxZpYA-bxZqg7-qALJi2-bxZqmo-bLU71M-bxZqd3-bxZq27-bLU75k-bxZqo9-bxZqeY-bxZqbU-bxZqjW-bxZpXh-bxZq7U-qQW32J-pWrLEX-9yo8x9-bxZq9j)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/ee604/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png","srcSet":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/69585/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 200w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/497c6/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 400w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/ee604/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 800w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/2f01b/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.png 1001w","srcWebp":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/58556/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/61e93/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 200w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/1f5c5/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 400w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/58556/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 800w,\n/static/ee2708c07fbda16520667d4c762e11a0/177b8/e53e607d0b58c1244a3baca96dcbad86.webp 1001w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2136-markdown","title":"The History of Marijuana Propaganda","slug":"the-history-of-marijuana-propaganda","content":"The history of marijuana propaganda follows an interesting trajectory,\r\nfrom moral outrage to a seemingly objective and measured scientific\r\ncensure. In the arguments, certain themes and tropes appear again and\r\nagain, as the narrative has built on its own stories, refined its\r\napproach and responded to criticisms.\r\n\r\n**Reefer Madness**\r\n\r\nThis [1936 film](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbjHOBJzhb0) depicts\r\nthe anti-marijuana propaganda movement in its first frenzied iteration.\r\nThe narrative follows the plight of a young man who smokes the \"vicious\r\nweed\" and finds himself plunged in short order into a nightmare of\r\nviolence and murder that culminates in suicide and insanity. In the\r\n1930s, cannabis and hemp, which had been grown for hundreds of years in\r\nthe US, even by the founding fathers, began being referred to as\r\n\"marijuana,\" perhaps to associate it more closely with Mexican\r\nimmigrants, who were accused of taking American jobs during the\r\nDepression.\r\n\r\n**Marijuana, Assassin of Youth**\r\n\r\nThis [1937 screed](http://druglibrary.org/mags/assassinofyouth.htm) was\r\npenned by H.F. Anslinger, U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics, together with\r\nCourtney Ryley Cooper. Published in the American Magazine, the article\r\ncould easily be a synopsis of \"Reefer Madness,\" suggesting that the\r\nNarcotics Czar didn't look too far for his inspiration. Its notable\r\ntheme is marijuana's unpredictable quality, presumably responding to\r\npeople who had tried the plant and discovered it to be quite benign. One\r\nnever knew how the brain would react, and \"whether he will become a\r\nphilosopher, a joyous reveler, a mad insensate or a murderer.\" This work\r\ncontained a potent theme that would appear again and again in the annals\r\nof drug prohibition literature: of young people, completely detached\r\nfrom material reality, flinging themselves from windows to their death.\r\n\r\n**Marihuana -- The Evil Weed**\r\n\r\nPublished in Detective World in 1947 and written by Judge Carl F.\r\nDieffenbach, Jr, [this\r\narticle](http://druglibrary.org/mags/detectiveworld.htm) built on the\r\nassassin theme and began to associate the plant with everything foreign\r\nand strange to the American mind. The notable use of the Anglicized\r\nspelling variation -- with \"h\" replacing \"j\" -- was very likely a\r\ndeliberate choice to make the plant sound more unAmerican and menacing.\r\nHinting that \"hashish\" is related to the Arabic word \"assassin,\" the\r\narticle depicts the plant as a snake that originated in the Orient and\r\ntraveled through Mexico, then wound itself in a serpentine fashion\r\nthrough the social world of American life, determined to destroy not\r\njust the mind but also our collective culture. The article goes on to\r\nindulge in blatantly racist insinuations, associating \"reefers\" with\r\n\"jazz\" halls and \"juke joints.\" In this reprehensible but masterly\r\nexample of period propaganda, even the poet Homer is evoked to denounce\r\nthe deadly plant, which had apparently invested the ancient Persians\r\nwith their devilish power.\r\n\r\n**Dare Smokes a Reefer**\r\n\r\nPublished in 1953, [Dare\r\nMagazine](http://druglibrary.org/mags/dare_smokes_a_reefer.htm)\r\nconcocted a scary composite picture of drug users turned into criminals\r\nand murderers from smoking \"reefers.\" Beyond these cautionary tales, the\r\nreader was told that nearly all heroin and cocaine users started with\r\nmarijuana, and only graduated to harder drugs when the thrill wore off,\r\nestablishing marijuana as a \"gateway\" drug to harder stuff. One\r\nconsequence of marijuana depicted in these case studies is tied back to\r\nits very illegality. This circular reasoning -- marijuana users suffer\r\nwhen they get arrested for possessing it -- became very popular in\r\nfuture messaging.\r\n\r\n**The Surgeon General's Warning on Marijuana**\r\n\r\nBy 1982, [the\r\nstory](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001143.htm) had\r\nchanged quite a bit. Marijuana was linked to \"amotivational syndrome,\"\r\ncharacterized by low energy, diminished performance and lack of drive --\r\nalmost exactly the opposite of the manic, super-human claims of the\r\nprevious decades. Along with these effects, the literature warned of low\r\nsperm count, cancer and an impaired immune system.\r\n\r\n**Marijuana -- National Drug Threat Assessment**\r\n\r\n[This official\r\nreport](https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3300/marijuan.htm),\r\npublished as recently as 2003, positioned marijuana as the leading drug\r\nthreat to the country. It focused heavily on crime reports in framing\r\nthe argument, which was heavily skewed to the perceptions of law\r\nenforcement agencies. Again, this problem arises from the fact that\r\nmarijuana is illegal. It suggested that marijuana might be physically\r\naddictive and posited that decriminalization would increase usage.\r\n\r\nToday, marijuana still tops the federal list of dangerous and addictive\r\ndrugs. Since 1970, cannabis has been classified as a schedule I\r\nprohibited substance, the most restrictive category. However, there are\r\nsignals coming from the DEA that changes may be coming soon. Maybe it's\r\ntime to hear the other side of the story.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/invisibleinkweb/4267823492/in/photolist-7v8HeE-7v8J1u-6FJtKG-ERy2K-o7J8bN-o7K9Ar-onbC11-6W7GBW-7Q6qWh-7Q6r2j-9Af8yo-BZVYA-2UNycr-2SHXM-zxrbN-5Dya21-bdZEmk-sSivV-Czt7X-7Q6qN9-6t1ydA-8adKGF-f37iq-33RSKY-9zPgo3-4rLJGj-4rGFvp-4rLJjh-dhBszY-bPakS2-5jod4v-7Tg5Hx-8fJGNT-8qrkvj-B9tYQr-A7HGEr-e5N2FG-aoVWhb-AxPr8H-4rLKp9-B9tYP4-AxPr9e-7v8HvJ-yLvBR3-A9LYSK-5jJAGR-AvvAzA-ACxmbs-AoyvPE-AvvErc)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5625,"src":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/a2255/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png","srcSet":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/69585/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png 200w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/497c6/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png 400w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/a2255/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.png 578w","srcWebp":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/45990/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/61e93/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp 200w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/1f5c5/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp 400w,\n/static/c0e1ef437177a3a84bd01bdb9c0e8316/45990/d7dd7e666a4adfe85efffe9f769bbfbd.webp 578w","sizes":"(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2110-markdown","title":"When Marijuana is Rescheduled by the Feds","slug":"when-marijuana-is-rescheduled-by-the-feds","content":"People who are familiar with marijuana are also familiar with its often\ncontested spot on the list of Schedule I Controlled Substances. For\nyears, advocacy groups have been fighting to have marijuana re-listed or\ndelisted entirely, but as yet there's been no movement. This unfortunate\nsituation makes marijuana harder for patients to access and makes it\nmore difficult for scientists to study marijuana to uncover more of its\nmedicinal benefits. Here's what consumers need to know about the messy\nhistory of marijuana's classification:\n\n**The Low-Down on Schedule I Classification**\n\nOf the five classes the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) uses\nto classify controlled substances, Schedule I is the most restricted.\nSubstances in the [Schedule I\ngroup](http://www.drugs.com/article/csa-schedule-1.html) are thought to\nbe the most dangerous and hold the highest potential for abuse and\naddiction. These drugs are also classified as having no medicinal value.\nSchedule I substances include heroin, LSD and ecstasy. Drugs like\ncocaine and methamphetamine are ranked lower than marijuana as [Schedule\nII substances](http://www.drugs.com/schedule-2-drugs.html).\n\n**The Impact of Schedule I Classification**\n\nEver since marijuana was classified as a Schedule I substance by the\nReagan Administration in 1970, people have been fighting to have it\nremoved from the list. Research has proven time and time again that\nmarijuana has a [low potential for\naddiction](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/10/09/no-marijuana-is-not-actually-as-addictive-as-heroin/)\nand abuse (except for a [mild\nrisk](http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/08/regular-marijuana.aspx)\nfor adolescents), and multiple studies have shown beyond a shadow of a\ndoubt that marijuana has dozens of medicinal properties that can be used\nto manage and treat symptoms like [chronic\npain](https://hellomd.com/articles/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain),\n[eating\ndisorders](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/medical-matchmaking-cannabis-and-anorexia),\n[anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-for-anxiety-and-stress-disorders),\nand\n[depression](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana)\nin a wide variety of patients. There is even a [drug derived from\ncannabis compounds](http://www.marinol.com/) that is currently on the\nmarket and being used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea.\n\nIn light of its low potential for abuse and high potential for medicinal\nvalue, the fact that marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance\nis problematic. Because cannabis is scheduled at the highest possible\ntier by the feds, people who are caught with it in states without\nmedicinal or recreational marijuana laws face harsh penalties.\nAdditionally, researchers who want to study marijuana are forced to leap\nthrough a nearly impossible series of bureaucratic hoops to secure\npermission or funding, which almost always results in no research being conducted.\n\nAdditionally, doctors who want to treat patients with marijuana in\nstates without medical marijuana licenses risk litigation or the loss of\ntheir medical licenses. Even doctors in states where medical marijuana\nis legal (such as New York) still [don't recommend medical\nmarijuana](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/why-doctors-in-new-york-arent-recommending-marijuana)\nto their patients due to fears of legal blow back or a loss of their\nmalpractice insurance. These things make it virtually impossible for\npatients to have safe, secure access to medical marijuana and further\nimpede the research and development of effective, medicinal,\nmarijuana-derived treatments for dangerous health conditions.\n\n**Proposals to Reschedule Marijuana**\n\nThroughout the last 46 years, there have been dozens, if not hundreds,\nof [proposals to reschedule\nmarijuana](http://www.ibtimes.com/why-marijuana-schedule-i-drug-1821426).\nAlmost immediately after marijuana was classified as a Schedule I\nsubstance, a group called the National Organization for the Reform of\nMarijuana Laws ([NORML](http://norml.org/)) petitioned the DEA to\nreclassify marijuana as a less-dangerous substance. After a tough,\n22-year-long battle in the court system, the feds rejected that appeal.\nIn 2002, the [Coalition to Reschedule\nCannabis](http://www.drugscience.org/about_coalition.html) developed\nanother petition that sought to reschedule cannabis, although this\nrequest was [also\ndenied](http://www.safeaccessnow.org/dea_denial_of_petition_to_reschedule_marijuana).\nThe group appealed the decision but was again rejected. The reason for\nthe rejection was that there was no evidence to support the medical use\nof cannabis. Within the last several years, the DEA and groups of U.S.\nregulators have conducted additional studies of cannabis and have\ndetermined, on [two separate\noccasions](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-06-20/drug-regulators-study-easing-u-s-marijuana-restrictions),\nthat cannabis needs to remain a Schedule I substance. In 2013,\n[Americans for Safe\nAccess](http://www.safeaccessnow.org/tags/rescheduling_petition) filed\nyet another appeal cannabis, which was also denied by the courts. More\nrecently, presidential candidates like [Bernie\nSanders](http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/04/bernie-sanders-marijuana-bill-federal-law-senate)\nand [Hillary\nClinton](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-marijuana-reform_us_563e5fc4e4b0307f2cadb82a)\nhave petitioned to deschedule or reschedule marijuana, although changes\nhave yet to take place. Marijuana aficionados remain hopeful, however,\nas there is much talk about the fact that President Obama may seek to\n[alter marijuana's\nclassification](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/29/gary-johnson-predicts-obama-will-reclassify-mariju/)\nbefore he leaves office.\n\n**Why Marijuana Has Not Been Rescheduled Yet**\n\nWhile there are many theories about why the feds have yet to reschedule\nmarijuana, most experts believe that the issue boils down to doubt about\nmarijuana's medical benefits. Despite the fact that dozens of studies\nhave proven the [medical benefits of\ncannabis](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/04/vivek-murthy-marijuana_n_6614226.html?utm_hp_ref=tw),\nbig-name organizations like the FDA remain skeptical. While marijuana\naficionados are hopeful that marijuana will be rescheduled shortly,\nthere are dozens of [congressional and administrative\nhurdles](http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2015/02/13-how-to-reschedule-marijuana-hudak-wallack)\nstanding between marijuana and declassification. While many high-ranking\nexperts believe that the [Schedule I classification of marijuana is\nunfair](http://www.vice.com/read/marijuana-is-still-a-schedule-i-drug-judge-rules-415),\nCongress remains in gridlock when it comes to changing the plant's\nclassification. Even if classification does change in the coming years,\nmarijuana lovers need to realize that the herb faces many future\ndifficulties, such as the intrusion of big pharma and future legal\nchallenges.\n\n**What about the Obama Administration?**\n\nWhile some remain hopeful that President Obama may decide to reclassify marijuana before the end of his term in office, he has not indicated that he will do this. In fact, he has stated that he sees this as an issue for congress to act upon. Others have pointed out that between Health and Human Services and the Justice Department, it could be reclassified without congressional approval. At this point, most people think the likelihood of action before the end of the current term is minimal. \n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/pierre-selim/7555375146/in/photolist-cvDgNJ-9dpJ5-6iDf1Z-dW4XJM-8G2Uoi-4sSLKQ-7DxPkz-5PSw2G-5Ue7Uc-5K23eo-4sSFmb-6JTHjK-7hwRre-4kvQ5-jvHg8-5p5MQm-BVrD-NWGyo-59Djtu-4sSG3U-7CWBeh-u4nU-4sSKVj-5w6Ga9-38E89f-de3Jjh-6gwqJ2-3BQPX7-4sSGMA-4sPnG8-7Wm9Jc-4sSPrS-4e3AUY-69PhEo-5QDzDC-7Nnpkm-zTqan-ai7AtV-DC38Qp-dW4Xvv-bG83H-5Dt9xf-j6CSV-4YZmNP-8RBTuR-36abTA-yfeN9-ca8EiJ-i4ENE6-6n6QDq)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.639344262295082,"src":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/ee604/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png","srcSet":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/69585/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 200w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/497c6/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 400w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/ee604/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 800w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/035d9/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.png 990w","srcWebp":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/58556/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/61e93/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 200w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/1f5c5/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 400w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/58556/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 800w,\n/static/6affcd5d64abb1eb4070c96b67a136f6/8b5b8/d17b017415afdad3a49279bd8f8d35fb.webp 990w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1995-markdown","title":"Corporate Greed, Corruption & Racism: Marijuana Became Illegal","slug":"corporate-greed-corruption-and-racism-marijuana-became-illegal","content":"The marijuana legalization movement has blazed a forward path by slowly\nopening minds and challenging archaic laws and regulations. Much work is\nstill needed to redeem this useful plant from the toxic mythology that\ngrew up around it, however. A little bit of history can illuminate just\nhow that mythology took root.\n\nJack Herer, an iconic figure in the marijuana legalization movement,\nwrote a fascinating history of the marijuana plant and its political and\nsocial history. It's an interesting story and, like many American\nstories, we find it tracking along the lines of corporate conspiracy,\npolitical corruption, social propaganda and a legacy of racism and\ncriminalization. We've summarized some of the key plot points below. Be\nsure to [check out the whole story](http://www.jackherer.com/) on his\nwebsite.\n\n**Farming and Industry**\n\nIn 1938, two innovations stood poised to shake up markets, transform\nindustry and bring a new economy to the fore. Industrial hemp\ndecorticating devices designed by scientists at the US Department of\nAgriculture in 1916 were both fully operational and economically\nfeasible. It seemed the plant was poised to revitalize the American farm\nand transform both agriculture and industry. The plan involved not just\nthe green buds, but utilized the pulpy stalks to make paper, an\nexploding market back at the beginning of the mid-20th century. The\neconomic and ecological benefits resulting from the cultivation and\nproduction of pulp paper might have saved countless forests from\ndecimation, preserved ground water from contamination, and softened the\nimpact of the great depression. What happened?\n\n**Barriers to Market**\n\nAt the same moment, the Dupont family had patented an industrial process\nfor making plastics from coal and paper from wood pulp. Eager to corner\nthe paper market and to fend off competition for a whole host of\nsynthetic products made of nylon, the company realized that hemp, once\nit was converted into an industry of scale, would be one of its largest\ncompetitors. One of Dupont's largest investors, Andrew Mellon, was\nserving in the Hoover administration as the Secretary of Treasury.\nMellon tapped Harry J. Anslinger, his soon-to-be nephew, to run the\nFederal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Interestingly,\nAnslinger had already served as prohibition commissioner in the era of\nalcohol prohibition.\n\nEnter sensational newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, who had\ninvested heavily in timber and had a vested interest in keeping hemp off\nthe market. A [propaganda\ncampaign](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/interviews/musto.html)\nensued, and the toxic misrepresentations still haunt us today. Anslinger\nand Hearst begin to produce\n[films](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azf320JDdqU), stories and other\n[sensational\nreports](http://ssdp.org/news/blog/why-was-marijuana-illegal-first-place/)\nthat maligned marijuana users as deranged and violent. It targeted\nMexicans, Chinese and black Americans as the bad guys. They tied\nmarijuana use to [everything the public\nfeared](http://all-that-is-interesting.com/20th-century-anti-marijuana-propaganda)\nmost and branded its users as rapists and beasts out to destroy white\nculture. Sound familiar?\n\nIt didn't take long, between regressive taxes and vicious propaganda,\nfor marijuana to become associated in the public mind with every kind of\ndeviance and violence. Anslinger testified before Congress that\nmarijuana was \"the most violence-causing drug in the history of the\nworld.\" The marijuana tax of 1937 regulated the plant and made its trade\nand possession illegal. The economic and ecological benefits that hemp\nhad promised vanished almost overnight.\n\nSince that time, marijuana has continued to be a potent weapon in the\nhands of policy makers and politicians who need a scapegoat. The\noriginal campaign against marijuana provided a template for forwarding\nsocial and economic agendas.\n\n**The 60's and the Rise of Stigma**\n\nIn the 60s, marijuana use was associated with the rising anti-war\nmovement. Although marijuana became more openly acceptable in some\ncircles, publicly it was demonized, often in association with other\ndangerous compounds and synthetic drugs. As the streets became saturated\nwith heavier drugs such as heroin and cocaine, marijuana was considered\nguilty by association and framed as a gateway drug. In the meantime, the\nwar against drugs was often posited in nationalistic and geopolitical\nterms.\n\nToday, these associations linger. People still believe that marijuana\nuse is responsible for empowering Mexican drug cartels, instead of\nunderstanding how legalization and thoughtful regulation policies would\nmake the import of marijuana from Mexico completely irrelevant. In fact,\nthe growth of powerful cartels was a result of the criminalization of\nmarijuana, and their decline can be [linked to our changing\npolicies.](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56e35016c6ebce000c0000bc/legalization-of-marijuana-is-destroying-mexicos-drug-cartel)\n\nAn autopsy of our history of marijuana policies reveals a tortured logic\nthat tries very much to shape itself as a moral authority but fails at\nevery turn. Even a surface glance reveals some painful contradictions.\nAs marijuana entrepreneurs experiment with marijuana extracts in\nhigh-tech labs, many others, often individuals of color, have forfeited\ntheir futures to the American justice system and are living out life\nsentences in prison. Opportunities to correct these injustices are\nmanifest, but the federal government has declined again and again to\npass comprehensive laws that would limit selective punishment and make\nmarijuana an opportunity for all. Whether pursuing the plant from the\nbusiness side or as a medicine that has been [shown to mitigate\nsuffering](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56f5a323f763e40008000020/new-guidance-on-opiates-for-chronic-pain-but-there-is-a-solution)\nwithout the harsh side effects of synthetic drugs.\n\n**Conclusion**\n\nIn a nutshell, the criminalization of marijuana came about because the\nfinancial potential of hemp was too threatening to captains of industry\nthreatened by competition. In the 1930s, Harry J. Anslinger, who had\njust lost his position running the defunct alcohol prohibition agency,\nwas appointed to oversee the enforcement of drug laws. He was appointed\nby a powerful relative a huge position in Dupont, which saw hemp as a\ndanger to its profits. Meanwhile, William Randolph Hearst, the\ninspiration for Citizen Kane, had investments in timber to keep the\npresses rolling at his sensationalist newspaper. Despite the lack of\nscientific studies, the public perception of marijuana as a gateway drug\nremained in the public eye. This year, the Supreme Court upheld\nColorado's thriving cannabis ecosystem against its punitive-minded\nneighbors, but the official federal policy hasn't changed. What the\nnation needs is for marijuana to be regulated sensibly and fairly, as a\nnational resource, and not demonized or used as a tool for moral panics.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/47217049@N05/15599895956/in/photolist-pLvxzo-3nnmnE-cox4s5-6EqLTA-d3rirs-gtgA2D-46QDYd-2K9sR7-6QLQXh-3aTFwk-6QLSUU-6QLRam-2hPbuM-6QGKAt-2SePj5-6QGKXH-r1iQV-r1iR2-6QLRtw-6QLS7C-3cB1Jb-6QLTnu-9CNoNk-6QLTwf-7mqyR1-cxa4Mm-6QLU3C-6QGMrt-6QGLqK-6QLQLw-6QLRjw-6QGL9D-6QGK3x-bcFASR-q5eDVV-6QLRXN-6QLTeb-dUqtg5-6QGMAK-39Goki-jip6DN-6QGPt8-6QGNmR-76CSak-8nNZCa-fhw5Ge-76CRNe-8Fetuy-6QGKLt-stGeAT)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4492753623188406,"src":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/ee604/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png","srcSet":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/69585/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 200w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/497c6/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 400w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/ee604/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 800w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/a3f62/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.png 1066w","srcWebp":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/58556/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/61e93/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 200w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/1f5c5/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 400w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/58556/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 800w,\n/static/840bcb5e4349a64737aa4b330052c4b8/0465f/3794c2a21b97605fa3f221a4d917dde1.webp 1066w","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,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","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_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"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5912,"name":"War On Drugs","slug":"war-on-drugs","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}