CBD, THC: Active Ingredients of Medical Marijuana

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, contains about 60 cannabinoids or compounds that give the plant various properties. Despite the drug’s potential for abuse, marijuana has garnered interest among medical experts over the years because two of its cannabinoids, namely CBD and THC, are known to provide certain medical benefits. Thus, the biggest challenge for the drug’s proponents is how to harness these cannabinoids without any of the side-effects.

Good News for Fired Marijuana Users in Michigan

Can an employee with a medical marijuana card who tests positive for marijuana consumption in a work-related drug test seek unemployment compensation if he/she is fired under his/her employer’s zero tolerance policy? Michigan’s state Court of Appeals says yes.

In an unprecedented decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals recently ruled that workers in the state who are legal medical marijuana patients should receive unemployment compensation if they were laid off from work for being marijuana users.

Guidelines to Medical Marijuana Use in Illinois

The legislation that authorizes the use of medical marijuana in Illinois was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on August 1, 2013. Enterprising individuals in the state keeping an eye on a promising venture can look into their option of establishing a medical cannabis dispensary. However, they have to ensure they follow the standards when doing so. Here are the three priorities to keep in mind:

Legal Medical Marijuana is Nothing New

In the U.S. and some parts of the world, the idea of using legal medical marijuana remains a hotly debated issue. Both proponents and opponents of the idea have laid down a lot of good points, so much so that the public is still divided on the matter. Regardless of public perception, however, it is important remember that using marijuana for medical purposes is nothing new.

Legalization of Medical Marijuana: Where It Stands

A wide variety of benefits come from the use of medical marijuana to treat certain illnesses. Medical cannabis may be prescribed to treat seizure disorders, muscle spasms due to multiple sclerosis, pain due to arthritis, and even nausea as a result of cancer chemotherapy sessions. Unfortunately, despite these numerous medical advantages, only 20 US states so far have legalized medical marijuana.

Legal Medical Marijuana Regulations in Arizona

In the US, a total of 20 states now permit the use of medical marijuana for certain conditions. Regulations on medical marijuana use vary from state to state. In Arizona, for example, patients with qualifying conditions are allowed to possess no more than 2.5 ounces of medical cannabis within a 14-day period.

When the Use of Marijuana is Legal

The use of marijuana, which is otherwise known as cannabis among many other names, is illegal in most parts of the world. However, in certain places of the United States, laws were made to allow and regulate its consumption. It must be clear, though, that such legal and controlled use of the herbal medicine is applicable only to medical but not recreational purposes.

States such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington do not prohibit the use of marijuana. The drug, after all, can form a part of the therapy designed to relieve and treat medical conditions. Medical marijuana, for instance, can help chemotherapy patients with their ordeal by reducing occurrences of nausea and vomiting.

Marijuana, as the name suggests, comes from the marijuana plant. While it can ease discomfort brought about by certain medical conditions, it is not without harmful effects. The use of this herbal medicine is regulated partly because it can impair cognitive development and it can be addicting too.

Part of the efforts to make sure that the herbal medicine is administered properly is the existence of medical marijuana dispensaries. These are offices located in academic and medical institutions, among other places, which give out medicines and medical supplies. Through such dispensaries, patients with a valid need for medical marijuana are able to receive their prescribed doses of the herbal medicine which help address their physical discomforts.

The Legalization of Medical Marijuana: An Overview

If the world adhered to traditional Chinese medical practices, the current debate over marijuana use probably would not be as heated. In Ancient China, marijuana was part of an herbal treatment targeting afflictions such as gout, rheumatism, hemorrhage, and parasitic infection, among others. However, the United States follows the principles of Western medicine, and marijuana had no place in healthcare here until November 5, 1996, when the state of California established a medical marijuana program under Proposition 215 or the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.

Under this law, California locals suffering from migraines, muscular spasticity, and other medical conditions are allowed to have marijuana in their possession, provided that they have a physician's recommendation to use it for the treatment of their health disorders. The law names the maximum amount of marijuana one can possess: no more than 8 ounces in its dried form. After California legalized medical marijuana use, it wasn't long before other states—including Alaska, Oregon, and Washington—followed suit.

While legal medical marijuana is permitted in the aforementioned states, marijuana possession can be considered unlawful if an individual cannot produce a prescription duly signed by a medical practitioner that details his or her need for access to the substance. For this reason, newly established clinics and facilities are recommended by experts to have a medicine dispensing system in place that's compliant with medical marijuana dispensary laws. With this, marijuana abuse is unlikely to take place.

Finding a Reputable Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Most states in the US now legalize and regulate the sale of medical marijuana, or cannabis, as it has proven to be an effective alternative medication that has many applications. The sale of this treatment is done through a registered dispensary, and the number of available locations may differ from state or county to another.

The first step to finding a dispensary should be to familiarize yourself with your own state's laws, particularly because each locality might have different allowed amount of cannabis. Moreover, varying states and counties also have varying processes and conditions that a person should follow if he wants to get the sufficient amount.

If you are required to be registered, visit your local registry office to get your name signed up. You should look for any friends or family members who have already registered and find out more about the requirements and restrictions even before you go to the registry. This way you will already have an idea on whether you will be approved or not.

After your approval for medical marijuana intake, look for reputable dispensaries near you over the Internet, but don't forget to consult your doctor as well. Ask your trusty physician if taking this medication for your condition will give you any side effects or not.

Some Truths about Medical Marijuana

Recent polls show that more and more Americans are agreeing to legalize marijuana use. About 40 percent of the survey respondents admitted to having tried marijuana at least once. The truth is that no definite law legalizes the use of this addictive substance.

However, scientists and lawmakers cannot deny the fact that marijuana has certain medical uses, which makes medical marijuana an important type of drug that is now legal in many states. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana has psychoactive or mind-altering properties that make it an effective ingredient for treating nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and stimulating appetite in HIV/AIDS patients with wasting syndrome.

Some of the conditions for which marijuana is touted as a promising treatment include multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome, and obesity. Recent studies even prove that marijuana and its active ingredients have the power to treat addiction itself. The benefits of this drug, however, can only be enjoyed through proper use as strictly prescribed by a physician.

To ensure legal compliance with the standards on marijuana distribution for medication, medical marijuana dispensaries employ automated and highly secure medicine dispensing systems. Any person who requires medical marijuana use is given only the amount needed for his or her medication. Exceeding the limit may lead to certain legal charges.