House Bill 2218 and Senate Bill 1333 (signed March 19, 2021 by Northam; legalizes botanical cannabis effective July 1, 2021) Virginia (NEW comprehensive medical program approved in 2020 and listed above) Common approved conditions include cancer, pain, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, fibromyalgia, Crohn`s disease, and multiple sclerosis, but in most states, the list of eligible conditions is considerably longer. Recently, a number of populous states have legalized medical and recreational cannabis, including New York and New Jersey. Rhode Island joined the herd in May. Only a dozen states accept medical marijuana cards outside the state. The states and territories demonstrating the reciprocity of the medical marijuana card outside the state are: Adults 21 years of age and older can light up in Alaska. In 2015, the northernmost state in the U.S. legalized residents to use, possess and transport up to an ounce of marijuana — about a full sandwich bag — for recreational purposes. The first pot store opened in 2016. cancer, glaucoma, positive status for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C or treatment of these conditions; A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or treatment thereof that causes cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating and chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn`s disease; or agitation of Alzheimer`s disease; or any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the Department of State of Health. Here`s what you need to know about marijuana legalization in the U.S., including states that have passed laws, what`s happening at the federal level, and what Americans think about cannabis legalization.
To learn more about marijuana, learn about the cannabis company that was sued for not raising customers enough and check out the most popular new cannabis gadgets. In the United States, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 37 states, four out of five permanently inhabited U.S. territories and the District of Columbia as of February 2022. [1] Eleven other states have more restrictive laws limiting THC content to allow access to products rich in cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis. [1] There are significant differences in medical cannabis laws from state to state, including how it is produced and distributed, how it can be consumed, and for what medical conditions it can be used. [2] Alaska, on the other hand, does not have medical dispensaries, although there is a medical program. Patients have access to cannabis through recreational pharmacies, and there are currently no options for more effective products for patients. Dosage is extremely important when it comes to medical cannabis, and many patients need access to highly effective products to relieve symptoms. However, while hobby stores may need to stick to potency limits, medical pharmacies sometimes have more leeway. In 1998, medical cannabis initiatives were passed in the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Nevada, all of which were passed. [15] Also in Washington, D.C., Initiative 59 to legalize the medical use of cannabis was approved with 69% of the vote,[69] but a series of amendments introduced by Representative Bob Barr and approved by Congress prevented its implementation for more than a decade.
[70] The original Barr Amendment was enacted before the November 1998 election, but after ballots were printed, allowing D.C. residents to vote on the initiative but preventing the results from being released. [71] The amendment was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on the grounds that it violated First Amendment rights, and in September 1999, U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts accepted and repealed the Barr Amendment. [72] Rep. Barr then introduced a similar amendment, which became law in November 1999 and sparked a lengthy legal battle,[73] until finally in December 2009, the Barr Amendment was removed from DC`s annual budget bill, allowing the original 1998 voting initiative to proceed. [70] Despite the President`s order, the Drug Enforcement Agency still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Other Schedule I drugs include heroin and LSD, while cocaine is on the Schedule II Drug List.