New Policy Loosens Federal Scrutiny of Medical Marijuana Use

Medical marijuana advocates, users, and suppliers recently received some good news.  President Obama has implemented a new policy advising federal prosecutors to stop targeting people involved in the sale and use of medical marijuana in compliance with state law.  Fourteen states have legalized the medicinal use of marijuana, although the laws vary widely between them.  While this new Obama policy is good news for legally diligent citizens, many are still worried about complying with the web of state laws, which can be quite confusing.

Most medical marijuana proponents are excited by this decidedly different take on marijuana use which is in stark contrast to the Bush Administration's view.  They are optimistic that this brings us one step closer to nationwide legalization of medicinal marijuana.  And indeed, it's looking more and more like legalization is in the future.  Fortune Magazine ran tantalizing cover story in September about the legalization of marijuana.  I was surprised to find out that Obama had introduced this marijuana policy all they way back in February of this year.  Interestingly, although this was a huge step forward in the legalization process, this move by the President received little to no publicity.  The article is a great read and admittedly thought provoking.

I happen to live in California, the pioneer of medical marijuana laws.  Hospice patients in my area don't have a hard time getting approved for medical marijuana (okay, if we're being honest here, anyone with enough cash and some form of medical condition, real or made up, won't have a difficult time either).  The use of medicinal marijuana is rapidly increasing in the palliative care community and we are already seeing positive outcomes - reduced nausea, increased appetite, improved pain control, etc.

You might have some questions about medical marijuana and whether it's right for you or your loved one.  Here's some information to get you started:

Medical Marijuana:  Frequently Asked Questions