Legal Medical Marijuana Dispensaries to be Regulated More Strictly

"At the moment, according to federal law enforcement officials, the issue of using medical marijuana is akin to the “wild west.” Lines are still blurry as some states lack proper guidelines regarding the drug's legalization that would ensure it won't be acquired by people who aren't really sick or qualified for medical help. To further add to the confusion, the current administration is allowing states to decide for themselves on the issue while leaving marijuana classified as a dangerous drug. However, coming up with guidelines is difficult because the Food and Drug Administration cannot set templates on federally defined illegal substances, even though 21 states have already legalized or are in the process of legalizing marijuana. Thus, it is increasingly important that people who need the substance for medical or legitimate purposes only procure it through trusted medical marijuana dispensaries. These clinics work closely with industry consultants such as Medicine Dispensing Systems and cooperate regularly with law enforcement to ensure that the products they sell are safe and legally obtained. The scientifically proven benefits of marijuana can only be taken advantage of if the source is reliable and approved by the local government."

Legal Medical Marijuana Buried Under Negative Research

http://magnetohydrodynamics/blog/benefits-of-legal-medical-marijuana-buried-under-negative-research/

"Furthermore, he states that only 6% of all research about the drug concentrated on its health benefits, showing us that its potential for genuine medical use is largely unknown. What we do know so far, from tests that have been made by scientists around the globe, is that medical marijuana can give plenty of advantages even over prescription drugs. The benefits that have been identified range from alleviating pain from complex operations, to treating diseases like glaucoma, to even preventing cancer cells from multiplying. Therefore, many states have legalized the drug's regulated use for medicinal purposes. Many more are taking steps towards that as well. Thus, patients seeking legal medical marijuana procurement locations can now conveniently turn to authorized dispensing companies. These, in turn, are aided by consultants like Medicine Dispensing Systems that make sure they comply with regulations when distributing the drug."

Reaping the Benefits of Cannabis

Medical marijuana has been proven to have several benefits that could help treat many health conditions. Although there are states that still consider this as a dangerous drug, a number of states in the U.S. has pardoned this and given patients limited access to the drug, so long as they use it for medical purposes only.

What many people fear about the use of marijuana is the intoxication and “high” feeling that they may get. However, with limited usage, there are real benefits that they could get from it. Some of the popular benefits of using medical marijuana include relieving nausea and pain, boosting appetite, acting as an anti-depressant, and treating muscle tension and spasms.

To get access to medical marijuana, a patient must first consult their doctor and see if he would recommend its use. There are other legal medicine and treatments that could be used as a substitute for medical marijuana, but some physicians may decide on recommending marijuana because it has been seen as a more effective treatment than using other kinds of drugs.

In some states, the use of medical marijuana dispensaries, which are facilities with ATM-like machines that could give a patient the right amount of dosage. Patients would need the recommendation of a doctor as well as a letter that explains the diagnosis and choice of the doctor. Some states issue I.D. cards that patients could use.

Three States In Line to Legalize Marijuana

The recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice that it would not challenge states that had legalized marijuana as long as they ensure tight regulations for it was welcomed by proponents of marijuana legalization. The move has boosted efforts in other states. Here are three states that could legalize marijuana next:

Oregon

Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the possession of marijuana (limited to one ounce) back in 1973. However by 2012, while Colorado and Washington voters approved measures toward marijuana legalization, a similar effort in Oregon failed. Nevertheless, staunch legalization supporters hope the department's announcement  will bolster state efforts.

Alaska

In 1975, Alaska's Supreme Court actually ruled that possession of up to four ounces of marijuana in the home was protected by the state constitution. Legalization proponents however, report that the marijuana legalization laws in the state are somewhat in flux. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, “supporters need more than 30,000 signatures to secure ballot access for marijuana legalization in 2013.” Fortunately, the move is supported by Alaska's only congressman, Don Young.

California

California is one of the first states to legalize the drug through ballot initiative. Since 1996, the medical marijuana industry has continued to grow in the state. However, despite their legal status, federal efforts to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries have been renewed under the Obama Administration. This move isn't expected to stop voters from approving legal marijuana come voting time though.