BudFacts.com

Marijuana is illegal in the United States. Since the federal law prohibits its use, there’s much controversy between state and federal laws. Some states say that using marijuana for medical purposes is allowed, while the federal Drug Enforcement Agency enforces the nation-wide ban on pot.

Many medical marijuana clinics in California have been raided by the DEA, who seized hundreds of pounds of their inventory, despite the fact that medical marijuana is approved in California. This caused an outrage in the cannabis smoking society, and heightens the overall hostility between citizens and the government.

Medical marijuana is currently legal in the following states:  california, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Minnesota, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, and Rhode Island.

Certain states have also decriminalized it, meaning there is little to no punishment if you’re arrested with the substance on you. conducting research about your state and states around you is highly recommended. Any pot smoker should know the consequences of being caught by the police.

If you’re a student, your college or high school likely has no-tolerance policies addressing the substance, so make sure you’re aware of those, as well; being caught with weed at school is not only going to get you in legal trouble, but it will be on your permanent record for your entire academic life. Even if marijuana is legal in your state, you should still check your educational facility’s rules and regulations, as well as disciplinary policies.

If you want to have an impact on cannabis legalization in your state, there are certain things that you can do. One, you can contact your local county representatives or city councils, inquiring about any marijuana drug law reforms they might be considering. Who knows, there might already be a bill under review that you are unaware of.

Two, you can contact your Congress representatives regarding the issue, urging them to take steps towards drug law reform. You want to write, call, or email your Congressman from the House of Representatives, because the Senate doesn’t handle domestic issues as much as international ones.

Third, it’s never a bad idea to personally meet with government officials, like your state governor or a county representative, if at all possible. Go to town council meetings.

Also, there’s a right time for everything–don’t interrupt an ongoing meeting just to be heard. Find an appropriate time to address this topic. It’s a slow process, but you can be a part of it.

On Sunday, July 5th 2009, California state lawmakers passed a bill that would soon require medical marijuana (a common prescription for cancer sufferers) to now carry a label warning consumers of it’s cancer-causing potential.
This developed last month when environmental state regulators decided cannabis should be added to the official list of substances that may cause cancer. This will likely be displayed by warning labels on product packages from medical marijuana dispensaries and clubs.

In 1996, California voted to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes of ailing patients who suffered from serious diseases such as AIDS, cancer and glaucoma. Various research points to the unique benefit cannabis brings in relieving the pay, nausea and “ill-effects” that are accompanied during the late stages of AIDS and cancer specifically.
This of course has raised arguments on both sides of the effects of medical marijuana. Though it is simply explained as if you were to take a piece of vegetable material, a leaf and burn it, it will contain the compounds that can cause cancer, not a surprise. It is hard to classify the tests that were done as they were performed with individuals who mixed cannabis and tobacco for this study. Making it inconclusive from my view.

This is not saying that medical marijuana is bad for you, but looking into smoke-free options that will prevent any carcinogens from harming you. Medical marijuana infused foods and vaporizers are a great alternative. It is never good to breathe smoke when it can be avoided.

A new federal policy regarding medical marijuana was introduced to the legislation today. Bill “H.R. 2835″ will help change the Controlled Substance Act and protect patients in compassionate states from federal arrest and prosecution. The “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act” will reschedule marijuana from a schedule one drug to a schedule two drug. Also allowing legislation to protect patients in states that have approved the use of cannabis as a medicine.

Growing numbers of research has confirmed the medical benefits of marijuana and its active compound for treating a number of medical conditions. The New England Journal of Medicine has commented in favor of cannabis medical use. The nation’s second-largest group of physicians, the American College of Physicians, weighed in also for its favor in January, since California’s law for legalizing medical marijuana in 1996, 12 more states have also adapted this and 15 others have organized activists aiming to change the laws.

This is a great movement towards the right direction for those legal states. Rightfully protecting the medicinal marijuana patients, treating as any other individual and not as a criminal. Allowing those patients to not fear law enforcement or be labeled as a potential threat because you are a patient.