REGULATION OF CANNABIS
For more than 10,000 years, cannabis has been used for its medicinal properties. In 1911, Massachusetts became the first state to outlaw cannabis in the US, initiating international prohibition. In the last decade, international laws have rapidly changed.
In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act banned the production of industrial hemp. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held that industrial hemp is the same species plant as prohibited cannabis. In
2018, the Farm Bill designated hemp as federally legal and hemp-derived products legal.
Today, after decades of federal prohibition, 37 states, four territories, and the District of Columbia allow the medicinal use of cannabis products. 18 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia
have regulatory measures for the adult recreational use of cannabis.
However, cannabis is still designated as Schedule I, causing hospitals and other health facilities that receive federal funding to fear prescribing cannabis in their facilities as it could jeopardize Medicare reimbursements and other funding.
Ways to Observe:
- Research the benefits of cannabis
- Read about cannabis regulation and history
- Share your knowledge
Learn more about the MUIH Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Cannabis Science: Therapeutics, Product Design, and Quality Assurance.
Bridgeman, M.B., & Abazia, D.T. (2017). Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, and Implications for the Acute Care Setting. P&T: A Peer-reviewed Journal for Formulary Management, 42(3), 180-188.
State Medical Cannabis Laws. (2022). National Conference of State Regulators. Retrieved 2022, from https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx