medical marijuana California

October 5, 2021

Medical Cannabis Now Legal in California Health Care Facilities

California hospital facilities will be allowed to use medical cannabis for terminally ill patients. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act, or Ryan’s Law – remarkable for the fact that he vetoed a similar measure in 2019 due to conflict with federal law. At the time, Newsom said he supported the measure but couldn’t sign into law because of the conflict with federal and state law. Now, he says federal officials have indicated that they aren’t taking a strong stance against the use of medical cannabis in hospitals. medical marijuana attorney

Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, continuing to be one of the greatest sticking points for California marijuana companies. It is one our Los Angeles cannabis business attorneys expect to see changed sometime in the next few years.

As it stands, 36 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational uses. Industry researchers report that last year, sales of legal cannabis climbed 45 percent. It’s estimated they’ll reach $41 billion in the next five years. Yet those who might most benefit from its use in the twilight of their lives have been denied due to the federal law that criminalizes marijuana and casts it in the same category of methamphetamine and heroin – highly addictive narcotics with no recognized medical purpose.

Clearly, that definition is outdated. Medical cannabis has been legal in California since 1996. Recreational use was approved by voters in 2016. Now, Senate Bill 311 is one step closer to turning the tide entirely. Continue reading

March 13, 2020

California Allows Cannabis Donations to Qualified Medical Patients & Caregivers

By Cannabis Law Group

medical marijuana attorney As of March 1, 2020, California has allowed qualified medical marijuana patients and primary caregivers to receive free cannabis, donated by retailers. This welcomed update arose after the passing of Senate Bill 34, which is also responsible for exempting donated cannabis items from cultivation, sales and use, and excise taxes.

The bill states licensed growers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers and micro-businesses may allocate any already available inventory of cannabis and related marijuana products, for donation. Products set aside for donation can only be given by licensed retailers either directly to a medical patient, or to their primary caregiver.

December 10, 2019

California Declares Marijuana Smoke and THC a Risk to Pregnant Women

By Cannabis Law Group

pregnancy2-200x300 A panel in California has declared that marijuana smoke and THC – the chemical within the drug responsible for producing the ‘high’ – pose a risk to women who are pregnant, as well as to their unborn babies. The move will require all legal cannabis products sold in California to carry warning labels, though changes will not begin for a year.

Scientists made up the nine-member panel, which formed the Development and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee, who considered the accuracy and reliability of a number of detailed research studies that investigated the effects of marijuana on people, fish, mice and rats.
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February 15, 2019

U.S. Bill Would Allow Medical Marijuana for U.S. Military

By Cannabis Law Group

Medical marijuana has long been known to be effective in treating conditions like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. Yet the U.S. military has long taken a hard-line stance against marijuana, a position solidified during the Vietnam War as reports blasted on the evening news indicated that half of all soldiers deployed were regularly using marijuana. A study by the Pentagon later revealed the actual figure was closer to 70 percent. This, along with the crash of an aircraft carrier by soldiers later found to have marijuana in their systems led to a zero tolerance policy. California medical marijuana veterans

This has led to all sorts of injustices. Historically, it’s been military policy to exclude from entrance any individual who previously used marijuana as a civilian. In recent years, waivers for “past misconduct” have risen, and are expected to continue rising. Just last year, for instance, the Military Times reported a Vietnam War veteran and head of a military school in Florida was terminated for using medical marijuana extract to treat cancer.

Now, Congressional leaders have filed twin bills in the House and Senate to change federal law that would allow U.S. veterans who abide by state medical marijuana laws to avoid federal intervention and would allow doctors with the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue medical marijuana recommendations to their patients. The Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act, sponsored by U.S. Senate Democrats from California and Hawaii, notes that the drug is legal in 33 states and that medical marijuana can be used to treat chronic pain without the use of dangerous and highly addictive opiates. The sponsor of the House version of the bill said in a statement, “it’s past time to end the anti-science, anti-health cannabis prohibition laws that prevent veterans from accessing health care.” Continue reading