{"id":2950,"date":"2016-10-14T17:52:52","date_gmt":"2016-10-14T17:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.medicalmarijuanainc.com\/?p=18001"},"modified":"2016-10-14T17:52:52","modified_gmt":"2016-10-14T17:52:52","slug":"dr-titus-insights-u-s-hemp-industry-uk-doctors-parents-using-marijuana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medicalmarijuanainc.com\/2016\/10\/14\/dr-titus-insights-u-s-hemp-industry-uk-doctors-parents-using-marijuana\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Titus Insights: U.S. Hemp Industry, UK Doctors, and Parents Using Marijuana"},"content":{"rendered":"
This week: <\/span><\/p>\n Doctors in the United States are <\/span>not terribly concerned about adult marijuana use<\/span><\/a>, according to a study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Researchers presented a representative sample of 233 primary-care physicians with a list of behaviors including: tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity and marijuana use among others. These behaviors were then ranked in order of highest concern to lowest.<\/p>\n Among the behaviors doctors rated, not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle and having numerous sex partners as the most worrisome behaviors. \u00a0Doctors then rated alcohol use, tobacco use and obesity as significantly more pressing issues, health-wise, than marijuana use.<\/p>\n The findings add empirical strength to an essay in Scientific American written by physician <\/span>Nathaniel Morris<\/span><\/a>, wherein he mentions: \u201cfor most health care providers, marijuana is an afterthought\u2026 \u00a0In medicine, marijuana use is often seen on par with tobacco or caffeine consumption \u2013 something we counsel patients about stopping or limiting, but nothing urgent to treat or immediately life threatening.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Polls show that a significant majority of doctors approve of medical marijuana use and some doctor\u2019s groups are even adopting an official pro-legalization stance. \u00a0The California Medical Association supports the ballot measure (# 64) that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana within the State.<\/p>\n Overall, doctors\u2019 mild concern about the marijuana use is not surprising, given what research shows about the health risks of non-drugs such as alcohol or tobacco.<\/p>\n ____________________<\/span><\/p>\n The UK has put foreign doctors on notice \u2013 their services will soon no longer be required. \u00a0The government of Prime Minister Theresa May <\/span>announced plans<\/span><\/a> to make the National Health Service \u201cself-sufficient\u201d within the next decade. \u00a0This in face of the recent \u201cBrexit\u201d from the European Union. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The British National Health Service, a revered taxpayer-funded system struggles with staffing and funding shortages in delivering uneven care across the nation. \u00a0This system has relied heavily on foreign trained medical professionals, ranking #6 out of 35 members in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development) in reliance on outside-the-nation medical talent.<\/p>\n Of 87,000 medical specialists in the UK, only 58% earned their qualifications at home. \u00a0Nearly 25% earned their medical degrees in India. \u00a0Insiders believe that staff shortages will be exacerbated under this new policy that favors British-trained doctors. \u00a0This self-sufficient drive is expected to cost well over $100 million to train new physicians \u2013 yet British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt argues that this will reduce the nearly $4 billion annual bill to hire contract workers, most of whom are foreign trained.<\/p>\n ____________________<\/span><\/p>\n America\u2019s <\/span>emerging hemp industry got a boost<\/span><\/a> from the Colorado Department of Agriculture when it created six varieties of certified domestic hemp seeds that US farmers can buy to start their own crops. \u00a0Hemp cultivation is also benefitting from rising demand for hemp-based CBD extracts and related products as well as from new applications for the industrial usage of hemp. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Colorado has spent years developing a certified seed that produces a crop with THC levels of less than 0.3%, which is working its way to becoming a national and international standard defining hemp from marijuana. \u00a0If the hemp harvest comes in over 0.3% THC, it must be destroyed \u2013 making it a risky venture for farmers. \u00a0Nonetheless estimates are that Colorado will produce 150,000 acres of hemp by this year\u2019s harvest.<\/p>\n Despite recent advances, it may take a decade or more before American-grown hemp dominates the US marketplace which is approaching $600 million in 2015. \u00a0Exactly how soon depends on US Congress approving new legislation to expand hemp cultivation from research and pilot programs to a full-fledged commercial industry.<\/p>\n Domestic hemp is also taking root in Kentucky where the State\u2019s department of agriculture holds a US Drug Enforcement Administration permit for hemp cultivation. \u00a0Farmers who want to cultivate hemp must apply for permission from the department of agriculture and when granted, they purchase seed from import companies. \u00a0Kentucky\u2019s biggest seed importer is Atalo Holdings in Winchester, KY. \u00a0The company has imported and replicated hemp seeds for 58 farmers who account for 1,650 acres of hemp within the State. About 450 acres are for CBD and the balance will likely be used for grain. \u00a0Looking forward to 2017, the number of farmers and cropland is expected to double.<\/p>\n In 2014 Kentucky\u2019s Governor signed a law making it legal for epilepsy patients to use CBD oil with a doctor\u2019s recommendation. \u00a0The CBD oil produced in Kentucky cannot be exported outside of the State.<\/p>\n\n