Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers know the law is significant for two main reasons:

• It does not force public school districts to adopt any policy compelling school personnel to administer medical cannabis products to children;
• It does give access to the largest public school population in the nation (roughly 6 million).

Although the law is controversial, it is not without precedent. Eight other states (Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, Illinois, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey and Maine) also allow medical marijuana to be administered to children on campus. Thus far, none of those schools that allow this practice has lost federal funding.

California became the first state nationally to decriminalize medical marijuana back in 1996. Children with certain conditions and disabilities were prescribed the drug even then, but the question of whether or how it should be administered to children in a school setting wasn’t resolved – until now, with the passage of Senate Bill 223, also known as JoJo’s Act.

Rules Under JoJo’s Act

JoJo’s Act was named for a teenager in San Francisco with severe, potentially life-threatening seizures that are effectively treated with doses of cannabis oil. The law enables school district boards, county boards of education and governing bodies of charter schools to decide whether to give the parents or guardians of a student permission to administer medical cannabis.

There are, however, a number of strict limits, and school boards do not have to approve these requests. Among the guidelines that must be met:

• The student must be a qualified patient with a written, valid recommendation for medical cannabis by a physician.
• The medical cannabis must be administered in non-smokable and non-vapable form. (Most medical marijuana products recommended for children already come in pill, liquid, topical cream, tincture or oil form anyway, and most don’t have the sort of psychoactive effects of recreational marijuana.)
• The supply of medical cannabis cannot be stored on school property; parents or guardians must bring it and take it with them when they leave.
• The administering parent or guardian must sign in and must not expose other students to the medical cannabis or otherwise disrupt the educational environment.

It’s important to underscore the fact that this law does not establish a mandate. Schools are not required to allow medical marijuana to be administered to students, and if they do not adopt the policies locally, the practice will still be prohibited. However, before this law passed, possession and use of cannabis within 1,000 feet of a school was against the law.

The change came about in large part because of increasing recognition that the pediatric conditions treated most effectively by cannabis do require regular administration. To get around this law, parents and guardians were having to pull their children out of class and out of the school building to give them their daily doses.

The law allows for some flexibility while creating some clear guidelines but also allowing local governing bodies to create medical cannabis policies that will best suit their students.

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

Additional Resources:

INSIGHT: California Allows Medicinal Cannabis in Public Schools—A National Milestone for Cannabis Laws, Jan. 21, 2020, Bloomberg Law

The 1996 Compassionate Use Act allowed growers and distributors to donate a portion of their marijuana crop to small, non-profit collectives (and later dispensaries) which in turn would pass them along for free to indigent medical marijuana patients. Many of these were suffering from conditions like epilepsy, AIDS, cancer, chronic pain and PTSD, and were able to avoid dangerous, addictive opioids and other powerful drugs.

But when Proposition 64 passed in 2016, legalizing marijuana for recreational use by adults in California, the crop started being taxed at virtually every stage of production and distribution. The compassionate use donations became virtually non-existent, as Prop. 64 called for a sunset on collectives by January 2019. (Today there are only a few dozen compassion programs through which a small number of patients receive free cannabis.) Although any adult over 21 can gift any other adult over 21 with up to one ounce of the drug at the time, dispensary owners risked breaking the law if they did so; it was considered illegal advertising. Those stores could lose their licenses. Therefore any cannabis that made its way into consumers’ hands was treated as a sale. Some suspect this is a significant part of what is driving black market sales.

Los Angeles marijuana business lawyers note however that there is a measure of relief in sight. In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 34 making medical marijuana donations tax exempt. It goes into effect March 1st. State analysts estimate some $53 million in medical cannabis could be donated annually, enough to gift one gram of flower daily to 125,000 patients annually.

The new law will once again allow charitable cannabis giving by adding a special code for compassionate class cannabis. The law also extends growers a $9.25 per ounce cultivation tax break for what they donate to indigent medical marijuana patients. Retailers will be exempted from the 15 percent excise tax they pay for cannabis donated to patients.

What we don’t yet know is how many growers and retailers will participate. As it stands, many are already grappling with substantial losses, thanks to high taxes and testing costs and stiff competition from the black market. SB 34 allows cannabis companies to donate, but it still means they are in effect paying the state to make a donation. But even if state estimates are correct that only 1 percent of the existing legal crop is donated to needy patients, that would still work out to about $31 million worth of cannabis.

However, very few people have state-issued medical cannabis IDs these days. They are time-consuming and expensive to obtain. But one wouldn’t necessarily need to present a medical marijuana card to obtain a donation. Stores may establish their own policies for who qualifies. Some require proof of a doctor’s recommendation and some type of proof of disability, such as the stub of a welfare check.

In certain locations, like Berkeley, local laws require a certain portion of donations go to the needy. Prior to SB 34, many stores have launched fundraisers to make ends meet so they don’t fall short on their obligation. For many, SB 34 means they will no longer need to do so.

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

Additional Resources: California Attempts to Revive Compassionate Cannabis Programs, Jan. 3, 2020, By Mark Kreidler, Los Angeles Sentinel

numbers as a result of the blossoming cannabis economy. According to The Denver Post, Denver’s dispensaries recorded $587 million in sales in 2017, a record high, with sales continuing to rise into 2018. This was an increase of 16 percent over 2016. Sales throughout the state totaled $150.8 billion during the same time period, a 15 percent increase over 2016.

When broken down by recreational and medical marijuana, both the city of Denver and Colorado as a whole actually saw a decrease in medical cannabis sales, but the increase in recreational sales made up for the losses and then some. In Denver, medical sales dropped from $212 million to $206.4 million, while recreational retail sales spiked from $291.5 million to $377.5 million. Statewide, medical sales were $445 million in 2016 and $416.5 million in 2017, while recreational sales jumped from $861.6 million to $1.09 billion. When examined by location, while sales in Denver continue to climb, other regions in the state are starting to take a bigger percentage of the overall pie, which good news for those who live outside the big city.It is of no surprise to our experienced L.A. marijuana business attorneys that medical sales would lose ground to retail sales over time. Some people were using the medical marketplace for years to supplement their interest in marijuana for recreational purposes. Others find the process of obtaining a medical marijuana card and paying for doctor’s visits and fees to be cumbersome, especially when the federal classification of marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic prevents insurance companies from covering cannabis-based medications. Therefore they seek similar products from retail dispensaries instead that don’t require a doctor’s recommendation.

The one surprise, perhaps, is that the drop-off in medical sales in favor of recreational sales came several years after the January 2014 starting date of legal adult-use cannabis in the state. This data is valuable to California businesses who might also be examining the possibility of transitioning their focus from medical to recreational.

The taxes collected from the impressive revenue generated by the marijuana marketplace in the state make it self-sustaining, though it should be noted that marijuana taxes only make up 3.5 percent of the city’s general fund. Denver uses the tax revenue to pay for cannabis regulations, law enforcement, and drug abuse prevention programs. After those necessities are funded, the surplus is used for city maintenance, increased affordable housing, and programs that target the opioid crisis. Not only is cannabis helping to fund opioid intervention programs, but many are finding that consuming cannabis is a safer alternative to addictive opioids for pain relief, making this a win-win situation. Crime related to marijuana remains low, with only 1 percent of crimes across the state being connected to cannabis.

Californians are facing some rocky patches in the first year of recreational marijuana legalization. Regulations are driving up prices and causing product shortages, which are driving customers back to the black market. If the Colorado model is evidence, though, these wrinkles can successfully iron themselves out over time. While California has long been a trailblazer for the marijuana industry, state officials can learn a lot from Colorado’s example. 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 Denver Collaborative Approach: Leading the Way in Municipal Marijuana Management, City of Denver, 2018 Annual Report

More Blog Entries:

Report: Marijuana Legalization in Colorado Making Pot Cheaper for Consumers, Feb. 4, 2017, Cannabis Law Group

veterans are using medical marijuana. This is in spite of the fact that the department does not allow its doctors to recommend marijuana. The department cites Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812 as the reason for this policy, stating they are bound by the federal ban on cannabis being part of a federal agency. The department even shies away from studying the benefits of cannabis, instead focusing their research almost entirely on its problems, according to an article from New York Times.

For veterans who rely on medical treatment through the VA, this can mean they never receive access to medical marijuana. Many veterans have reported cannabis to be an effective treatment for chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder – two common issues among those who have fought in wars. It could also mean that veterans will still seek a way to obtain medical marijuana, either by visiting a physician certified to recommend cannabis other than their VA doctor, by purchasing recreational marijuana if they live in a state where it’s legal, or by illicit means. None of these methods are ideal, and this certainly is not the way we should be treating those who have served our country. There are, however, a few things that would be helpful for veterans to know about medical marijuana and the VA.The VA has a list of guidelines to help veterans understand their patient rights and how medical marijuana and VA treatments can co-exist.

• Veterans will not be denied VA benefits if they disclose marijuana use.
• They are encouraged to discuss medical marijuana use with their VA provider.
• Use will be recorded, but will remain confidential as part of privacy laws.
• VA will not recommend medical marijuana, will not fill out paperwork to participate in state programs, will not fill prescriptions for any form of marijuana at VA pharmacies, and will not pay for prescriptions of medical marijuana from other sources.
• Use or possession of medical marijuana is not permitted on VA property, which is considered federal property, operating under federal law.
• VA employees are subject to drug testing.

The department is currently involved in two studies about the potential positive effects of medical marijuana: one that tests CBD and its effects on PTSD (which is slated to last through 2023) and another that studies pain relief for hospice care patients. These studies are small steps, but steps nonetheless. Meanwhile, other people and organizations are stepping up to bat for our veterans. American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars are pushing for expanded studies, for example. The Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance gathers donations from growers to give away to veterans for free every month to help those who cannot afford to get cannabis without the help of their VA benefits. The giveaway bags include a variety of products, such as candies, hemp oils, lotions, pills, and smokable strains, giving veterans many options depending on their needs.

Our Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers also will always be here to defend our veterans seeking relief with the help of cannabis.

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:

VA and Marijuana – What Veterans Need to Know, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

More Blog Entries:

Veterans Continue to be Denied Medical Marijuana Access, May 1, 2014, Cannabis Law Group

country where, despite mounting evidence, the federal government is stubbornly standing by marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I narcotic, it’s discouraging to see facts seemingly ignored. It’s no wonder, then, people would take the opposite extreme stance to combat. A report from Los Angeles Times delves into the phenomenon of pro-marijuana hyperbole in the face of anti-cannabis hysteria.

Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812, deems that marijuana has no medical benefits, is addictive, and would be harmful to use even under a doctor’s supervision. Thirty states and Washington, D.C., disagree with this assessment and have passed medical marijuana laws as such. Those states laws, however, can only go so far to usurp the authority of the federal government. As such, certified doctors in those states can only dole out medical cannabis recommendations, rather than a full-fledged prescription. They can suggest certain forms of consumption for the ailments of the particular patient, such a lotions or edibles, but the patient is on their own for the most part once they reach the dispensary. Dispensary owners, for their part, have done a tremendous job learning about the different products they carry. They gather information from their shoppers about which products have had the most effective results for what disorders and diseases and they try to share this anecdotal knowledge with other patients. This strategy is hardly the exact science many patients with really dire diagnoses need.

This has bred a grassroots culture of knowledge sharing among cannabis users that has been both good and bad. The good is, millions of people across the country have woken up to the plentiful benefits of cannabis, for both medical purposes and pleasure. Without leading medical authorities to point to for guidance in the quest for knowledge about cannabis, though, it has been challenging to rein in exaggerated claims. For example, cannabis can ease the nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy treatments, and medical professionals are beginning to discover a link between CBD and cancer treatments. If you look to the authority of the collective intelligence of the Internet, though, cannabis allegedly can outright cure seven out of 10 cancer patients. Evidence is lacking, obviously, for such an over-the-top claim. When authority figures try to disputes these claims, however, there’s little room for trust. After all, how can the common person believe the same authority figures who tell them that cannabis has absolutely no medical benefits whatsoever, when it obviously does.

That is why our L.A. medical marijuana attorneys believe so strongly in legalization. People need to be able to trust their doctors again. They need to be able to have legal access to marijuana that can potentially ease the symptoms of chronic pain, anxiety, Alzheimer’s Disease, and, yes, cancer. Doctors need to have access to the best medical research available to be able to prescribe exactly what their patients need. And researchers need funding and freedoms to conduct such tests without federal agencies looming over their shoulders. We all need to be operating on the facts, and the first step is for the federal government to face the facts about marijuana’s health benefits.

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:

With Marijuana Legal, California Flooded with Dubious Health Claims About the Drug, July 9, 2018, By Gary Robbins, Los Angeles Times

More Blog Entries:

FDA Approval Could Change Everything for Medical Marijuana, July 1, 2018, 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

Americans not only support cannabis in theory, but also in practice. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs recently published a report showing that daily use of marijuana among adults is on the rise since 2007, while teen use is actually dropping.

Findings showed daily use increased among all age groups between 18 to 64, with an insignificant lead in the data among 18 to 34-year-olds. Non-daily use increased across all adult categories as well, but especially among 26- to 34-year-olds. The most likely cause is the wave of states that have legalized marijuana in some form. California is one of nine states (with a guest appearance by Washington, D.C.) that has total legalization for adult use. The number jumps to 29 when counting states with medical marijuana laws. The specifics vary by state, but the fact of the matter is Americans are discovering the health and recreational benefits of marijuana and incorporating it into their daily lives. The study was put together by researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York. Results were compiled based on more than 700,000 respondents ages 12 and older to the 2002-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The increase of use mirrors the increase of support for marijuana legalization across the country. A Quinnipiac University poll released in April showed nationwide support of recreational marijuana legalization at 63 percent, the highest yet in the university’s surveys. This data is coming from a sampling of participants in which only 22 percent said they lived in a state where it was currently legal, showing the interest is spreading. This aligns roughly with the number of respondents who believe marijuana is not a gateway drug at 61 percent.

Positive responses for medical marijuana legalization have typically been higher in such polls, and this survey is no different, with support coming in at a staggering 93 percent. Furthermore, 70 percent of participants said the federal government has no business enforcing federal bans on states that have their own permissive laws in place. Despite all of this support, though, cannabis users are still facing resistance from a dying ideology. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made it well known his feeling on marijuana. A majority of states still are nervous about recreational use, despite massive shifts in public opinion. Even in states where there is legalization, many overly protective restrictions have been put in place to appease those still caught up in fear-based hysteria over cannabis.

That’s why our trusted Los Angeles medical marijuana attorneys are always on the ready. Cannabis freedoms are at an all time high, but don’t let that cloud your awareness of the many restrictions that are still in place. Some officials are just waiting for someone to slip-up so they can enforce archaic laws in any way they can. If that should happen, our attorneys are prepared to protect your rights. We are proud to stand alongside the majority of Americans in the fight for cannabis laws to recognize the positive uses for marijuana and finally align with the will of the people.

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:

Study Finds Increase in Daily Cannabis Use Among American Adults, June 20, 2018, News Medical

More Blog Entries:

Public Support for Marijuana Legalization Higher than Ever, April 6, 2017, Cannabis Law Group

James, a running back, injured his ankle during a football game in 2013. According to a CNN report, he was prescribed opioid painkillers. In short order (as so often happens) he became dependent on the pills. He became aware that an addiction was forming and wanted something safer to ease the pain.

After some research, he concluded marijuana was truly the best option – to ease the pain, end his addiction and maintain his physical prowess. James had some reservations about this decision, witnessing the way drug addiction in general harmed his family and his childhood communities. But, like a majority of Americans, he soon learned that cannabis does not belong in the same category as other street drugs at all, and decided to take the leap.

The NFL, unfortunately still takes a hard-line stance with marijuana use by players, who are drug-tested regularly. (Yet League officials see no problem whatsoever with players consuming dangerous opioid pain relievers.) CNN points to to a study from Drug and Alcohol Dependence, in which over half of ex-NFL players surveyed said they used opioids, with 71 percent of them admitting they misused them. Support for prescription painkillers continues, despite many leaders – President Trump included – have declared opioid addiction an epidemic. When it comes to medical marijuana, though, which can be a safe, effective, and non-habit forming treatment under proper medical guidance, this is where NFL leaders choose their line in the sand.

As our Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers can explain, the NFL is sticking by Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812, which categorizes marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic. That means the federal government has passed judgment that cannabis has no medical benefits, is dangerous, and is addictive. Conveniently for marijuana naysayers, this Schedule I classification makes it nearly impossible for U.S. scientists to conduct studies to prove otherwise. Meanwhile, other countries, such as Israel, are leading the way in medical marijuana research, including a study that demonstrate how the drug can be a safer alternative to opioids. The Schedule I classification puts marijuana in the same category as heroin, which is a total farce. Ironically (and infuriatingly), heroin has far more in common with many legal painkillers, as it too is considered an opioid, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

What does all of this mean? Mike James is now being forced to choose between an effective medical treatment that is not causing him long-term harm and his football career. He recently became the first NFL player to file for a therapeutic use exemption, the only way around the league’s anti-cannabis rules. The league denied his application. James has said he will continue to fight. While he has his wealth and fame on his side, you have a team of skilled lawyers on your side. We know all too many average citizens must make these same critical choices when it comes to their career and their health, and our team is here to use our extensive knowledge of medical marijuana law to fight for your rights.

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:

Israel Scientific Study: Cannabis Safe and Effective for Regular Use in the Elderly; Can Decrease the Use of Other Prescription Medicines, Including Opioids, Feb. 20, 2018, PRNewswire

More Blog Entries:

Marijuana as a Replacement to Opioids, Dec. 6, 2017, Los Angeles Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment slide through, thus continuing protections of state-compliant medical marijuana operations. While seemingly small, this was a pretty significant victory for those who depend on medical marijuana, whether as a patient or cannabis business owner. Marijuana users have been somewhat nervous since the change in administration, particularly with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions openly making it his mission to eradicate all advancements in the marijuana industry.

First introduced as Rohrabacher-Farr in 2001, the amendment as we know it was not signed into law until December 2014. As our medical marijuana attorneys can explain, while it does not legalize medical marijuana federally, it essentially restricts officials from spending government funds to disrupt any medical marijuana-related actions or businesses that are in compliance with relevant state and local laws. The catch is, the amendment must be renewed every year to remain in effect. It is essentially a bandage Congress created to stop the war being waged between states and the federal government. More states now have legalized medical marijuana than not. Meanwhile the federal government is clinging to an outdated Schedule 1 classification of marijuana under Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812.

President Trump previously signed this same amendment into an appropriations act in May 2017. But that time, he did so with an ominous disclaimer attached, according t0 Marijuana Moment. He intentionally called out the section of the bill and stated that he would acknowledge the provision with the understanding that it was his job to ensure laws be “faithfully executed.” This, along with Sessions taking shots at other marijuana protections this past year, has made cannabis business owners nervous. And even with this amendment, recreational marijuana would not be protected.

Sessions claims his anti-marijuana agenda is simply him doing his job in upholding the law of the land. But the old policies Sessions is favorable toward were essentially when marijuana law was used as a weapon to oppress, control and criminalize large swaths of certain communities, mostly poor minorities. For years, misinformation stirred irrational fear over a pretty benign drug and created confusion and division in the country. We are so close to leaving those days behind us, and yet, there are still some major hurdles to be cleared.

The continuation of this amendment is a good start, but it’s not the end. This spending bill only lasts until September, at which point the amendment will be in limbo again while Congress and the president consider its extension. Our experienced medical marijuana lawyers in Los Angeles hope that with a major election right around the corner in November, politicians from both parties will want to continue to support this highly popular bipartisan issue – and hopefully remove the Schedule I classification entirely.

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:

Federal Spending Bill Includes Medical Marijuana Protections, March 22, 2018, NORML

More Blog Entries:

Sessions Rolls Back Directive Protecting State Marijuana Laws, Jan. 25, 2018, Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, patients have been reaping the benefits of cannabis for everything from glaucoma to anxiety and chronic pain. Unfortunately, the research that would help independently establish these things has largely been stifled in the U.S., owing largely to the federal policy that classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic. Meanwhile, as reported by U.S. News & World Report, Israel has become a leader in marijuana research – and one of the latest findings of Israeli researchers underscores the medicinal properties of marijuana for cancer patients.

Published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, the study analyzes the effects of cannabis on symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatments. These include nausea, vomiting, headaches, weakness, pain, and more. According to the study, 1,046 out of 1,742 reported success in overcoming these symptoms after six months. This total did not include participants who passed away, switched cannabis providers, or did not respond to questionnaires. The study looked mostly at patients who were at an advanced stage of cancer and on average 60-years-old. These factors meant a quarter of patients died before the study was over, but even many of those patients reported having the pain of their condition eased by cannabis.

“Success” was determined by those who ranked their symptoms as having moderate or significant improvement and who did not have any adverse side effects. Patients with different cancers reported varying effectiveness, with renal cancer patients reporting the highest benefits and melanoma cancer patients the lowest.

Because marijuana is effective at alleviating multiple cancer symptoms, patients can take fewer drugs, which means less chance of negative drug interactions. It’s also not addictive, so patients can relieve pain without worrying about getting hooked. Study authors noted cannabis has been used medically and recreationally for thousands of years.

Our long-time Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers know there have been decades of pointed political efforts to disparage any effort to use marijuana as medicine, much of it relying on the drug’s federal classification Schedule I narcotic (per Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812). Under that classification, the drug has is considered dangerous, with “no currently accepted medical use in treatment.” It’s nearly impossible for scientific institutions in the U.S. to conduct medical research with any illegal substance of this classification, which meant we lost decades of research advancement on this front.

In Israel, medical marijuana was legalized in 1997. It is mostly used the ease symptoms associated with cancer and chemotherapy. Thankfully, we can now share in their findings as we continue to expand cannabis-based treatments across the U.S. and begin to officially educate medical students. And as we continue to conduct more studies like this one, it will be more difficult for federal officials to continue to deny the power of pot.

In the meantime, our skilled team is here to defend the rights of medical marijuana patients, as well as dispensary owners, and operators all along the supply chain.

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 Cancer, Cannabis Has Many Virtues, Says Large Study, March 19, 2018, By Nick Mulcahey, Medscape

More Blog Entries:

Cancer Patient Claims Illegal Medical Marijuana Healed Him, Feb. 28, 2016, Medical Marijuana Lawyers Blog

compliance with state and local regulations. We are experienced in civil and criminal cannabis-related cases and fight hard for the rights of our clients. We support the continued expansion of marijuana legalization and hope to see a day soon when businesses are free to operate on a national scale.

Too often, we see hard-working cannabis business owners who may be niave or unclear about the state and local regulations and their obligations. In a recent case in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, a former Congressional aid was recently convicted of taking advantage of a dispensary owner.

Recently Michael Kimbrew, a former Congressional aide, was found guilty of attempted extortion and bribery. He was convicted of taking a $5,000 bribe, which he allegedly elicited from a pot shop that at the time was operating illegally, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors allege he approached the Compton dispensary in 2015, when it was still illegal to operate such a business in the city. He then allegedly told the owners they would be shut down unless they could work out a deal with him. That deal reportedly included a $5,000 payment to Kimbrew, even though he did not have the connections to get them proper medical marijuana permits that he allegedly claimed he did.

Prosecutors said he went as far as bringing the owners to Compton City Hall, where the representative he worked for had an office. That representative was not mentioned in the indictment. She said Kimbrew worked for her for a year and was fired in 2016.

The deal never went far. An undercover FBI agent, posing as a partner of the marijuana business, obtained video of Kimbrew talking about the bribe and accepting a $5,000 payment from the agent, making this a pretty open and shut case. He could face up to 18 years in prison.

Our trusted Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers are glad to see the FBI go after the real criminals: People who take advantage of business owners. As laws continue to expand to make it possible for more cannabis businesses to operate legally, it will never be legal to extort owners or elicit bribes. We hope the laws increasingly offer protections to honest marijuana business owners and that eventually we will see cannabis declassified on the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812.

We recommend business owners who are unsure if they are in compliance with local and state marijuana laws talk to our experienced legal team right away. Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to veiled threats or real legal ramifications. Take control of the future of your business with sound and credible legal guidance. Our lawyers can help you with everything from a business plan to obtaining business licenses to consulting. If you do happen to find yourself in trouble with the law, we’re there to assist with that, too. We have the real connections to help get your business on the right track.

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:

United States of America v. Kimbrew, July 21, 2017, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

More Blog Entries:

Santa Fe Springs Mayor Sentenced for Marijuana Dispensary Bribery, Nov. 10, 2012, Cannabis Law Group

During alcohol prohibition, there were some major arrests made, but organized crime benefited more than anyone else from what history shows. Alcohol is a potentially dangerous and addictive drug. However, because it is generally considered socially acceptable, anyone over 21 can purchase as much alcohol as they want. This is not the case for marijuana under the laws in what is constantly becoming a smaller minority of states and the federal law.

While many people drink socially, many others drink to cope with the stress of daily life, various mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, and other forms of trauma. Even though most studies show that dependence on alcohol only makes those medical conditions worse, alcohol is often used as a form of self-medication even when it results in abuse. Alcohol also is well-known to cause liver poisoning, organ failure, and now it is suspected of causing cancer, according to a recent study that was popularized via a Netflix documentary on the same subject.

Marijuana does not have these issues, and according to a recent news article from the Washington Post, legalized medical marijuana and recreational use marijuana has been shown to reduce alcohol sales in places where it is legal. While many are now suggesting medical marijuana may be a valid alternative to dangerous opioid us that has resulted in a national crisis, it now seem that medical marijuana may be beneficial in reducing alcohol dependency by those who use it cope with mental and physical health issues.

As for the actual numbers, a working paper from two major American universities has shown that alcohol sales have dropped between 2006 and 2015 by 15 percent in states that have medical marijuana laws in place (that are actually dispensing medical marijuana). This is a major reduction in the sale of alcohol in those areas.

While some might argue that it was tied to a reduction in all sales, the study including a placebo analysis by looking at the sale of writing instruments in those same jurisdictions over the same period. This means that the reduction was separate from market trends of sales of non-related goods. For those who would argue there is no-causal link in that there was a reduction in consumer spending, including a placebo items should establish a legitimate causal link.

As our Orange County medical marijuana attorneys can explain, medical marijuana is becoming more and more acceptable in a majority of states. However, this is at the same time as the current presidential administration lead by the attorney general is trying to restart the federal crackdown on medical marijuana that we saw in the early days of legalization in California. While congress has said that no federal money can be spent fighting medical marijuana in states where it is legal, the current administration has claimed they are not bound by that directive.

This may result in a big fight in Congress, or it may not, but the best thing a person who wants to go into the medical marijuana industry in Los Angeles, Riverside or Orange County can do is to speak with an experienced medical marijuana attorney to make sure they are not running afoul of any state or local laws.

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

Additional Resources:

Medical marijuana took a bite out of alcohol sales. Recreational pot could take an even bigger one., December 1, 2017, By Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post

More Blog Entries:

Marijuana Industry Revives a Solar Ghost Town, September 13, 2017, by Cannabis Law Group

Currently, Sessions cannot use any federal money to go after medical marijuana in states where it is legal because of an amendment passed by Congress in 2014 that prohibits any federal taxpayer dollars from being spent for this reason. This means that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, any agency that falls under Sessions’ Department of Justice (DOJ), cannot go after those in the state-legal medical marijuana business. Now Sessions is asking for that amendment to be repealed, and he is asking that members of congress allow him to prosecute anyone involved in the growing, sale, or distribution of medical marijuana, and to go after medical marijuana patients as well.

However, according to a recent news article from Scientific American, leading scientific research does not support the arguments raised by Sessions about the alleged dangers of medical marijuana and any relationship between medical marijuana and the opioid crisis we are experiencing in the U.S. It should be noted that there is little question that we have a problem with opioid abuse in this country, but there is also little evidence that there is any negative correlation between medical marijuana and opioid abuse. In fact, it seems the opposite might be true, with marijuana being able to treat opioid addiction and being used instead of powerful and addictive narcotic painkillers.

As our Orange County medical marijuana lawyers can explain, most of the country now supports the legalization of medical marijuana. There are already 29 states that have a legal medical marijuana program, and there are more states that are likely going to have a program in the not-too-distant future. This position Sessions is taking is certainly not popular with the general public and goes against what President Trump promised while he was on the campaign trail.

One study from the Journal of Pain, which is a peer-reviewed study, shows that cannabis is far less addictive than the other medications currently prescribed by doctors, and medical marijuana has not led to any known deaths. This certainly cannot be said about OxyContin, Methadone, and fentanyl patches, which are commonly prescribed to treat chronic pain. Fentanyl patches are extremely potent and have led to many deaths. These patches are designed to be used as a transdermal patch with a time-release delivery, as we have with nicotine patches. Not only are people abusing the patches, but we also have reports of deaths from people chewing on the patches to get a rapid release of narcotic medicine .

While there is some evidence that marijuana can be habit forming, it is not the same as a physical addiction as the habit-forming, if it does occur, is a physiological addiction. This is much less of an addiction than drug users have with opioid painkillers.

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

Additional Resources:

Science Calls Out Jeff Sessions on Medical Marijuana and the “Historic Drug Epidemic,” June 14, 2017, By Dina Fine Maron, Scientific American

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

That being said, Congress has added language in budget acts that prohibit the federal government and its agencies from spending money to go after medical marijuana in states where it is legal under state law. There is no such prohibition on sending the DEA and FBI after state legal marijuana for recreational use, and that is scaring off many prospective investors, according to a recent news article from Forbes.However, there is another sector that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has chosen to go after, even though the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) may have its hands tied. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a child agency of DOJ, has been seizing shipments of marijuana paraphernalia products.

These days, as our Riverside medical marijuana attorneys can explain, we are no longer talking about pipes and rolling papers. Aside from the sale of marijuana itself, there is huge industry created to manufacture, distribute, and sell products to use in conjunction with marijuana. This includes vaporizers, “stashboxes” and “stash jars” and just about everything else you can imagine, and many things you probably would never think of until you saw them online or in a brick and mortar store.

Like everything else, many of these products are manufactured in China and other countries and imported into the U.S. In some instances, these products are claimed to be for tobacco use or for use with essential herbs and oils, but this is something you should discuss with your experienced marijuana business attorney. However, in many cases, they are marketed and sold for marijuana use and shipped so they can be sold in states where medical marijuana and legal marijuana for recreational use is sold.

The past April, CBP seized a large shipment of containers designed to lock via a combination so that children cannot get to the marijuana contained inside the box. There is no language in the in the congressional prohibition that prevents CBP from making such seizures, according to an agency spokesperson.

The company that manufactured these boxes is in an industry that has been dubbed the ancillary cannabis industry, and there is a clearly a lot of money to be made. Previously, there was little risk in these businesses, as there was hardly any enforcement from the federal government. Also, the previous presidential administration said that going after medical marijuana or these types of products was not going to be a priority. The current administration has said the enforcement of federal marijuana laws is very much a priority.

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

Additional Resources:

The War On Cannabis Heats Up, June 12, 2017, By Debra Borchardt, Forbes

More Blog Entries: Marijuana Equipment Business is Booming, April 14, 2017, L.A. Marijuana Attorney Blog

One area in which we are seeing growth, and see potential for a lot more growth, is in medical marijuana products for pets. As discussed in a recent news article from Salon, many people have pets that suffer from a lot of the same mental and physical conditions as people do. There are older pets with arthritis, pets with cancer (some on chemotherapy), and there are pets with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Since these conditions have been successfully treated in humans with medical cannabis products, people are starting to give medical marijuana treatments to their pets to offer them help and comfort as well. As our Riverside medical cannabis attorneys have seen, it is not only cats and dogs being treated with THC medical products. We are seeing examples of people treating large animals such as horses, pigs, and even more exotic pets such as skunks. Treatments have helped many older dogs with glaucoma.

One of the issues some veterinarians have with this is that there are very few, if any, credible peer-reviewed studies on the effects of medical marijuana on these animals. However, much as is the case with humans, the reason we do not have much research is because of the federal prohibitions on marijuana that make it very difficult for researchers to perform studies. Congress then uses the lack of studies as a basis for keeping medical marijuana as a Schedule One substance on the U.S. Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (USCSA), so we find ourselves in a Catch 22 situation.

One organization, the ASPCA, lists marijuana as a toxic substance to dogs, cats, and horses. While this might be alarming, there have not been any reports of animal fatalities or ever grave sickness associated with the consumption of marijuana. There was a case noted in San Francisco where a dog had eaten pounds of marijuana (entire plants) and had no long-term compilations.

Another issue that some veterinarians have is that there is no such thing, scientifically speaking, as a class of animals. We are dealing with many different species of living things. We are not even dealing with the same classes traditionally used, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Some animals are warm blooded and some are cold blooded and they have vastly different metabolisms and nervous systems. In order to really study these issues, researchers would need to study these animals individually. For some reason, cats process medicines and toxins much differently than humans, as well as many other animals.

However, as there is no research available, but, as people are seeing generally positive results from treating animals with medical marijuana, more people are turning to these products, and this is creating a big demand. Edibles and tinctures are the most common form of administering THC to a pet.

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

Additional Resources:

Medical marijuana for your dog: Is it safe?, June 11, 2011, By Richard Faulk, Salon

More Blog Entries: Report: Most Banks Still Reticent About Reefer, Feb. 26, 2017, Marijuana Lawyer Blog

These new regulations are in the form of what are known as draft rules that have been promulgated by the three state agencies that have oversight over the medical marijuana business. This rules package will affect how medical marijuana is gown, processed and distributed throughout the entire state. However, based upon the process of how these types of regulations take effect, there are 45 days from the day they are first released until they are binding. There is also a companion set of regulations that will be effect by the end of next year. For those in the medical cannabis industry, this can be rather confusing. For this reason, the best thing you can do is to speak with and experienced Los Angeles medical marijuana attorney.

One major change as a result of the new rules is that all medical cannabis sold or dispensed in California must be tested at a lab. There are also limits on the amount that can be dispensed to a single patient in a single day. When dealing with cannabis flowers, a patient can only purchase up to eight ounces in a single day. Free samples, which some medical marijuana dispensaries provide to patients, will now be banned.

As discussed in this article, California legalized medical marijuana back in 1996, and it was the first state to do so. However, there were very few regulations at the state level for most of that time. This created a huge industry that is leading the nation in sales and profits, yet it was like the Wild West in terms of regulations. This all changed when the state legislature passed a bill that constituted a massive overhaul that shifted regulation for the local counties and cities to the state, and it created a new agency to regulate the sale of medical cannabis. These new rules are adding on to this system overhaul, yet there are still a lot of things in flux, as voters passed legalization for the recreational use of marijuana.

In addition to the changes listed above, the new rules package will limit the hours that dispensaries can stay open and require environmentally friendly power to be used for a large part of all indoor grow operations. There will also be limits of how much THC can be in edible cannabis products and changes to the packaging requirements.

While all of this may be confusing, there will be little leniency on the part of state regulators for those who do not follow the new rules. It will be essential to seek legal advice from attorneys who handle these matters on a regular basis. There any many attorneys getting into the game now that we have a billion-dollar industry, but when you have a consultation, you should ask how much experience that attorney has representing those in the medical marijuana industry.

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

Additional Resources:

California issues historic medical marijuana rules, April 28, 2017, By David Downs and Dominic Fracassa, SF Gate

More Blog Entries:

Marijuana Equipment Business is Booming, April 14, 2017, L.A. Marijuana Attorney Blog

Voters in nine states – including California, Florida and Massachusetts – will vote on Nov. 8th ballot proposals that permit recreational and/or medical use of marijuana. These initiatives are likely to create a huge push toward legalization. In all likelihood, whoever is elected to the president’s office and Congress will be under pressure to overhaul the failed drug laws of this country.

This is a big deal because even just a few years ago, marijuana legalization was seen as something of a fringe movement. Today, the latest Gallup poll revealed 6 in 10 Americans are in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. That’s huge, particularly when we consider than in 2000, only 31 percent supported legalization. Take it back to 1969, and only 12 percent of voters were in favor of it.

The push to end marijuana prohibition is driven in no small part to the fact that over the course of the last few decades, the government has arrested many millions of people. Tens of thousands more have been sentenced to excessive imprisonment for marijuana crimes – despite the fact that their alleged offenses were not violent in nature. It’s also no secret that these policies have hit minority communities the hardest, as they are more likely to be targeted by police and less likely to be able to afford a good marijuana attorney to aid in their defense.

Meanwhile, state and federal governments have spent many billions of dollars on drug enforcement initiatives – money we now know for a fact could have been spent more effectively on services like substance abuse and mental health treatment.

Among the states that are weighing marijuana initiatives:

• Maine – Voting for recreational use, currently allows medical use only;
• Massachusetts – Voting for recreational use, currently allows medical use only;
• Florida – Voting for medical use, currently allows no legal use;
• Arkansas – Voting for medical use, currently allows no legal use;
• North Dakota – Voting for medical use, currently allows no legal use;
• Montana – Voting for expanded medical use, currently allows limited medical use only;
• Arizona – Voting for recreational use, currently allows medical use only;
• Nevada – Voting for recreational use, currently allows medical use only;
• California – Voting for recreational use, currently allows medical use only.

As it now stands, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and the District of Columbia are the only areas where recreational marijuana is legal in the U.S. There are also 25 states that allow medical use to some extent. A few states not included in these figures allow limited access to certain marijuana products.

The passage of these measures – and the likely passage of those measures pending – will in all likelihood put increased pressure on federal authorities to alter how it treats marijuana. President Obama’s administration has issued a directive not to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws. But this arrangement is not only bizarre, it’s unsustainable. Marijuana businesses in these states may not need to worry about federal prosecution, but this conflicted legal status still poses a lot of trouble – from inability to maintain a company bank account to security.

Clinton has vowed to change marijuana from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule II. This would undoubtedly be an improvement, though it won’t solve all the contradictions between state and federal statutes on recreational marijuana. Trump, meanwhile, has indicated that while he supports access to medicinal marijuana, he opposes legalization for recreational purposes.

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

Additional Resources:

Marijuana Lights Up State Ballots, Oct. 19, 2016, Editorial Board, The New York Times

More Blog Entries:

Justin Beiber Speaks out Against Pharmaceutical Industry for Opposing Medical Marijuana, Oct. 20, 2016, Los Angeles Marijuana Lawyer Blog