9 Facts You May Not Know About Legal Cannabis In America

The United States has had a love-hate relationship with cannabis over the decades. By the early 20th century, marijuana was legal across the country. However, the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act made it illegal to produce and sell the cannabis plant.

But the outlook has changed, and various health benefits have been noted since cannabis was banned and criminalized. For these reasons, many U.S. states have legalized the production, sale, and use of medical marijuana, and many more legalize the recreational cannabis plant.

With medical marijuana and hemp containing no more than 0.3% THC now legal in many states and the laws are likely to change in its favor in the future, it is time to catch up with the rules, statistics and Familiarize yourself with gray areas. Check out these nine facts about legal cannabis you might not know.

1. Medical marijuana is legal in 29 states

Medical marijuana has the potential to improve the quality of life for people living with painful, debilitating health, or an injury. For example, it can relieve pain and discomfort after an operation, a broken bone, or a chronic condition such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis. Patients with Parkinson’s disease have also reported that medical marijuana helped reduce their tremors, and people living with endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and interstitial cystitis have reported that their health improved after ingestion.

Because medical marijuana apparently has many health benefits to offer patients, it has become legal in 29 states and in Washington, DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Therefore, many people living in the United States can use CBD, or medical marijuana, to better control their health and enjoy a better quality of life.

2. Most Americans are in favor of medical marijuana legalization

There is no longer any stigma attached to the use of medical marijuana. According to Harvard Medical School, 85% of Americans support legalization because of potential health benefits. In addition, an estimated several million people are currently using marijuana or CBD to alleviate a health problem.

3. CBD is the least controversial option

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the least controversial method for consuming cannabis and it is becoming increasingly popular among people with various health problems. The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp and extracts legal at the federal level as long as they didn’t exceed 0.3% THC. Many people advocate CBD because it is a cannabis plant that does not have intoxicating properties. Hence, you can enjoy all of the potential health benefits of marijuana without the high.

Of course, there are several options to consider when purchasing a product, such as CBD isolate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum. Also, different products have different purities and potencies that you need to consider in order to get a quality product that is good value for money.

However, some hemp extracts can give users a high, which is why they may have a legal gray area to be aware of before making a purchase. For example, Delta 8 (a hemp extract) is legal in some states that don’t allow Delta 9 (traditional cannabis) to be used or sold. Check out this information on Delta 8 vs. Delta 9 THC to learn more.

4. Cannabis may not be taken across national borders

It doesn’t matter what cannabis laws a state has; You cannot ingest any form of the cannabis plant across state lines. Even if you’re traveling between two legal states that share a common border, like Oregon and Washington, you are never allowed to take any form of marijuana across borders to stay within the law. The same rules apply if you fly on an airplane or send shipments to another country.

5. You can travel with CBD

Unlike marijuana, if it does not contain more than 0.3% THC, you can travel on CBD as it is legal under federal law. Since you may want to use it to treat chronic pain or mental disorders, you’ll be happy to learn that you can take it with you on a flight as it won’t induce a high.

6. 17 states allow recreational marijuana use

Support for cannabis legalization is growing rapidly. Currently, 17 states and the District of Columbia allow adults to consume small amounts of recreational marijuana, and many are likely to follow in their footsteps in the future. In addition, many more states have passed laws to reduce criminal penalties for various marijuana-related convictions and have overturned previous convictions.

7. It is illegal to use marijuana and cars

Similar to drinking alcohol or smoking traditional cigarettes, you are not allowed to use marijuana or drive a car, even if it is legal in a state. This is because any drug that causes a high is both dangerous and illegal, which is why you should never get behind the wheel after taking it. However, CBD products do not interfere with driving as they do not provide users with intoxicating chemicals. There is currently no breathalyzer for marijuana use; however, two companies are currently developing and testing innovative breathalyzer.

8. It is illegal to smoke marijuana in public

While a state could legalize the sale and use of cannabis, it doesn’t allow its users to smoke marijuana in a public setting. If you are allowed to use it for medical or recreational purposes, you must do so in the privacy and comfort of your home.

9. Legal cannabis brings billions to the US economy

Not only can cannabis offer various health benefits, it also improves the country’s finances. According to reports, cannabis legalization has grossed billions of dollars in the US economy. For example, in 2019 Colorado reportedly generated more than $ 302 million in recreational and medical marijuana taxes and fees, and sales exceeded $ 1.7 billion.

Total legal cannabis sales were more than $ 12.2 billion in 2019 alone, and that figure is projected to climb to $ 31.1 billion by 2024. The more states legalize cannabis, the stronger the US economy could become, which will add to many states’ financial security and development.

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