{"id":2694,"date":"2017-07-03T23:02:29","date_gmt":"2017-07-03T23:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.medicalmarijuanainc.com\/?p=25418"},"modified":"2017-07-03T23:02:29","modified_gmt":"2017-07-03T23:02:29","slug":"medical-marijuana-inc-pauses-july-4th-celebrate-americas-many-freedoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medicalmarijuanainc.com\/2017\/07\/03\/medical-marijuana-inc-pauses-july-4th-celebrate-americas-many-freedoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical Marijuana, Inc. Pauses This July 4th to Celebrate America\u2019s Many Freedoms"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is the July 4th holiday, and across the country, Americans are visiting with friends and family to watch fireworks, grill out, and enjoy the many freedoms we have in our country.<\/span><\/p>\n The U.S. has been a nation of rebels from its inception, tossing tea into Boston Harbor, declaring our freedom from England, and then fighting for our right to break away from the empire. Americans are not unfamiliar with fighting for what we want \u2013 whether it is going to war for freedom or taking to the streets in protest.<\/p>\n That spirit continues today in the fight, state by state, to bring access to cannabis back to American citizens and in the lawmakers and activists who forward cannabis legalization at every step. This 4th of July, we take a moment to recognize those who are working each day to bring cannabis legalization to America.<\/p>\n Although cannabis is still illegal on the federal level, things change on a state to state basis due to our patchwork system of state cannabis legalization, due in large part to local level activists and grassroots campaigns.<\/p>\n Currently, 29 states have passed laws to create comprehensive medical marijuana programs for their citizens. California was the first to pass such a law with voter approved Proposition 215 in 1996, opening the door in the U.S. for further expansion of medical marijuana throughout the U.S.<\/p>\n Since then, several additional states have adopted medical marijuana legislation, including <\/span>Alaska<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Arizona<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Arkansas<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>California<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Colorado<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Connecticut<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Delaware<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Florida<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Hawaii<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Illinois<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Maine<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Maryland<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Massachusetts<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Michigan<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Minnesota<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Montana<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Nevada<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>New Hampshire<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>New Jersey<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>New Mexico<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>New York<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>North Dakota<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Ohio<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Oregon<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Pennsylvania<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Rhode Island<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Vermont<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Washington<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>West Virginia<\/span><\/a>. The <\/span>District of Columbia<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Puerto Rico<\/span><\/a> also allow medical marijuana use. Sixteen other states have adopted legislation that allows low-THC cannabis oil to be used therapeutically, leaving just a handful of states without some form of legal medical cannabis use.<\/span><\/p>\n Medical conditions for which marijuana can be recommended vary state to state but typically include pain, wasting syndrome, the side effects of chemotherapy, epilepsy, and the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, for example.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17313″ img_size=”1200×250″ onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/www.medicalmarijuanainc.com\/education\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Since 2012, eight states, including <\/span>Alaska<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>California<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Oregon<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Colorado<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Maine<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Massachusetts<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Nevada<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Washington<\/span><\/a>, as well as <\/span>Washington D.C.<\/span><\/a> have passed ballots legalizing recreational marijuana. The amount you can possess at one time, as well as regulations, licensing, and taxes, varies between the states. As these states work out any issues that arise in establishing their recreational cannabis regulations, they ease the path to legalization for other states. <\/span><\/p>\n Thanks to the <\/span>2014 Farm Bill<\/span><\/a>, hemp cultivation is also gaining a foothold in America for the first time since WWII. The bill authorized the farming of hemp within state-level pilot research programs. The goals of these programs is to regain the knowledge and skills necessary to introduce hemp cultivation at a national level. American farmers have been integral in getting these pilot programs started, and they are relying on its success as a benefit to their farms. <\/span><\/p>\n At least 30 states have enacted laws to establish hemp pilot programs under state law. These states include <\/span>Alabama<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>California<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Colorado<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Connecticut<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Delaware<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Florida<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Hawaii<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Illinois<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Indiana<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Kentucky<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Maine<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Maryland<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Michigan<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Minnesota<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Montana<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Nebraska<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Nevada<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>New Hampshire<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>New York<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>North Carolina<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>North Dakota<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Oregon<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Pennsylvania<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Rhode Island<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>South Carolina<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Tennessee<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Utah<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Vermont<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Washington<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Virginia<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>West Virginia<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Hemp used for commercial and industrial uses must still be imported from international sources. However, the burgeoning hemp pilot programs we see popping up across the country are intended to act as a jumping off point to a potential domestic hemp industry.<\/p>\n Finished hemp products created from imported hemp are legal to manufacture, distribute, and use in the U.S. These include hemp cloth, paper, canvas, rope, bioplastics, biofuels, and of course, CBD hemp oil products. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Trump Whitehouse has proven stubborn when it comes to cannabis legalization in this country. Despite claims during his run for the Presidency that he wouldn\u2019t touch state legalized cannabis, those Trump appointed to many of his posts are anti-legalization.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”17320″ img_size=”1200×250″ onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/www.medicalmarijuanainc.com\/majority-americans-believe-not-worth-cost-enforce-marijuana-prohibition-poll-finds\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Since 2014, the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment has prevented the use of federal funds to interfere in states passing or implementing medical marijuana policies. In essence, the amendment protects marijuana businesses and users from federal prosecution when they are in line with state and local laws. The spending budget that was passed this May <\/span>renewed the amendment<\/span><\/a> through September; however, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked Congress at that time not to pass it, giving him the ability to go after state level legalization. <\/span><\/p>\n It is now more important than ever for those with any attachment to the cannabis industry, whether they be patients, employees, or business owners, to become activists themselves, or the hard work we have put in so far will be for nothing.<\/p>\n There are a number of ways to become an activist for legalized cannabis.<\/p>\n You can contact your lawmakers, both locally and nationally, and encourage them to act on cannabis legislation when it comes before them. You can also ask them to sign on as sponsors to legalization bills.<\/p>\nCurrent Legal Status of Marijuana<\/span><\/h1>\n
Hemp Catching Hold<\/span><\/h1>\n
Challenges from the Current Administration<\/span><\/h1>\n
Getting Involved<\/span><\/h1>\n