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

data than ever on its potential uses and benefits. With the stigma dissipating and access increased, people are more freely sharing their personal stories surrounding this life-changing plant. These anecdotes are important evidence in the fight to legalize marijuana nationwide.

A recent survey conducted by Sleep Cycle, an app designed to track your sleep cycle, has found that 14 percent of respondents used marijuana to help them sleep, according to Herb. The company surveyed about 1,000 of its application users on what methods they used to help them gets to sleep. Tea topped the list at 21 percent, melatonin came in second with 15 percent, and cannabis tied with milk and cookies at 14 percent.It should be noted that prescribed sleeping pills rested at the bottom of the list at 9 percent, an indication that people are eager for more natural remedies to their sleeping disorders, insomnia, or general sleep troubles. While tea certainly can do the trick, there is growing evidence marijuana can dig into more serious sleeping issues.

Some research has found the effects of cannabis on sleep to be two-fold. Cannabidiol (CBD) can have a soothing, therapeutic affect. Tetrahydrocannabidinol (THC) is reported to reduce REM sleep, thereby reducing the dream cycle. This is said to have significant benefits for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as many may relive past traumas during nightmares.

Our skilled medical marijuana attorneys in Orange County know legalization at the federal level is critical not only to give more people access to the benefits of cannabis, but also to open the door to more comprehensive medical testing. The effectiveness of marijuana on certain sleep disorders is dependent on strain, balance of CBD to THC, and dosage. Doctors, however, are restrained by limited data on such matters as a result of Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812. Under this act, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I narcotic, putting it in a class of drugs considered to have no medical benefits, and therefore making medical marijuana testing prohibited at the federal level. Much of the information our doctors know is from foreign studies or their own direct work with patients. All the evidence is there to declassify marijuana if our representatives can put aside archaic ideology and political posturing.

We’re fortunate here in California to have more than 20 years of medical marijuana legalization, making our doctors some of the most experienced in the country when it comes to serving patients. Our team of lawyers also have amassed years of experience in this field and will use it to protect patients and the medical marijuana doctors and dispensaries that serve them. We hope the day comes soon when people all across the country will have the freedom to choose marijuana for PTSD or pain management or recreational use or for a good night’s sleep. Until that day comes, and beyond, you can rest easy knowing we are here fighting for you and 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:

Can You Use Cannabis to Restore Your Natural Sleep Cycle?, Feb. 20, 2018, By Sian Ferguson, Healthline

More Blog Entries:

Banker Seeks Promotion of Cannabis as New Chamomile, Feb. 24, 2017, Medical Marijuana Attorneys 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

treatment from their vet?

A vast majority of rational Americans agree that the use of marijuana as a treatment for medical purposes is a decision that should be made between and doctor and patient. Recent polls show more than 90 percent of respondents favor medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. And California has long been a defender of patient rights by leading the nation in medical marijuana legalization with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.

So why should the decision be any different when it comes to animals and veterinary professionals?

As it stands, California law does not extend to veterinarians the ability to recommend marijuana as a treatment for animals. But AB-2215, introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-27), is looking to change that. The bill would put the power in the hands of the Veterinary Medical Board by calling on them to set the standards for state-licensed veterinarians to discuss marijuana treatment for animal patient clients, and it would also prevent veterinarians from being punished for having such discussions.

That all sounds great, but the bill is receiving criticism from the Veterinary Medical Board for not being broad enough, according to American Veterinarian. The board recently voted 4-2 not to support the bill, citing a primary concern over the word “discuss.” Board members felt this language was too soft, and still didn’t empower vets to “recommend” marijuana for pets. They also voiced concerns over the disciplinary restrictions in the bill, asking that they still be given authority to punish a veterinarian who recommends a dangerously high dosage of cannabis for treatment.

Our Riverside medical marijuana attorneys hope this bill is revised to reflect the concerns of the board and that it paves the way for man’s best friend to get the best treatment. Without the board’s support, this bill is pretty much dead in the water. We know veterinarians are the ones best equipped to make these decisions and should be the ones setting the rules. We also know that all too often, without the guidance of vets, people will turn to the Internet for answers. This is an easy way to put animals in harm’s way by misdiagnosing their symptoms or giving them too high of a dose or allowing them to consume the wrong form of marijuana, all problems that could be avoided with the help of a veterinary specialist.

We also know the challenges that veterinarians face as the travel down this uncharted path. Even though we are learning more every day about the medical benefits of marijuana, there is still limited research due to the drugs classification as a Schedule I narcotic in the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812. The research is even more limited when it comes to the effects on animals. But handing these decisions over to veterinary professionals is a good first step.

As laws continue to progress to expand medical marijuana use across the country, our team of trusted lawyers will be here to protect the rights of patients … even four-legged ones.

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:

California Bill Would Let Veterinarians to Discuss Cannabis with Clients, March 1, 2018, By Kerry Lengyel, American Veterinarian

More Blog Entries:

The Legality of Marijuana for Pets in Los Angeles, Oct. 29, 2017, Medical Marijuana Attorneys 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

However, it should be noted that, while California is no longer the nation’s most progressive state with respect to legalization of marijuana, it should be noted that California is the nation’s leader by far in terms of revenue generated, and this is currently only including money generated by the sale of medical marijuana to approved patients. When recreational users can legally purchase cannabis products, the market is expected to grow even larger.One thing to keep in mind is that, while there will be a lot of money to be made in the recreational marijuana industry, there will also be a lot of pitfalls. One reason for this is because, like medical marijuana sales, recreational use marijuana sales are still illegal on the federal level. This is because marijuana is listed a Schedule One controlled substance on the U.S. Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (USCSA). While Congress has been unwilling to remove or even reschedule marijuana to a lower schedule, they have said they will not authorize the federal government (including agencies such as the DEA) to spend taxpayer dollars to regulate or enforce marijuana laws in a state where medical marijuana is legal.

Congress has not, however, limited the enforcement of recreational use marijuana in states where that is legal, such as California. To make the issue even more complicated, the Attorney General, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, has said that “good people” do not use marijuana. He has gone on to say that he will consider going after state legal recreational use marijuana and also that he does not feel the federal prohibitions on enforcing marijuana laws necessarily apply to him. Fortunately, for those in the medical marijuana industry, the attorney general is dealing with other more pressing matters and has not had time to address medical marijuana.

However, with all of these issues being up in the air, it is important to speak with an experienced cannabis lawyer in Los Angeles. There are many attorneys who have realized this is big business and say that they handle these cases, but you want to make sure your attorney has been handling these matters for a long time and really knows what he or she is doing.

Aside from legal concerns, one issue that has arisen is that it may cost more for medical marijuana patients to get their medicine once recreational users are allow to purchase it as discussed in a recent news article from CBS Sacramento. This is partly because of a new 15 percent tax and partly out of concern that the co-op model will be replaced with for-profit shops. These are the advocates that have fought for years to legalize medical marijuana and even recreational use marijuana, but they do not want to find themselves standing on the outside of the business.

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 Advocates Worry Pot Price Spike Coming To California, June 8, 2017, By Lemor Abrams, CBS Sacramento

More Blog Entries:

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

The results, which stem from two decades of data, show in states where medical marijuana is legal and readily available, Americans over 50 have greater workforce participation. Is this link causative? The study participants offered compelling evidence to suggest just that.

Researchers with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (Baltimore) and Temple University (Maryland) found that the health improvements experienced by both older men and women revealed increased participation in the labor market. In states with pro-marijuana laws there was a 9.4 percent increase in the probability of employment for Americans over the age of 50. There was also an increase in hours worked – 4.6 to 4.9 percent – in the number of weekly hours worked.

The results of this study help to belay the notion of marijuana users as being primarily young stoners using the drug solely for recreational purposes.

Although the exact prevalence of marijuana use among older adults isn’t known, there is evidence to suggest it is on the uptick – both for recreational and medicinal purposes.

For example, one survey by the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines analyzing the therapeutic use of marijuana and derivative medicines revealed that of nearly 1,000 participants from more than 30 countries (including the U.S., Canada and France) that nearly 7 percent of cannabis users were between 61- and 75-years-old. In the Netherlands, nearly 40 percent of those prescribed the drug were between the ages of 61 and 93.

In some ways, this makes a lot of sense. After all, older people suffer on the whole from more ailments and have much higher levels of overall prescription use. It’s notable, though, for the fact that they are from the generation of “reefer madness,” when marijuana was painted in an extremely negative light as the source of numerous societal ills. So for them to be open to taking it at all is remarkable.

It seems many of them are finding that relief from this herb, which has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries, is more effective and often less dangerous than powerful prescription opioids and other painkillers. Marijuana may be gentler on the system than these other drugs, which is of particular concern for patients who are frail and vulnerable.

A survey conducted of 1,500 readers of the New England Journal of Medicine said they agreed that medical marijuana could be legitimately used therapeutically for a 68-year-old woman suffering from metastatic breast cancer, fatigue, pain and severe nausea.

Numerous randomized clinical trials espouse the benefits of medical marijuana, but most don’t look specifically at older adults. This should be an important consideration moving forward, both for individual states considering legislative changes and for the federal government in weighing whether to legalize – or at least decriminalize – possession, use and small-scale sales of marijuana.

The older adult population is not only growing exponentially, but on the whole are a vulnerable group due to physiological changes and a high likelihood of adverse drug events and comorbidity. It’s important that doctors and scientists study these interactions more carefully, but the research that does exist tells us that marijuana is a preferable alternative to other drugs for a myriad of conditions.

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

Additional Resources:

Study: Medical Marijuana Laws Associated With Greater Workforce Participation Among Older Americans, Oct. 6, 2016, By Paul Armentano, The Daily Chronic

More Blog Entries:

Diamond Logo on Marijuana Edibles in Colorado to Help Avoid Confusion, Oct. 25, 2016, Medical Marijuana Lawyer Blog