The bill’s sponsor noted that despite cannabis being legal as medicine in 37 states, veterans don’t have access to it, even though it’s been shown there may be benefits for treating a variety of issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Veterans, the bill’s sponsor said, should be able to talk to their doctors about the potential benefits.

How Cannabis Prohibition Harms Veterans A significant number of military veterans suffer from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the VA flatly states a lack of evidence that medical marijuana can be used for effective treatment of the condition, a review of five studies of veterans with PTSD using medical marijuana reached conclusions that differed from that of the government.Other countries, such as Israel and Canada, are now leading the charge on medicinal cannabis research. This matters because most of the U.S. analysis we do have on soldiers, PTSD and medical cannabis involves a heavy reliance on self-reporting from patients – because federal prohibition means researchers can’t actually conduct tests with it directly.

And while much of the discussion about veterans and medical marijuana centers on PTSD, the reality is veterans also suffer from higher rates of other conditions – such as cancer, pain and insomnia – whose symptoms can be effectively treated with cannabis.

The Veterans Cannabis Coalition report that some 2 million veterans report using cannabis to treat injuries that are directly connected to their military service. The coalition argues that cannabis is better for veterans’ health than many of the powerful – and toxic – pharmaceuticals they are prescribed for these conditions.

A recent survey conducted by the American Legion revealed more than 90 percent of veterans support research into medical cannabis and more than 80 percent support legalizing medical cannabis. That’s much higher than even the wider population.

Department of Defense Advises Against Active Duty Personnel Investing in Marijuana

For so long as marijuana is prohibited at the federal level, it’s unlikely the military is going to be on board (which is why a bill from Congress could be a game-changer). Earlier this year, the Department of Defense started issuing notices to inform military personnel that the Central Adjudication Facility of the department “negatively views” any personal investment in companies that make, sell or distribute marijuana. They could be stripped of their security clearance just for owning stock in these companies.

Veterans who have already left the military may find these barriers easier to overcome, but for active duty and reserves, the government’s position seems clear – at least for now.

If you have been administratively sanctioned for marijuana-related activities, our Los Angeles medical marijuana attorneys can help.

Additional Resources:

Senators Vote To Expand Medical Marijuana Access For Military Veterans In Key Committee, Aug. 4, 2021, By Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment

Beginning on March 1 of next year, as much as $53 million worth of “compassionate” medical marijuana could be donated to the needy. That equates to approximately 125,000 patients receiving one gram of flower each day, every day, for an entire year.

The Brownie Mary and Dennis Peron Act, as Senate Bill 34 is known, was sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener. At the onset of California’s legal adult-use era in early 2018, it quickly became apparent that greater legal protections were needed to ensure marijuana could more easily reach those with medical needs for it.

If you need help deciphering medical marijuana laws, or help trying to get compassionate marijuana out to seriously ill patients, our Los Angeles medical marijuana attorneys are here for you.

Proposition 64 Shortcomings It was a lot less difficult to freely gift medical marijuana to patients in need between 1996 and 2017. Then with the introduction of Proposition 64, which called for the sunset of collectives beginning in 2019, no legal way existed to move free cannabis between medical growers and the terminally ill, elderly or poor.

Under Proposition 64:

• Adults aged 21 and older can only legally gift one another up to one ounce of marijuana at a time; and
• State licensed medical and adult-use stores cannot give away marijuana (that would be considered ‘illegal promotion,’ which could cost cultivators and store owners their licenses.)

Brownie Mary and Dennis Peron Act Senate Bill 34 re-enables the charitable giving of marijuana by re-working California’s track-and-trace system. Simply put, SB 34 implores the state to conduct $375,000 worth of software upgrades, which would then allow for the addition of a tax-free “compassion class” of marijuana within the adult-use supply chain.

Farmers and retailers would also enjoy exemptions to help incentivize compassionate medical-marijuana giving. The new law will give growers an exemption of $9.25 per ounce in cultivation taxes on all marijuana donated to patients in need. While store owners would receive an exemption to the Prop. 64 law that requires a 15 percent state excise tax.

The Brownie Mary and Dennis Peron Act pays homage to two medical-marijuana activists, now internationally lauded for their civil disobediences, who gave medical marijuana to seriously ill patients in the 1980’s.

Legal Implications Making more free marijuana legally available to the terminally ill will make life-changing differences to patients in need. But more barriers will need to be addressed. For instance, many legal cannabis farmers have taken a number of steep losses, via licensing fees, taxes and general business expenditure, so it remains to be seen just how much of their crops they will be willing to give away.

Industry insiders project that in 2020, less than one percent of the state’s $3.1 billion industry might be compassionately given to those medically in need. That would check out to less than $31 million worth of cannabis donations. While that is a start, and passing SB 34 is a first step, now follow up steps will likely become a focus for compassion groups. Broadening SB 34 to permit donations of tax-free products as well, would be a welcomed follow up.

About Cannabis Law Group The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers dispensaries, ancillary companies, patients and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734. Additional Resources: Senate Bill 34 – The Brownie Mary and Dennis Peron Act Proposition 64 – The Adult Use of Marijuana Act

Last week, the California Assembly approved a bill that would permit school boards to decide whether parents can administer medical marijuana on school campuses. The bill notes that marijuana may only be administered via capsules or oils as no smoking or vaping would be permitted, and students can only receive the treatment if accompanied by a medical marijuana prescription.

Why Cannabis at School? According to the Mayo Clinic, medical cannabis has been shown to help those suffering from a number of conditions, including:

• ADHD;
• Chronic pain;
• Crohn’s disease;
• Epilepsy or seizures;
• Multiple sclerosis or severe muscle spasms;
• Nausea, vomiting associated with cancer treatment; and
• Tourette syndrome.

Although there is intense stigma and concern surrounding children and cannabis, the truth is, under the supervision of a meticulous medical doctor, children with conditions like cancer and epilepsy not only benefit from cannabis — they thrive. But parents can face serious penalties – up to an including jail time and custody loss – if they aren’t extremely careful in following the exact letter of the law. Consulting with a lawyer is something you should absolutely do if authorities are questioning your child’s use of medical marijuana, but it may be wise to reach out to an attorney before police come knocking.

If you need advice or help fighting for your right to administer medical marijuana to a child on a school campus, our California medical marijuana lawyers are here for you.

Current Law Needs Updating As the law stands now, marijuana is not permitted on school campuses. That means, for children taking medical marijuana, they must either meet parents off campus, or parents must remove students from school to administer their medication, and then ensure children are returned to school again. Those in support of the bill point out that this protocol can be arduous and detract from students’ class time.

Meanwhile, opponents of the proposed change worry that allowing drugs on campus is opening a can of worms, and ask whether current regulations set in place for children taking medical marijuana are strong enough to keep students safe.

Californian Kids Inspire the Bill The bills is carried by Democratic Sen. Jerry Hill, who said his legislation, if approved, would help children and teenagers suffering from severe medical challenges. Hill’s office noted that a San Francisco teenager in Hill’s district who suffered from up to 50 seizures a day, helped to inspire the bill. The teenager’s condition improved dramatically once beginning medical marijuana treatment.

A similar case in California, saw a school district try to prohibit a 5-year-old girl from bringing her cannabis oil to kindergarten with her. The girl’s family argued that was a violation of protections for disabled students.

A Santa Rosa court temporarily permitted the child to take her medicine with her to school, to help treat a rare form of epilepsy. The judge is currently weighing his final ruling.

Should Hill’s bill pass in the Senate, it will proceed to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Parents of children undergoing medical marijuana treatment will be hoping for a different outcome from last year, when Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a very similar proposal.

Implications It will be very interesting to see how the Senate votes on allowing children to be receive prescription medical marijuana on K-12 school campuses. Continuing to ask parents to administer medicine away from school is not only logistically challenging and time consuming, but can even be dangerous if students are having to move to and from school campuses unaccompanied throughout the course of the day.

On the other hand, it is reasonable to expect that should the bill pass, safeguards would need to be established to ensure that cannabis oils and capsules were secured from making their way into the possession of students not medically needing them. Should the bill pass, it will also be interesting to see how Gov. Newsom responds to the proposal, so soon after his predecessor prevented the bill’s passage just a year ago. About Cannabis Law Group The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers dispensaries, ancillary companies, patients and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734. Additional Resources: The Mayo Clinic

This has led to all sorts of injustices. Historically, it’s been military policy to exclude from entrance any individual who previously used marijuana as a civilian. In recent years, waivers for “past misconduct” have risen, and are expected to continue rising. Just last year, for instance, the Military Times reported a Vietnam War veteran and head of a military school in Florida was terminated for using medical marijuana extract to treat cancer.

Now, Congressional leaders have filed twin bills in the House and Senate to change federal law that would allow U.S. veterans who abide by state medical marijuana laws to avoid federal intervention and would allow doctors with the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue medical marijuana recommendations to their patients. The Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act, sponsored by U.S. Senate Democrats from California and Hawaii, notes that the drug is legal in 33 states and that medical marijuana can be used to treat chronic pain without the use of dangerous and highly addictive opiates. The sponsor of the House version of the bill said in a statement, “it’s past time to end the anti-science, anti-health cannabis prohibition laws that prevent veterans from accessing health care.”

Our Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers also believe that veterans and their doctors should be allowed to make health care decisions that are informed – without political interference.

This legislation, if passed, would also require the VA to initiate a study of the impact of medical marijuana on veterans suffering from pain, and the relationship between treatment programs involving medical marijuana to treat the chronic pain of veterans in states where it’s legal, how many veterans have access to those programs The proposal would allocate $15 million to support this research.

These measures are virtually identical to the legislation proposed last year in the Senate, but this year, it adds protection for medical marijuana policies of Native American tribes as well as in states where the drug is legal.

Sponsors note that states like California that allow medical marijuana have nearly 25 percent fewer opiod overdoses compared to those states with tight restrictions that do not allow medical marijuana. The provisions in the law that would shield veteran patients and their physicians would sunset after a period of five years, after which it would require renewal.

As longtime Los Angeles medical marijuana attorneys, we know veterans have increasingly been turning to marijuana as medicine to treat some of the conditions most common among combat soldiers.

Republican-controlled House and Senate majorities in recent years have blocked legislation that would lift or at least loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, considered a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act. Increasing evidence indicates overwhelming support for medical marijuana at all ends of the political spectrum.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Lawmakers File Bills To Legalize Medical Marijuana For Military Veterans, Feb. 13, 2019, By Tom Angell, Marijuana Moment

More Blog Entries:

Cannabis Copyright in California: Protecting Your Budding Brand, Feb. 12, 2019, California Veterans Marijuana Attorney Blog

involves cannabis. A joint project by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Toronto’s Scythian Biosciences Corp., and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis has led to the development of a “concussion pill,” which combines CBD and an NMDA amino acid anesthetic, according to UPI. Pre-clinical studies on rodents are showing improved cognitive function after traumatic brain injury, more so than either component of the pills does on its own. Trials also showed no adverse effects caused by either component individually nor in combination.

Traumatic brain injuries have made headlines in recent years as more attention has been brought to the dangers of aggressive contact sports, such as football, and the long-term damage caused by concussions. Meanwhile, football players have become some of the strongest advocates for medical marijuana. Cannabis, particularly CBD, has proven to be effective at treating chronic pain caused by sport-related injuries, and does not have the addictive properties of opioids, which are typically prescribed for such injuries. Other players suffer from conditions unrelated to sports, but using medical marijuana has made it possible for them to enjoy activities with fewer limitations. For example, medical marijuana is proving to be a breakthrough treatment for severe seizures, paving the way for people with epilepsy to perform at a competitive level like never before. All of these factors make athletes ideal for receiving the benefits of medical marijuana treatments. Yet continued backward thinking about the drug is holding us back. Time and again, these people face roadblocks in playing the sports they love and getting the treatments they need because of Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812, which classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic. Students seeking to compete at NCAA schools find themselves fighting zero-tolerance anti-drug policies, even in states where medical marijuana is legal (which is now a total of 30 states). Even NFL players and other professional athletes are subjected to drug testing that includes marijuana. Many report fighting opioid addiction because, although it’s well documented how dangerous overuse of these medications has become, they are still (in the eyes of federal law) considered preferable over cannabis, of which no overdose deaths have ever been documented.

Researchers who have been developing the “concussion pill” envision a future in which it would be kept at the sidelines of all full-contact sporting events to help control the immediate inflammation caused after trauma. First responders and emergency rooms could also be equipped with the medication to be administered as quickly as possible, addressing issues before their effects are potentially irreversible. First, though, there will be a small series of human evaluations, followed by an extensive three-year full clinical trial, and finally assessment by U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Our Orange County medical cannabis lawyers also dream of such a future. We only can hope evidence of the benefits of cannabis continues to grow, making it impossible for the powers-that-be to deny its beneficial properties any longer. Californians have known for some time the impressive benefits of this versatile plant, yet are continually restricted by the federal ban. It is time our federal leaders get on the right side of history and allow Americans to get the treatments they deserve.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

‘Concussion Pill’ Shows Promise in Pre-Clinical Pilot Study, July 10, 2018, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

More Blog Entries:

Seizures Couldn’t End Football Dreams, But CBD Oil Might, May 27, 2018, Cannabis Law Group

than opioid addiction. Both U.S. and Canadian governments have dubbed the rapid increase in overdoses to be a crisis or epidemic. Meanwhile, cannabis has demonstrated itself to be the potential key to unlocking the addictive cycles, adding to the urgency in passing more effective medical marijuana laws. In New York, emergency rules have been put in place to allow medical marijuana as an opioid replacement. Yet in Ontario, where medical marijuana is permitted at the federal level for a variety of conditions, workers are still having opioids pushed on them.

New York state Department of Health recently added opioid dependency to the list of 12 other conditions that qualify patients for medical marijuana recommendations, according to Marijuana Moment. Chronic pain, one of the key issues opioids are used to treat, is already on the list, but specifically adding opioid substitution gives doctors the freedom to recommend cannabis to those with opioid addictions regardless of the reason they started taking them. Officials are hoping this strategy reduces the number of opioid deaths, noting that states with pro-medical marijuana laws on the books have seen a 30 percent drop in opioid prescriptions for Medicaid users.Statistics as of March 2018 from National Institute on Drug Abuse show more than 115 people die of opioid overdoses every day in the U.S. In Canada, numbers are also on the rise with an average of almost 8 deaths per day in 2016 and a push for better data collection across the provinces. Meanwhile, cannabis has continued to hold strong at zero deaths from overdose year after year. Hard to fathom, then why marijuana remains a Schedule I narcotic (considered the most dangerous) compared to opioids which are Schedule III, according to Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812.

These anecdotes and evidence make it more confounding what’s happening in Ontario. Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is denying medical cannabis claims from patients licensed to use it to treat their injuries and manage pain. Other private insurers in the country have gotten on board with covering their patients, but WSIB has opted to favor opiates. Despite citing a concern over the addition crisis, WSIB has reportedly denied patients who have found pain relief from CBD and other cannabis compounds and want to free themselves of their opioid addictions. We’re used to these types of games in the U.S. because insurers have to be wary of federal laws, but it’s disappointing to see professionals still dragging their feet even when law is on their side.

So long as misconceptions and falsehoods about cannabis continue to prevent people from accessing the care they need, our Riverside medical marijuana attorneys will keep fighting for your rights. Our law firm protects patients, advises business owners, and even offers defense in criminal cases related to cannabis. We take pride in our work to defend medical marijuana users in Southern California and educating people about the truths and benefits of this substantially useful drug, especially in the face of the international opioid epidemic.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Injured Workers in Ontario Advised to Seek Opioids Instead of Cannabis, July 12, 2018, By A.J. Herrington, High Times

More Blog Entries:

Study: Legal Marijuana is Saving Lives Amid Opioid Epidemic, Oct. 23, 2017, Cannabis Law Group

State Question 788 passed with 57 percent approval despite almost half a million dollars spent on a campaign to shut down the proposal. Gov. Mary Fallin and Sen. James Lanford (R) joined several health and law enforcement organizations to voice opposition to the ballot initiative, according to a report from Forbes. Some voters claim the issue did not even appear on their ballot, causing speculation as to how far some would go to stop the measure. Even the fact that the issue was placed on a primary ballot rather than during a general election seemed to be tactically designed to set it up for failure since voters who show up at primaries tend to lean more conservative. The passage of the measure in spite of such obstacles, however, proves what cannabis advocates like our medical marijuana attorneys have been saying all along: marijuana is not a partisan issue.

Not only was the medical marijuana initiative passed, but it also stands apart from other states in that it gives more freedom to doctors. Some government officials in other states have decided they know better than medical doctors and have confined the permissible medical conditions by which health practitioners can recommend cannabis to a pre-determined list. The new Oklahoma law, however, keeps the power to decide squarely where it belongs, with board-certified medical professionals.

The measure allows for patients who are granted ID cards to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana in their home and up to three in public. For concentrates, one ounce is permitted and up to 72 ounces of edibles. Limited home cultivation is also allowed. The measure also leaves room for an extremely fair system of law enforcement in which those who are found with 1.5 ounces or less without the proper paperwork are not punished as if they had committed high treason. If they can cite a medical condition as the reason for their use, they would be issued a $400 fine. That is, so long as voters get their way.

Some leaders, however, can’t leave well enough alone. Citing her respect for the will of the people, Gov. Fallin also made it clear that respect does not extend so far as letting voters decide how much freedom people in the state would enjoy. She seeks to tighten up any points that would dare to resemble anything close to recreational legalization. Support for recreational cannabis, however, is growing quickly across the country, with nearly two-thirds support and legalization in nine states and Washington, D.C. Buttoning up medical laws too tightly could spur Oklahomans to take that next step toward full adult-use legalization.

Our L.A. medical marijuana lawyers see this victory in Oklahoma as a big win for all of us. The more support cannabis receives nationwide, the quicker we can all move on to removing the federal ban and start working together toward breakthrough medical research, creating interstate marketplaces, and learning more about this highly beneficial plant.

Additional Resources:

Oklahoma Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Measure, June 27, 2018, By Madison Park, CNN

More Blog Entries:

Med Students Must Learn About Medical Marijuana, March 23, 2018, By L.A. medical marijuana lawyers blog

marijuana-derived drug was recently approved by the FDA, making it the first of its kind. According to Washington Post, Epidiolex is a liquid anti-seizure drug which contains a purified cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive element in marijuana. CBD, as you likely know it as, only contains trace amounts of THC and does not create the “high” that so many marijuana naysayers point to as the defense for their outdated thinking. CBD oil is commonly used for pain management, anxiety, addiction treatment, and now in a drug used for childhood epilepsy. Clinical trials of Epidiolex have shown better results without the severe side effects of epilepsy drugs already on the market. The drug has now been approved for patients 2 and older. Of course this is significant for families battling this debilitating disorder, but it also could be a groundbreaking moment for the rest of us as well.

As our Orange County marijuana lawyers can explain, cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I narcotic. According to Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812, a drug is considered Schedule I if it meets three criteria:

1) It has high potential for abuse. 2) It has no currently accepted medical use. 3) Even under medical supervision, it lacks accepted safety standards.

Millions of Americans have come to understand that these three statements couldn’t be further from the truth in regards to cannabis. That is precisely why FDA approval of a CBD derived drug is so colossal. Now a federal agency has directly acknowledged the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana. It is predicted that now the Drug Enforcement Administration could reclassify cannabis within 90 days, though there is some question as to whether marijuana as a whole would be reclassified or only CBD.

In the past, FDA has approved drugs that attempt to mimic the effects of THC, for example in drugs that cancer patients use to fight nausea from their treatments. But we all know there’s no reason we can’t move past all the hysteria and start working with the real deal. Reclassifying marijuana would mean doctors would be more free to run more trials, perform tests to determine the proper dosages and strains for various treatments more freely, and the drug could be more seriously taught in medical schools. It also would finally legitimize the medical marijuana laws already in place in 29 states and Washington, D.C.

Californians have been able to enjoy the healing properties of medical marijuana for more than 20 years. Yet the federal government has waffled on declassifying or dropping cannabis to a lower schedule. Sometimes anecdotes, no matter how frequent or compelling, just aren’t enough to shift deeply engrained ideas. Our attorneys know FDA approval is a huge first step, but we still aren’t anywhere where we need to be as a country. Discussions about CBD that still demonize the effects of THC will continue to perpetuate old myths about marijuana and tropes about “stoners.” So long as such old-school propaganda continues to enter any serious conversation about marijuana, whether medical or recreational, our attorneys will be there to fight back with facts. We have your back with a variety of services that use our wealth of knowledge and experience, including helping entrepreneurs establish cannabis businesses, defending Californians against employers or landlords trying to infringe on rights, and assisting with criminal matters related to marijuana.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Researching the Potential Medical Benefits and Risks of Marijuana, March 29, 2018, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

More Blog Entries:

FDA: Liquid Marijuana Synthetic Approved for Cancer, AIDS Patients, Aug. 24, 2016, Cannabis Law Group

Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) is working on a bill that would exempt medical marijuana patients from an overbearing law that prevents them from ever being allowed to drive, according to The Inquirer. The move comes as Pennsylvania Department of Health is in the process of implementing the state’s medical marijuana program.

PA Code Title 75, Sec. 3802, as it currently stands, states: “An individual may not drive, operate or be in actual physical control of the movement of a vehicle … (if) there is in the individual’s blood any amount of a Schedule I controlled substance.” Just as under the federal Controlled Substances Act, Pennsylvania also has cannabis listed under their own Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act as a Schedule I narcotic, right alongside heroin, peyote, mescaline and the like.To call the current law far-reaching is a wild understatement. Unlike many other substances, marijuana can stay in a person’s blood for up to 15 days, which means anyone who consumes cannabis in any quantity would be barred from driving in Pennsylvania for about two weeks. Of course it’s absurd to believe that because the drug is simply in one’s blood that they remain high for the entire duration. It has been documented that the effects of cannabis will last roughly a few hours, depending on the quantity consumed, how it was ingested, and the tolerance level of the person. Edibles, for example, might still be having an effect six hours later. Meanwhile, the effects of inhaling could wear off in as little as one hour, according to Herb, though even that can vary between smoking and vaping.

Driving while under the influence to the point of impairment is never ok, and such laws should be enforced in all states. By nature marijuana is different than alcohol, however, in that it is difficult to test for on the spot. This inexact science has made lawmakers overly cautious, leading to blanket laws like this one that try to hide behind the classification of a whole group of drugs to strip the privileges of swaths of people rather than develop a proper testing system.

Though it’s true cannabis levels cannot be easily determined, impairment tests can still be administered, which is really the issue at hand. If a police officer believes a person should not be driving a vehicle, it’s likely because they have demonstrated some sign of impairment. California Highway Patrol train their officers in a 12-step examination, including field sobriety tests, blood pressure, and pulse. Just like alcohol, there are levels of cannabis that can be present without impairment, but it will take more fine tuning to be able to screen for and determine these levels.

The inexact measurements law enforcement officials are using make it essential that you speak with our experienced Riverside marijuana DUI lawyers should you find yourself facing criminal charges. Free and loose standards for enforcement are not fair to responsible marijuana users, and you deserve the best defense possible. Don’t let a judge or jury decide your fate without one of our trusted attorneys by your side.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

For Police, Catching Stoned Drivers Isn’t So Easy, March 22, 2018, By James Queally and Sarah Parvini, Los Angeles Times

More Blog Entries:

Marijuana DUI Enforcement in Los Angeles, Nov. 4, 2017, Cannabis Law Group

is bringing their findings to the global stage. WHO was tasked by secretary general of United Nations to deliver a recommendation on the level of international control necessary for cannabis, according to a Mother Jones report. It is of no surprise to our cannabis law firm that the first report from WHO described marijuana as a “relatively safe drug.”

An international team of marijuana experts contributed to the report, which was presented to the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. The report analyzed both THC and CBD and found evidence it has medical benefits, particularly in relieving symptoms of cancer treatments, pain relief, and anxiety. It also concluded that driving under the influence of cannabis is risky, but not as risky as alcohol. Marijuana use also can also be risky for pregnant women and children.Americans have been all abuzz about cannabis for many years now, with California first to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 when voters passed Proposition 215. Yet it is still illegal at the federal level thanks to its classification under the Controlled Substances Act. Not only is marijuana considered a Schedule I narcotic in the U.S., but it also was identified as a Schedule I narcotic under the treaty of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, also known as the ’61 Convention. WHO’s findings could potentially change all that. Rescheduling cannabis internationally wouldn’t change any laws, but it would demonstrate a change in mindset that could get productive conversations started.

When you think of cannabis in other countries, maybe you think of the infamous coffee shops in the Netherlands, though for the most part marijuana is still illegal there. It was decriminalized and allowed to be consumed in restricted locations. Only recently did the country ease up on some of the growing and smoking laws. You’ll be more likely to have a green-friendly vacation visiting one of the hundreds of cannabis smoking clubs in Spain. Or simply plan a trip in the near future to our neighbor’s the north. Canada is on track to become the second country to fully legalize marijuana, Uruguay being the first.

As with California, our Riverside medical marijuana attorneys know other countries might need to be eased into a new understanding of cannabis. Even though the drug has been used for healing purposes for centuries, because of intense and politically motivated anti-marijuana campaigns, we all must re-educate ourselves on this highly beneficial drug. Once people see for themselves the good it can do, they open up to at least exploring medical marijuana legalization. In addition to Canada and the Netherlands, Chile, Australia, Germany, Peru, Israel, and Australia allow cannabis for medical use. The findings from WHO could open the doors for many more to follow.

Rescheduling marijuana internationally would not only be a victory for countries around the world, but also for medical marijuana users and dispensaries right here in Southern California. If medical professionals globally can agree that cannabis is safe and beneficial, it bolsters the arguments advocates, like our experienced legal team here in Riverside, have been making all along.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

The Countries With The Most Relaxed Weed Laws, Feb. 28, 2018, By Burgess Powell, High Times

More Blog Entries:

Medical Marijuana Study in Israel Lights Way for Cancer Treatments, April 2, 2018, Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

calling it unconstitutional. People United for Medical Marijuana Inc. v. Florida Department of Health challenged a smoking restriction lawmakers added to regulations for medical marijuana. Plaintiffs cited medical cases in which smoking cannabis was beneficial to the patient, including a woman who smoked marijuana as part of her treatment for ALS. She testified her doctors never objected to her smoking and were impressed by the ways she showed improvement after smoking.

In November 2016, voters passed Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (or Amendment 2) with the required super-majority it needed to amend the state constitution. The ballot initiative called for the legalization of medical marijuana “for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or comparable debilitating conditions as determined by a licensed state physician.” Power to set regulations went to the Legislature, which compiled a list of eligible diagnoses the following year that would be qualified for medical marijuana recommendations. Lawmakers also added verbiage to SB-8A about how cannabis could be administered, which specifically banned smoking.

Plaintiffs pointed to Article X of the Florida State Constitution, which only addresses smoking in reference to where cannabis can be consumed, according to a report from The Associated Press. Section 29 (c)(6) states: “Nothing in this section shall require any accommodation of any on‐site medical use of marijuana in any correctional institution or detention facility or place of education or employment, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.” Plaintiffs said this clearly positioned smoking of medical marijuana as being covered by the amendment, but only in private. The judge agreed.

Our trusted medical marijuana attorneys in Orange County have seen many cannabis laws passed over the years that were completely unnecessary. In an effort to reconcile decades of anti-marijuana propaganda with the current trend toward full legalization, many state lawmakers have tried to impose irrelevant regulations under the guise of safety. While some restrictions are absolutely necessary, such as an age limit or a cap on how much can be purchased, other rules seem to be put in place simply to appease those who are scared of change. Some states, such as Ohio and Florida, have approved medical marijuana use, but doctors are only allowed to recommend it for a pre-approved list of ailments. Connecticut dispensaries are not allowed to have light-up signs on after hours. Other states have tried to limit the ways in which cannabis can be consumed, as is the case in Florida.

These rules play into the old ways of thinking, positioning cannabis as something that is scary, dangerous, and unpredictable. Our legal team knows, though, that with the right oversight, marijuana can be an effective tool for medical practitioners, not only for serious diseases, but also commonplace issues, such as anxiety and pain. No deaths have been reported from marijuana overdoses, making it a safe alternative to many drugs on the market now, as well. We hope to see rational thinking continue to prevail, with more extraneous restrictions removed from the law. Our legal team will fight for the rights of medical marijuana patients in the face of continued misinformation about this transformative treatment.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Florida’s Smoking Ban on Medical Marijuana Struck Down by Judge, May 26, 2018, By Elizabeth Koh, Tampa Bay Times

More Blog Entries:

“Where Can I Smoke Pot?” and Other Prop. 64 Questions, Dec. 30, 2016, Orange County Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

continue to disrupt that industry for the foreseeable future.

An investment firm industry analyst, who specializes in beverages, tobacco, and adult-use marijuana, recently shared data with CNBC, and she established a clear correlation between increased use of marijuana and decreased use of alcohol. She said in states where recreational marijuana use is legal, binge drinking rates have dropped “significantly.” She identified both as “social lubricants.” In other words, both are used by adults in social situations to help unwind, de-stress, have a good time, and feel relaxed with new people or in new environments.

In terms of stocks, the numbers are clear, as well. Her firm primarily valuates the Canadian market, with Canada on track to legalize adult-use marijuana nationwide by the end of summer. Several Canadian medical marijuana companies are seeing shares grow by up to 240 percent in the past year in anticipation. She said estimates from her firm put the U.S. cannabis industry as being worth $75 billion by 2030, assuming marijuana is removed as a Schedule I narcotic from the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812.Our experienced Orange County marijuana business lawyers know that, for quite some time, there have been numbers to support the story of the benefits of medical marijuana. Thousands upon thousands of patients have found relief from cancer treatment symptoms, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, migraines, and more. This evidence has been compelling to many, but momentum on legalization has been slow. It’s been more than 20 years since California led the way in medical marijuana legalization with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, and it’s just now we’re seeing the country really lean in favor of legalization. There are now 29 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that have legalized medical use.

The obvious health benefits, supported by the anecdotal evidence of a couple decades worth of patients, should have been enough to declassify cannabis a long time ago. Its Schedule I status indicates that the drug has no medical benefits, which is laughable when witnessing all those who have found relief under the supervision of their physicians. As we all know, though, money talks. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the numbers attached to dollar signs are the ones driving the most momentum in the cannabis legalization narrative today. The good news is, the potential for financial gain is plentiful for both medical and recreational, which means we could see more states supporting adult-use.

Even recreational use could have its health benefits if the analyst’s predictions are true. If people continue to choose cannabis over alcohol (where such a choice is legal) we could see fewer alcohol-related deaths. Because cannabis can be ingested in a variety of ways, there are choices that can limit exposure to health risks, unlike alcohol. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30,722 people died from causes induced by alcohol in 2014. This number only includes direct ways that alcohol affects the body and does not include accidents or homicides that took place while under the influence. While the comparison to cannabis is not precise, given the easy, long-term access to alcohol versus the abundant restrictions on marijuana nationwide, it’s still highly telling that there were zero marijuana-induced deaths that same year.

The benefits across the board are blatant, but if a strong bottom line is what it takes for the rest of the country to get on board with marijuana legalization, then so be it. No matter what the future holds, our team of attorneys will be here to protect your rights and assist you with all of your marijuana-related legal needs.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

We Took a Scientific Look at Whether Weed or Alcohol is Worse for You – And There Appears to Be a Winner, Feb. 20, 2018, By Erin Brodwin, Business Insider

More Blog Entries:

Cautious Optimism Surrounds Marijuana Business Stocks, Jan. 8, 2018, Orange County Marijuana Business Lawyers Blog

catching up to what California and our trusted attorneys have known for a long time: That marijuana is a safe and effective treatment for many illnesses and ailments. So safe, in fact, that laws are expanding to open up marijuana for recreational consumption as well, with California implementing Proposition 64 Jan. 1. We are now one of 29 states that has some form of cannabis legalization.

But we also know the more things change, the more they stay the same.

High Times recently delved into the issue of medical schools and teaching about medical marijuana to students. One medical journal study last year showed that 90 percent of med students don’t learn anything about marijuana in medical school. Less than 10 percent of medical schools have any sort of medical marijuana curriculum. And roughly 25 percent of graduates wouldn’t even feel prepared to talk about cannabis as an option with a patient.

The findings are discouraging, but not surprising considering the stigma marijuana still holds on the federal level. As our Orange County medical marijuana attorneys can explain, it is difficult to conduct medical research studies involving cannabis when it is still labeled as a Schedule I narcotic under Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812. Thus, fewer schools are teaching how to use it as a treatment and the vicious cycle continues. So who has been prescribing medical marijuana all this time? Of course there are skilled physicians who have taken the time to study and research the benefits of medical cannabis and have written recommendations for a medical marijuana card. Writing a prescription directly is still not allowed because of marijuana’s federal classification, but state law allows a recommendation to be written for a medical card as a workaround. These doctors see patients with cancer, glaucoma, arthritis, epilepsy and more and know the substantial benefit the right form of marijuana can have on patients’ lives.

But with a lack of physicians comfortable discussing marijuana, it’s a not-very-well-kept secret that you can get a medical marijuana recommendation pretty easily from any number of medical cannabis pop-up shops. A few minutes telling the practitioner about what ails you, and you can be out the door with a recommendation. In the pre-recreational era, many were known to take advantage of such operations to obtain marijuana for personal use. Thankfully, the law is allowing people options to legally and safely get marijuana to consume under responsible, watchful regulations.

However, this still doesn’t help patients who really need marijuana for medical treatment. Sure they can access it easily enough. Even if they don’t want to fuss with a medical recommendation card, they can simply walk into any number of shops and find what they want. But that will only lead to more people self diagnosing and self medicating. There’s a difference between a drug being safe to consume and knowing the precise dosage and best method of consumption to treat your particular ailment. That is why our attorneys are calling for more training in schools to teach the next generation of medical professionals how to maximize the healing properties of cannabis and finally give it the recognition it deserves as a legitimate form of treatment.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

10 Diseases Where Medical Marijuana Could Have an Impact, April 16, 2015, By Jen Christensen, CNN

More Blog Entries:

Issues with Medical Marijuana Clinical Studies, Nov. 2, 2017, Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

bill that would prevent employers from discriminating against employees because they use cannabis for medical purposes was recently introduced by Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), according to The Cannifornian.

California was the first to legalize medical marijuana with the passing of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Yet it is trailing woefully behind in protecting workers. Currently 11 of the 29 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that have legalized medical cannabis already have laws in place to protect employees who have a physician’s recommendation to use marijuana to treat a condition.

Assembly Bill 2069, if passed, would establish long overdue employee protections by prohibiting employers from firing or not hiring “a qualified patient or person with an identification card” solely on the basis that they use marijuana for medical purposes or for testing positive for cannabis on a drug test.The state failed medical marijuana patients by not including employee protections in the original bill. They failed even further by not doing anything since then. This gap in the legislation has since left patients beholden to employers and political whims.

More than a decade after medical marijuana legalization, the California Supreme Court ruled against an Air Force veteran (and medical marijuana patient) who was fired, citing the lack of employee protections in state law. Legislators tried to overturn the ruling, but were vetoed by the governor, solidifying that rights rested with employers rather than employees who are simply following instructions of a medical care provider. Meanwhile, other prescribed medications are given a pass in the workplace, regardless of what effects they might have on the patient.

It should be noted that the bill does not offer protection if the employee is impaired while on duty as a result of cannabis use. The employer would be able to take corrective action or terminate the employee. It also does not force a business to employ someone who is unable to perform the essential duties of a job due to a condition (given that reasonable accommodations would be provided). This destroys any excuse someone might have to delay this necessary law.

The bill also emphasizes what our skilled Orange County medical marijuana lawyers have always known, which is that “no scientific evidence exists that medical cannabis users are substandard employees.” In fact, with cannabis use on the rise in California, employers will find themselves at a real disadvantage in attracting talent if they continue to maintain archaic drug testing standards.

The bill further points out that drug tests have not demonstrated an improvement in workplace safety. Cannabis is an especially ludicrous drug to test for, considering it can appear on a test days or weeks after use, making it impossible to identify when the use occurred.

Our trusted lawyers hope action will be taken swiftly on this matter. Californians have suffered too long, not knowing whether they could lose their job because of their medical treatment. No one should have to choose between taking care of their health and taking care of their livelihood.

Additional Resources:

California May End Workplace Discrimination Against Marijuana Users, Feb. 14, 2018, By Tim Kohut, High Times

More Blog Entries:

Employers Revisiting Policies on Marijuana, Jan. 1, 2018, Cannabis Law Group

harm, and … are continually threatened with additional harm” as a result of marijuana’s Schedule I classification under Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812.

Arguments recently began in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York for the lawsuit filed against Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Department of Justice, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and its director Chuck Rosenberg, and, to top it off, the United States of America.

Plaintiffs include a military veteran who uses cannabis for post-traumatic stress disorder, a former pro football player with a business that sells hemp-based products, representatives for two young children, each of whom suffer from severe medical issues, and Cannabis Cultural Association, a non-profit organization meant to help minorities benefit from the cannabis industry, according to an article from Associated Press. The lawsuit also outlines that, while not a class action, it would benefit tens of millions of Americans who depend on marijuana’s medical properties.The military veteran, who also operates a program with a goal of ending veteran suicide, said one of the biggest challenges is not being able to travel across state lines with medical marijuana, even if you’re going to a state where it is also legal.

The lawsuit says the Controlled Substance Act has “wrongfully and unconstitutionally criminalized” cannabis. Our experienced Orange County medical marijuana lawyers know that at the heart of this matter is the blatant fact that marijuana simply does not fit the criteria used to determine if a drug should be classified as Schedule I.

Here’s a rundown. According to DEA, Schedule I drugs are drugs with: a) no currently accepted medical use, and b) high potential for abuse. Our attorneys, as well as millions of Americans, know neither of these statements are true of marijuana. In addition, marijuana can be consumed and tested safely, another factor used to determine a drug’s standing. It’s laughable to think cannabis would have anything in common with other Schedule I drugs, like LSD or heroin. Worse yet, for years spineless government officials have hidden behind a lack of research as their excuse for the classification, even though the classification is the very thing that has prevented federally sanctioned research in the first place.

This same backward cyclical thinking continues with the current administration as Sessions insists he must enforce the law because it exists, refusing to look at modern research or the upswell of support throughout the country to consider whether the law should exist at all. Like a child with his fingers stuffed in his ears, Sessions can’t bear to hear the facts on marijuana and continues to sing the same old song about its so-called dangers, like something right out of Reefer Madness.

Our attorneys hope this case will challenge the status quo and get the ball rolling toward declassification of marijuana. While state laws and several patches at the federal level have allowed patients, recreational consumers, and businesses enjoy some freedoms, it is high time cannabis lose its Schedule I status so we can all move forward.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Washington et al v. Sessions et al, July 24, 2017, U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

More Blog Entries:

Science Does Not Support Jeff Sessions’ War on Marijuana, July 5, 2017, Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

blocks the Justice Department’s ability to spend money on prosecuting medical marijuana operations that are compliant with their state’s relevant laws.

However, this amendment is not a permanent structure and is put in peril every time the government shuts down and Congress must pass a spending measure. Given the tumultuous nature of the current budget debates at the federal level, this has already happened multiple times this year. Each time Congress goes for a vote, the medical marijuana community must hold its breath and wait to see if the amendment will be included in the next budget parameters. That’s no way to treat respectable business owners.

So far it has survived each round, but with another vote coming up in March, we’re not in the clear just yet, according to Leafly.

For years Congress has been dancing a political tango that has put millions of Americans in the cross hairs. They want to reap the benefits of support from the majority of Americans who support marijuana legalization. But they don’t want to upset the shrinking population still embroiled in the bunk “War on Drugs.” Others just don’t seem to want to admit they might have been wrong all these years about the proven benefits of cannabis.

So instead of doing the right thing and removing marijuana from the list of Schedule I narcotics under Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812, they create patches that keep the drug illegal on the federal level, but tie the hands of those who might try to enforce the law.

These patches, however, have become a target under this administration’s antiquated anti-marijuana agenda.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has already removed one such patch. He recently withdrew the Cole Memo, a 2013 Department of Justice directive which instructed prosecutors to not go after cannabis crimes that were in compliance with state laws. And since the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment only protects medical marijuana, those in the industry not protected under that umbrella have become nervous. While funding and support to pursue such charges is lacking, our medical marijuana lawyers in Orange County know there are ways federal officials can make life more difficult for honest business owners.

U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) along with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) are hoping to make the amendment named after them more permanent by trying to put it to a floor vote by the full House, a step that has alluded them in the past. They also would like to expand the protections to include recreational marijuana laws in the states. They seem to have backing among their peers at least for medical, though how difficult it will be to add adult-use to the amendment is unclear. It is absurd that adult-use is still even a question considering Pew Research Center has reported 61% of Americans are in favor of legalization, and the number continues to rise.

In the meantime, it is more important than ever for marijuana businesses to keep their noses clean and comply with all state and local laws. Any step out of line could make your business a target for those looking to undermine progress. Our experienced attorneys are here to help you set your business up right the first time and keep you in check as the industry and laws continue to evolve.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Budget Deal Extends Medical Marijuana Protections, But Only Temporarily, Feb. 9, 2018, By David Hodes, Leafly

More Blog Entries:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Asks Congress to Let Him Prosecute Medical Marijuana, July 3, 2017, By Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

struggling with best practices and how to implement the laws quickly and correctly. It often falls to state departments, local legislatures, and other agencies to sort out licensing and sales practices.

Though this process can be difficult for the government agencies in charge of such oversights, it is the citizens of the state who suffer the most when provisions are dragged out unnecessarily.

This has led to lawsuits filed by those who allege they have experienced direct pain or damages due to the way states are implementing new laws.Recently, a lawsuit was filed in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit Court against the Florida Department of Health for failing to comply with Amendment 2 of the state’s constitution allowing for the sale and use of medical marijuana.

The amendment appeared on the ballot and received a majority vote in November 2016, and the state legislature signed into law provisions for implementation. According to Florida Senate Bill SB8A, the state Department of Health was mandated to issue 10 new Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) licenses by Oct. 3, 2017, but had not at the time of the filing. MMTCs are the only places allowed to process, grow, and sell medical marijuana in the state.

The plaintiffs are a Florida nursery planning to provide medical marijuana and an epilepsy patient who is seeking relief from seizures.

The family who owns the nursery said they were inspired to convert their facility into a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) as a result of a family member who served in the U.S. Army. Though their loved one passed away in January, the family firmly believes medical marijuana could have prolonged his life and are determined to get a license to prevent the same fate for other veterans and suffering patients, according to the Huffington Post. The family claims they have gone above and beyond preparing to get a license, traveling to other states and learning the ropes to convert their facility, but that the Department of Health has failed to meet required standards.

The second plaintiff was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 13 and alleges marijuana is the only relief he can get from the multiple potentially lethal seizures he experiences on a daily basis. He claims to have been prescribed a battery of drugs that have proven ineffective over time and that come with harmful side effects, such as depleting his bones of calcium.

The Department of Health said that it is diligently working to implement the law, but has run into holdups due to other legal challenges to the legislation.

Our Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers are watching this and similar cases closely. We are monitoring ways that delays in California could affect the people in and around Los Angeles. If you have experienced harm in any way as the result of improper implementation of cannabis laws, our team will explain the latest local, state, and federal laws and help protect your rights.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Two Suffering Florida Families Sue the State to Force Compliance with Medical Marijuana Law, Nov., 22, 2017, by Gary J. Stein, Huffington Post

Bill’s Nursery, Inc. and Bowen v. The Florida Department of Health, Nov. 21, 2017, Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit Court

Other Blog Entries:

Florida Lawmakers Consider Expanding Medical Marijuana Law, April 2, 2017, Cannabis Law Group

The Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution essentially states that if Congress creates a law under the enumerated or implied powers afforded to it by the Constitution, that law is supreme to any state or local law. Whether congress has the power to act on in certain area has been subject to much debate and judicial decisions, but for the purposes of this blog post, we understand that congress has the power to regulate the licensing of drugs sold in the U.S.

As our Los Angeles medical marijuana attorneys can explain, while Congress has the power to make these laws, it is up to the executive branch of the government (President and his administration) to enforce those laws. This means that when congress made marijuana illegal, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other federal law enforcement agencies can make cases and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) can prosecute those offenders. However, while congress was unwilling to remove marijuana from Schedule One, they were willing to stop federal agencies from enforcing the laws in states where it is legal though the use of the Rohrabacher-Farr Act.

Rohrabacher-Farr Act

The Rohrabacher-Farr Act states that no money provided to the DOJ can be used to prosecute the legal cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of medical marijuana in states where it is legal under relevant state law. It is important to note that this protection does not extend to the recreational use of marijuana.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said on many occasions that marijuana use is wrong. He has said “good people do not use marijuana” and he has said that marijuana is just as bad as heroin. While many think those opinions are absurd, he has not relented in these positions, though he may have softened ever so slightly during his recent testimony on various issues.

According to a recent news article from Newsweek, sessions has been hard at work to find ways the act does not apply to his enforcement efforts and signals his intention to start the crack down soon. The likely way he plans to get around the act is by having federal agents bust medical marijuana businesses and then find tax laws and banking laws that they are likely not adhering to, because adherence would be illegal, and claim they are not spending any money to prosecute the sale, cultivation, distribution, or possession of medical marijuana in states in which it was legal.

While this is a thinly veiled attempt to usurp the will of Congress, it will likely create some major headaches if he goes through with his plans to go after medical marijuana businesses in California and other states.

Our dedicated marijuana attorneys are committed to fighting vigorously for the rights of collectives, businesses, patients, property owners and others.

The Los Angeles Cannabis Law Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

How Jeff Sessions Plans to End Medical Marijuana Before the Year Is Over, November 24, 2017, By Melina Delkic, Newsweek

More Blog Entries:

Expanding Marijuana Regulations are Creating a State Government Hiring Binge, October 14, 2017, by Cannabis Law Group

There is a good chance they will still be able to get it from the same dispensaries they have been going to because of the fact that colocation will be legal in most places. This means that the same dispensaries that are already in existence will be able to also sell marijuana for recreational use. As our Orange County medical marijuana attorneys can explain, there are a variety of reasons why one might still want to purchase medical marijuana when they are able to legally purchase marijuana for recreational use. One of the reasons is that it may be a lot cheaper to purchase their medicine from a medical marijuana dispensary or even from a cooperative.

We must remember that those who pushed for medical marijuana to become legal decades ago in our state did so as part of a grassroots efforts to make sure marijuana would be respected as real medicine and those in need of the drug could get it. They not only wanted it to become legal, as it eventually did back in 1996, but they wanted even if the poorest individuals who could not work due to their illness to able to get their hands on medical marijuana.

These early advocates risked arrest and federal prosecution so they could get their medical marijuana and make sure others could get it too. They did not see it is a major industry back then, but these days it has become a billion-dollar industry. While that is great news for those in the cannabis business these days, and those who are hoping to get into the business, we should not forget the hard work and sacrifices those advocates made and keeping medical marijuana available and affordable is one way to do that.

One of the major issues faced by those who need medical marijuana, aside from cost, is that they are too sick to leave their homes to get the medicine. In some cases, they are fortunate enough to have a caregiver than can be registered with a dispensary to get the marijuana for their patient. However, this is something everyone does not have, as it is typically a family member that serves that function. As discussed in a recent news article from Green Rush Daily, getting medical marijuana delivered by a service may be the way to go for many patients in Orange County.

You will still need a medical marijuana recommendation letter from a doctor in California, even though Proposition 64 has passed, if you want medical marijuana delivered to your home. You will also need a cannabis card. Once you have this, you can register with an app on your phone and get a delivery service to bring your marijuana order to your home.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

How to Get Medical Marijuana Delivery in Orange County, June 23, 2017, By NuggMD, Green Daily Rush

More Blog Entries: Report: Colorado Marijuana Laws May Not be Safe, Feb. 5, 2017, L.A. Marijuana Lawyer Blog

The previous attempt at the CARERS Act, which stands for Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect State, called for moving marijuana from the highest schedule and moving it down to a Schedule Two controlled substance.As our Los Angeles medical marijuana attorneys can explain, on some levels that would be a very good move. Moving cannabis to a lower schedule would allow more research to be done on the drug, and that would allow for many more treatments, and it would allow cannabis to gain acceptance from the peer-reviewed medical community. However, it would also allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to obtain jurisdiction over medical marijuana, and every time a producer wanted to claim their product had medicinal value and could treat a specific medical condition, they would need to do extensive clinical testing, adhere to labeling and naming requirements, and seek approval to put their drugs on the market. While this might be helpful to patients, it would be very detrimental to the industry at large.

This law did not get voted in to law by the U.S. Senate in the 2015 Congress, and it died on the floor, as they often say. According to a recent news article from The Motley Fool, the CARERS Act has been proposed again with some major changes. It has bipartisan support, as it has broad democratic support and support from Libertarian members of the GOP, such as Senator Rand Paul.

In this new version of the CARERS Act, there is no attempt to remove marijuana from Schedule One, but it would call for a redrafting of the USCSA to allow states to decide if they want to allow their residents to be able to obtain marijuana for recreational or medical purposes. If this bill passes, it would mean that the federal government would have no power to enforce federal drug laws with respect to marijuana in states where it is legal. This has become more important recently, as the current administration, as led by Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard “Jeff” Sessions III, has said that good people don’t use marijuana. He also said that he does not support the use of medical marijuana, and he said that he intends to prosecute cases despite Congress ordering no funds be spent on enforcing the existing law. This was not a problem with the Obama administration, but until marijuana is legal on a federal level, this can change with any new administration.

One other change that is rather odd in the new version of the CARERS Act is that there is no provision that federally insured banks and credit unions (virtually every bank in the U.S.) can take money from marijuana industry businesses. This means they are cash-only businesses, which creates a major headache.

The Los Angeles Cannabis Law Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

It’s Back! The Senate Just Reintroduced a Potentially Game-Changing Medical Marijuana Bill, June 25, 2017, By Sean Williams, The Motley Fool

More Blog Entries:

Marijuana Equipment Business is Booming, April 14, 2017, Cannabis Law Group