The People Have Spoken, They Want Weed!
Not too long ago, marijuana was considered by a majority of Americans to be a harmful, dangerous drug. But now it is considered to be both a medicinal wonder as well as a safer way to get a little buzzed, at least in a growing number of states.
Notably though, while marijuana legalization may not have made it to every state quite yet, that idea is very popular nationwide. Recent polls show that over 60 percent of Americans are in favor of legalization for medical purposes, and over 50 percent are in favor of legalization for recreational purposes. Unfortunately for those large percentages of the population, marijuana is still illegal in several states, and under federal law.
Still Federally Illegal
Marijuana is commonly used recreationally because it contains THC, a chemical which produces a psychoactive effect that many people tend to enjoy. However, marijuana also contains CBD, a chemical which has numerous medicinal benefits.
Despite several states legalizing marijuana for recreational use, under federal law, it is still considered an illegal drug with no medicinal benefit. However, the DEA recently removed CBD products with less than 0.1% THC from the scheduling. The reclassification of CBD drugs was largely prompted by a recently FDA approved CBD containing drug designed to help children with epilepsy.
A Brave New World
With all the news being made out of the legal marijuana states, the federal government has been facing increased pressure from both the pot-hungry population, as well as the big businesses that want to capitalize on the new reefer madness, to re-examine the current scheduling.
Recently, the World Health Organization made a push to reclassify marijuana on a global scale. It is seeking to remove the plant and resins from the current classification completely, the most restrictive one. It also wants to move THC and related products to a less restrictive category as well because the drug has clearly been shown to have medicinal benefits.
Related Resources:
- SF Using Algorithm to Wipe Out Weed Convictions (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
- Don't Use Illegal Weed for Craigslist Purchases (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
- Man Jailed for Attempting to Trade Weed for a Car (FindLaw's Legally Weird)