California's Medical Marijuana Case Study

When you hear the words medical and recreational marijuana, what comes to your mind? Well for me when I hear those words,a lot of things come to mind such as: Weed(something you smoke), A treatment for cancer patients or those who have cancer, and a plant(herb) from the ground. All though all these things are true about both of them. There is still more to know and a lot of differences between the two. Did you know the first record of marijuana came from China. See, told you there was a lot to know about marijuana use. Both medical and recreational are still labeled as drugs in the United States.

A person, in California, who uses marijuana medically agrees to follow the Health and Safety codes as defined by the Attorney General, Edmund G. Brown Jr., and the Department of Justice (state of

This bill would address the problems of controlling, regulating, and taxing of cannabis in the state. History The sale

This testimony is in regards to Bill HB 2107 (Lucio III), currently referred to the House Committee on Public Health (C410) for review. This bill relates to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and testing facilities; authorizing fees.

One of the stipulations of a Schedule I drug is that the drug has no medicinal purposes and is not safe to use. Therefore, the FDA will not cover funding. Although marijuana is a Schedule I drug, there are states that have medical marijuana laws. Many banks in these states avoid working with medical marijuana dispensaries in fear of being prosecuted by federal law (Wehrwein, 2013). California's State Board of Equalization (BOE) policy in regards to medical marijuana considers marijuana taxable. In October of 2005, the BOE issued seller’s permits. Then, in January of 2016, Assembly Bill 266 enacted the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, for regulation of commercial medical cannabis. The sales tax levied on sellers goes to the state's general fund (California State Board of Equalization, 2016).

Since government funding is not permitted, private dispensaries are generally set up to administer marijuana prescriptions with varying levels of restrictions ranging from strict to almost nonexistent (Kleber & Dupont, 2012). Physicians may issue a “marijuana card” to patients who apply for drug treatment programs within their authorized state of residence and processed for approval or denial (Harding, 2013). Conventional pharmacies cannot administer marijuana prescriptions; therefore insurance companies do not cover it. Patients have the option of having a personal supply (if approved in their state) or the use a dispensary facility.

The practice of medicinal cannabis dates all the way back to proposition 215 in 1996 when it was passed and became legal in the state of California. Unfortunately, many counties have begun closing down medical dispensaries in their cities for various reasons. In Orange County, city officials and people from the community believe that dispensaries have brought a rise in crime to their streets. In the last coming years Anaheim, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and even Newport Beach have cracked down on countless dispensaries in their area. The citizens of these cities are not informed what this plant does to these sick impaired people. Veterans usually need to buy and smoke this herb herb for them to be

Undertreatment of pain, nausea and vomiting related to cancer, seizures, PTSD, and anxiety have become a huge problem in the United States. Because of this undertreatment, many patients have begun to self-medicate with other measures to alleviate their symptoms. Some turn to alcohol, some to prescription drugs, and others to cannabis in one form or another. Some of these means are regulated more than others and some of these cause problems in themselves. Alcohol, while highly regulated leads to many problems; it can result in financial hardships, marital issues, addiction, family issues, as well as legal problems. Prescription drugs carry the same risks as alcohol, whether prescribed

Several states are taking advantage of new beliefs in medical marijuana. The State of Illinois has also adapted an Act that outlines the use and guidelines for medical marijuana titled, “Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act - Illinois Act 410 ILCS 130”. Some of the information on this Act is not clearly stated, one instance is regarding the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Fund (410 ILCS 130/20). This section has limited information regarding these funds and how they may be used, collected, and invested. Because there are limited explanations to how the funds are to be distributed, invested, and held in the State treasury, Illinois Act 410 ILCS 130 should not be passed.

Proposition 64 had similar attempts with proposition 19 and 215 in having related marijuana being legalized or only for medical purposes. The supporting groups such as; NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), democratic

These types of drugs are classified to have a high potential for abuse, no recent acceptable medical use in treatment, and a low acceptable safety for use. The FDA has studies the drug for decades and keeps confirming that there are no medical benefits given by smoking marijuana, and actually can cause harm by using it (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2006). Citizens against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) are opposed to any State law that tries to destroy the Federal Controlled Substances Act. Their place is that California Proposition 215 was misrepresented under the misguided claim that ingesting marijuana gives effective medical value, and that there are unimportant, harm and negative effects from the use of it. However, SB 420 failed to attempt to verify some qualities of Prop 215 (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2006). The SB 420 settles agreements with patients’ advocates and law enforcement, which involve controversial new state guidelines concerning how much marijuana patients can grow and own without being exposed to arrest (California,

The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM) public policy statement on “Medical Marijuana,” clearly rejects smoking as a means of drug delivery. ASAM further recommends that “all cannabis, cannabis-based products and cannabis delivery devices should be subject to the same standards applicable to all other prescription medication and medical devices, and should not be distributed or otherwise provided to patients …” without FDA approval. ASAM also “discourages state interference in the federal medication approval process.” (“Who’s With

Intaking Marijuana for Medical Purposes Should be Legal for the Sick and Ill in California

      In the past few years, nine states have decriminalized the use of marijuana for medical intents. Actually, eleven states have at one time allowed patients to use medicinal marijuana, but since two states have placed new laws banning the usage of marijuana for any purpose. But by decriminalizing marijuana treatments, a broad gap has been created between the federal laws and the new state laws. By decriminalizing marijuana prescriptions, the states have allowed patients to use the drug. However that creates a problem. Although the state allows patients to handle marijuana for medicinal use, patients have no way of obtaining it legally because the federal laws strictly prohibit anybody in the United States from selling or purchasing drugs.

On November 8th, 2016, the California Marijuana Legalization Initiative may be included on the ballot. The people of California will vote on whether to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults. The move targets at regulating the consumption of the drug and taxing it like other legalized drugs. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 (National Institute of Drug Abuse). The state prohibited any legal actions from being taken on patients and recognized caregivers arrested in possession of the drug. This is considered the motivating factor for the push to legalize recreational use of the drug. There have been two fled attempts to achieve this. Both endeavors were defeated at the ballot stage. Forty years on the matter has risen again, and the people of California may have the mandate to legalize or not legalize the recreational use of the drug. The issue has resulted in an enormous debate. Those against the legalization of the drug argue on the basis of the adverse effects on the body and mind of the users. And on the other hand, proponents such as myself argue on the basis of economic benefits to the state and the reduction of the drug’s misuse.