Marijuana

Can I see a show of hands how many people have ever smoked Cannabis, also known as Marijuana? I see none of you have raised your hands. Well evidently no one would want to admit to a criminal action in front of others from their community. But why is it that smoking ‘pot’ is so forbidden in our society? George Washington said, “Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere! ” Marijuana is a natural plant, known to grow in the wild in Central and South Asia.

Traces of people smoking Marijuana go back as far as 3,000 B. C so, what had changed over the years to make cannabis illegal? When considering the legalization of marijuana, the normal reaction would be to think about the negative factors of the drug. But what people forget is, marijuana’s positive features overrule the negatives by far. There would be many benefits if the ‘drug’ where to be legalized, especially for the government and the economy as a whole.

Our government spends 500 million pounds a year on ‘overall response to drugs’, but receive no taxes from the estimated 1. 8 billion pound illegal drug market. If our government were to legalize marijuana, they could place high taxes on it because people are used to buying the drug at a high price anyway because of the risk of selling it illegally. This would be very beneficial to the government because they would have a larger increase of tax that then could be fed into the NHS and other funds, which are beneficial to the general public.

This brings me neatly onto my next point, I am fully aware of the abuse potential of the drug, but its value to the medical world outweighs this potential by far. Although the argument of legalizing marijuana is extremely controversial, without knowing it, hundreds of people around you are in desperate need of its medical side, and are suffering dramatically without it. How would you feel? Marijuana would be of high value to the suffering, distressed, and disheartened cancer patients fighting for their lives.

Let me try and paint you a picture: imagine there is only one medication that will relieve you from the pain you are caused by nausea, marijuana will free you of this pain and will give you a little bit of assurance and courage that you need to keep on believing that you are going to be safe. But yet, we still refuse to believe that the drug is acceptable, but there is something I must ask you all. Do you know what ‘the black market’ is? Well let me tell you, the black market is a market in goods or services in violation of legal structures defining the scope of appropriate forms of trade.

It is a market for products that are illegal or stolen. Marijuana appears frequently in the market, and has become extremely popular. The problem with the drugs produced in the black market is that they are not manufactured under any safety or health regulations, this can result in unsafe drugs being produced and users experiencing problems from consuming unknown substances. If the government where to legalize marijuana they could potentially safe lives, as the drug could be bought in shops from legal proprietors, this would assure users of good quality and information about what you are buying and consuming.

Jeffery Miron, the visiting professor of economics at Harvard University estimates the national marijuana market at about 10 billion pounds per year. When will the public and government realize? Marijuana is only dangerous and harmful when sold and consumed illegally, and the government is preventing and keeping us from a product that is so beneficial not only to cancer patients, but also to the paper and clothing industries, the government itself, and for the crime rate of our country.

Long gone are the days when we could go outside at night and not be worried about our safety, long gone are the days when we didn’t have to worry about our kids getting involved in gang activity, and long gone are the days in which we had the freedom to consume a substance which satisfied us. I am thoroughly aware of how high the UK’s crime rate is, and how terrifying and worrying it is for the citizens of our country. I am aware that the amount of crime that goes on in our country impacts and affects almost every single person in the country, which is why legalizing marijuana would be extremely helpful.

The crime rate in the Netherlands is generally low, especially compared to other European countries with tougher crime polices such as the UK. Indeed, in the UK they have found that 60% of inmates in British jails have served a jail sentence previously. In the UK where the consumption of marijuana is illegal the crime rate is actually higher than in Amsterdam where it is legal and the consumption is lower. This proves that, if our government was to legalize marijuana, it would result in the use actually decreasing, as it is known that when humans are not allowed to do something it appears much more attractive, and have a larger urge to do it.

There are many reasons why It should be legal. This essay will focus mostly on the medical benefits, but will also compare marl]nana to other drugs, as you can see with this table that marijuana is less toxic than compared to other drugs such as alcohol and prescription drugs. According to this table it is about as toxic and dangerous as caffeine. (Winnfield, 1994) Consuming alcohol excessively is the third leading preventable cause of death In the United States and can really damage the liver, yet this substance Is legal to consume In the United States.

Take into the consideration that there are many accidents due to drunk driving or driving under the influence. There is little evidence that cannabis that is used long term causes permanent damage. Lung cancer can be prevented by using a vaporizer. Vaporizer are devices that heat the active constituents to a temperature below the ignition point of the cannabis, so that their vapors can be inhaled. Combustion of the plant material is avoided which prevents the harmful carcinogens such as carbon monoxide from forming” There are problems that cannabis can cause with certain people such as psychotic disorder.

A 24 year old man whom we will call Mr.. Z was hospitalized for insomnia, irritability and aggressiveness 2 years after military service. A urine screening revealed that he used cannabises semi-daily and no other substance abuse. Four months later, he presented to a marijuana clinic complaining of chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety and was given a diagnosis of postgraduates stress disorder (POTS) and pain, along with a medical recommendation for cannabis. No psychotic symptoms were elicited. He also increased the frequency of his daily use from approximately once to twice daily. Six months later, Mr..

Z was rationalized with new-onset auditory illustrations and delusions. Irreparable (1 5 MGM/day) was prescribed, with gradual symptomatic Improvement, and then tapered to a lower dose (7. 5 MGM/day) due to tremor. The patient reported that he believed smoking cannabis helped his chronic plan out Tanat It worsened Nils synoptic symptoms, sun Tanat en wanted Nell to stop smoking the drug. After 4 weeks, he was discharged to residential substance abuse treatment with only mild, residual psychotic symptoms and a discharge diagnosis of psychotic disorder not otherwise specified, POTS, and cannabis dependence.

At a 3- month follow-up evaluation, while still taking irreparable, Mr.. Z remained off cannabis and free of psychotic symptoms. ” (Pierre, 2010) Marijuana had benefits throughout history, there have been reports of the symptoms that marijuana has cured. The standard review set forth by the FED&C Act, demands clinical investigations and scientific proof by experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug involved.

Therefore it is appropriate in detail that material regarding the safety and efficiency of medical marijuana is true (Cohen, 2009) . All drugs do have side effects but with marijuana the dangers are far less. It is used to treat nausea, vomiting, insomnia, lack of appetite, movement disorders, pain, cancer, alcohol abuse, bipolar disorder, inflammatory bowel disease and a host of other symptoms. With stress marijuana helps calm people down and not dwell on problems that they have, while the problems do not go away it is considered to help cope with the problems.

Finding the balance to deal with your problems and have marijuana help cope is key to making the use successful. Not finding a balance can be negative as much as it is positive. In general everyone has some type of problem and smoking marijuana can help. In 1851, the United States granted marijuana the status of a legitimate medical compound. The complaints for doing this that cannabis had treated where neuralgia, gout, tetanus, hydrophobia, convulsions, mental depression, hysteria and insanity. This was supported by anecdotal input and not scientific data.

Anecdotal reports are suggestive and do not constitute the firm scientific reports that is essential to Justify the approval of marijuana to be completely legal. A recent study suggests that marijuana may be a useful addition to chemotherapy for hepatitis C, a deadly infection. Drugs that are used to treat HCI are effective but have ever side effects such as extreme fatigue, nausea, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and depression. Sylvester and colleagues found that smoking marijuana significantly ameliorated these symptoms.

This enabled patients to complete treatment when patients who did not smoke opted to not complete treatment (Cohen, 2009). In 2007 the efficiency of smoking marijuana by the AIDS community was verified by a scientific peer-reviewed publication by Donald Abram and coworkers. In this publication random volunteers were assigned to smoke marijuana or identical placebo cigarettes three times daily for 5 days. The report stated that the percentage f subjects who smoked reported more than a 30% reduction in pain intensity, the study found that marijuana reduced daily pain by an average of 34% (Cohen, 2009).

Even in friends and family that I have talked to also reported that this is true, that smoking marijuana has helped them deal with pain. They also stated that it has helped keep them calm and would rather smoke marijuana then drink alcohol. I en tests Ana Tact’s snow Tanat ten Detentes AT marijuana outline ten rills information in this essay shows the risks of marijuana compared to other prescribed drugs are less. With all drugs there are side effects especially death which is almost inexistent in marijuana, people can benefit more from it especially using vaporizer which cuts down the chance for getting lung cancer.

Many people go around and live their lives, seeing many of their acquaintances daily. What they may not know, Is what they do in their free time. So many people go home, out, anywhere they want, and they smoke pot. Having many other names, Its proper name Is Marijuana which Is made by the Cannabis plant. To the eyes of many, smoking pot Is dangerous and Immoral. To the users, It could be the opposite. It Is Illegal today, which Is a topic discussed among a wide variety of people today In the US, and even the world.

Many people believe that it should be legalized for a wide variety of purposes. Those who are opposed, feel it’s too dangerous to be put on the market. The legalization of marijuana is discussed about in all parts of the country, and could help in treating diseases and helping patients, but could also lead to more teen use, and even deaths. Today, there are more than a dozen states, which have legalized marijuana, many for medicinal purposes. Although it may not cure diseases, it helps many patients to avoid, suppress, and alleviate the pain.

There are many sissies In particular that it helps to alleviate. Glaucoma Is just one disease that the effects, untreated, can lead to pain, discomfort, and blindness. In general, Glaucoma is a condition that causes pressure within the eyeball. Glaucoma is when damage occurs to the optic nerve, and leads to a series of eye conditions. There are several types, but the four major ones are; open-angle (chronic) glaucoma, angle-closure (acute) glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness.

Once marijuana is smoked, it may alleviate the reassure. Other medications can be prescribed, but these prescription drugs have a tendency to lose their effectiveness (Grids 1). Multiple Sclerosis is another ailment, that the effects are very crippling. Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Multiple Sclerosis has a long list of symptoms that may cause pain, and/or make the patient feel uncomfortable to be In their own body (Sieve 1). Talk show host, Monnet Williams, talks about his first hand experience with Multiple Sclerosis.

Williams had said, “When the neurologist said hose words – “You have MS” It hit me Like a brick. I thought the diagnosis was a death sentence (http://mm. Mantels. Org/Mantels. PH). ” In his case, Monnet had episodes of excruciating pain, even prior to his diagnosis. He had been prescribed concoction, and opium, which had him suffering through painful and uncomfortable side effects. And now for many years, Monnet Williams has been using medical marijuana, inhibiting the pain caused by his disease. He has launched a public campaign, searching for a cure for MS, and the legalization of medical marijuana.

Williams makes a excellent point, when he says he feels it should definitely be legalized, but strict enough, so that people who actually need it, have access to it. Marijuana has allowed Monnet Williams to become a contributing member of society, and live his life again (The Dry. Oz show). But the list doesn’t end there. Marijuana Is also used to treat Alchemist’s, Cancer, HIVE/AIDS, ALLS, and epilepsy (James 1). Studies have also shown that the Inhalation of marijuana has also decreased that chance of lung cancer, due to certain chemicals In side of the drug, stopping the growth of plaque.

Many people are against it, because of the fact that it is a smoked drug, their own arsenal of prescription drugs in their homes. Medicine cabinets are filled with a bunch of prescription, or over the counter drugs, which are more addictive, more accessible, more harmful, and have more side effects, than marijuana. There is also lots of talk about the economic benefits of the legalization of marijuana. There are hundreds of economists that support the idea (Nonfat 1). It may not end the economic crisis, but it may help us take one step closer to becoming a prosperous nation once again. Once it’s legalized, it could be taxed.

Once it’s taxed, it could bring in millions, or even billions of dollars, to the federal government. According to Jeffery A. Minor, if Marijuana was taxed like most other consumer goods, the tax revenue would be at least $2. 4 billion annually. However, if it fell under the Sin Tax or Tobacco Tax (taxing products such as tobacco or alcohol) annual revenue may generate up to $6. 2 billion. It will also create thousands of Jobs in agriculture, packaging, marketing, and advertising (Minor 1). Look at California for instance. Since marijuana was glazed in 1996, it has accumulated a total of $14 billion, from annual revenue.

This also ties into federal expenses, on containing the drug, and enforcing the law. Many users feel that this is a prohibition, not having legal access to the drug. So they must find other ways to obtain the drug. Some people go to such far ends, Just have one puff. A study was conducted, and in 2010, there were approximately 1,638,846 drug related arrests. About 853,869, a little more than half were arrested, because of marijuana (Borden 1). But if you go even further, you will notice that in only 100,000 asses, approximately, there was actually any use of marijuana.

The other 750,000 were charged on the means that it was in their possession. This shows two things. One, that it’s not as addictive as it’s perceived to be. Two, all those resources that are put towards the law enforcers, could be put towards crimes that are more serious. It would allow state police and officers to concentrate on crimes such as drunk driving, school shootings, stalking, burglaries, robberies, child abuse, etc (Stammer 1). So in total, the legalization of marijuana can help treating patients with serious disease, eve economic benefits, and decrease government spending.

Which is not so bad, but people are more worried about negative effects on the communities. Although there are many positive effects of the legalization of marijuana, there are some negative effects that people are worried about. First and foremost, many parents and adults are worried about the effects on the community, especially the youth. Many teens nowadays have been starting very young with different types of stuff from a wide variety of; cigarettes, chewing tobaccos, alcohol, and marijuana. There are many seasons why students fall under the influence.

People could Just feel stressed and anxious, and feel like marijuana is the cure to all of their problems. Others feel like they need to smoke in order to be cool, and so many fall under the peer pressure. According to surveys, the amount of marijuana use has decreased between the late asses and 2007. Now, the amount has started to increase, since 2006, the use among sophomores and seniors have started to increase. In a survey conducted National Institute on Drug Abuse, 7. 2 percent of 8th graders, 17. 6 percent of 10th graders, and 22. Percent of 12th grader have smoked marijuana months prior to the survey (NADIA 1).

There are many who also fear that it is a gateway drug. The younger kids start out smoking marijuana, then start going up the ladder to other tobaccos, cocaine, and but they sure leave a whole lot of side effects. There are short term side effects, and long term side effects. The short term side effects vary from impaired senses, cramps, hallucinations, paranoia, diarrhea, and an increased appetite (causing weight gain). Long term effects include loss of brain cells, energy loss, apathy, cardiovascular robbers, addiction, and pregnancy defects.

A measure that would make Denver the first city in the United States to legalize the use of marijuana in such venues as clubs, bars and restaurants is expected to get enough votes to pass, backers and opponents of the initiative said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes amid a string of victories for proponents of medical and recreational marijuana use, with voters in California and Massachusetts approving ballot initiatives legalizing recreational use of the drug last week.

The Colorado measure will permit private businesses to allow marijuana use by adults in designated areas with certain exceptions. Backers of the initiative said it would make Denver the first city in the country where cannabis enthusiasts can enjoy the drug socially without fear of arrest.

“This is a victory for cannabis consumers who, like alcohol consumers, simply want the option to enjoy cannabis in social settings,” Kayvan Khalatbari, a Denver businessman and lead proponent of the so-called I-300 measure, said in a statement on Tuesday.

While other states have authorized similar plans, Khalatbari said Denver would be the first to actually implement them. He said businesses in the city could start opening their doors to pot users as soon as late January.

Approval for Denver’s initiative was leading in preliminary vote totals from last week’s election. While the city’s elections agency said they would not certify results until next Tuesday, campaigns that supported and opposed the measure both agreed it had passed.

Rachel O’Bryan, the campaign manager for the opposition group Protect Denver’s Atmosphere, said by phone there did not appear to be enough outstanding ballots for the measure to fail.

“Back in 2012, marijuana legalization passed with a strong majority in Denver … and now about four years later, I-300 passed with a much smaller margin. We think many voters voted in favor of marijuana legalization, but didn’t want to see marijuana everywhere,” she said.

She said the bill’s opponents are concerned about public safety as well as issues of second-hand smoke indoors. O’Bryan said she hopes the city council and possibly the state’s Attorney General will closely examine the law to see if it runs afoul of provisions in state law barring public pot use.

Recreational marijuana was first approved in 2012 by the states of Washington and Colorado, and later by voters in Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia. California, Massachusetts and Nevada all approved recreational use after voting last Tuesday.

(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco, editing by G Crosse)

While most people focus on the Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton presidential election, Nov. 8 also promises to have broad and long-ranging implications for the legal marijuana movement.

Voters in nine states will consider proposals to allow legal medical and recreational marijuana to be sold in their states. They include two of the nation’s biggest states, California and Florida. For those who want to pay attention to these important ballot measures, here is a rundown of where voters will decide on legal marijuana on Election Day.

Recreational Use

The outcome of these votes could mean a sea change in the marijuana industry. Voters in five states will consider allowing the sale of marijuana for recreational use. If all are approved, the number of states allowing recreational use of marijuana would more than double, from four to nine. States where voters already legalized recreational marijuana are Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Voters in the District of Columbia also have approved a similar measure.

California: If there is one state everyone is focusing on, it’s California. Voters there already have approved the medicinal use of marijuana. Passing Proposition 64 – The Adult Use of Marijuana Act – would mean every state on the West Coast has approved recreational use of marijuana. Passage here — coupled with passage in heavily-populated Massachusetts — could represent a step toward eventual changes in federal law.

“If we’re successful, it’s the beginning of the end of the war on marijuana,” Gavin Newsom, the lieutenant governor of California and a former mayor of San Francisco, told The New York Times.

Arizona: Voters will consider a new law allowing Arizona residents to carry an ounce of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants. The initiative faced legal action to keep it off the ballot, but the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling to allow voters to consider the measure Nov. 8.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts looks to become the first state east of the Mississippi River to approve recreational marijuana (along with Maine). The ballot initiative also faced a legal challenge, but courts eventually ruled against opponents. The Massachusetts law would allow residents to keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis at home, as well as grow six plants.

Maine: Another court battle, another win for marijuana supporters. The issue on the ballot is similar to the one in Massachusetts, including a provision giving the right to local municipalities to limit the number of retail marijuana stores within their area or even ban them altogether.

Nevada: There have been no legal battles over this ballot proposal as in other states, although ironically polls show the Nevada measure has just a narrow margin of support. Similar to Arizona, the Nevada law would allow a person to carry one ounce of marijuana and grow six plants. It also would limit retail marijuana outlets based on population.

Medical Marijuana

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes already has been approved by voters in 23 states. However, four more look to join the trend. Florida, with its large population, could have the biggest impact in terms of sales and industry growth. The four states:

Florida: In the Sunshine State, 60 percent of voters must approve an amendment. This measure fell short by two percent in 2014. If approved, it would allow a number of people access to marijuana, including those suffering from HIV, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress syndrome, epilepsy and Crohn’s disease.

Arkansas: The proposed amendment would set up a commission that could allow 40 dispensaries in the state and eight marijuana-growing operations.

Montana: This measure would expand access to legal medical marijuana to include those with chronic pain and Crohn’s disease, among other conditions.  It also would eliminate unannounced inspections of marijuana operations and some aspects of the current reviews doctors must undergo to prescribe marijuana.

North Dakota: This law change would allow those with certain conditions to possess up to three ounces of medical marijuana and also allow qualified patients the right to grow up to eight plants at their home if they live more than 40 miles from a dispensary.

Clearly, the 2016 November ballot will prove a big moment in the marijuana industry. Not only would passage of these ballot measures expand the use of legal marijuana significantly, but also could prove the next step in a trend that could result in changes in federal law.

Jamal Mujaddidi English 205 Professor Jay 8 April 2010 Exploratory Essay Legalization: Good or Bad? As part of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, Marijuana for all purposes was outlawed nationwide. Prior to this Act, over 30 states had prohibition laws towards Marijuana because farmers who employed mainly Hipic workers complained that this drug would cause people to become “slow” or “lazy” and would also cause the users to become addicted. Besides the popularity among this crowd, marijuana was used as an intoxicant during the 1850’s through the 1930’s and was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia.

The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, but this is only one of the 400 other chemicals that are in the plant (TheWELL). It was prescribed for conditions such as labor pain, nausea, arthritis, and rheumatism (DeLisle). It was only after individuals began committing crimes while under the influence of Marijuana that the U. S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics gave marijuana the image of a powerful, addicting, substance that would lead users into a more serious addiction.

In the 1960s, it was mainly used by college students and “hippies,” and subsequently became a symbol of rebellion against authority. Marijuana use became a commonplace issue in congress which led to The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 which classified marijuana along with LSD and heroin as S1 drugs, otherwise known as substances which have the highest relative abuse potential and no form of medical use (DEA). Widespread eradication of marijuana and marijuana products began. The current opponents of marijuana legalization claim that marijuana does have addictive qualities and is an epidemic on America’s youth.

This crowd presents that marijuana is a “silent-killer” due to a fungus and mold which can easily grow on the part which is smoked by users (PRNewswire). This fungus can cause lung cancer and they have deemed marijuana as bio-hazardous. The opposition also goes to say that marijuana can have adverse effects on the brain and can cause brain-cells to die. Some research suggests that use of marijuana during pregnancy can result in premature birth and low birth weights and can even cause temporary loss of fertility.

Along with adverse effects on the reproductive system, the opposition claims that marijuana use during adolescence can be harmful to physical and sexual development. This side pushes for further prohibition of marijuana and stricter punishments due to their beliefs that the negatives outweigh the benefits. In the middle of this debate, stand the moderate marijuana use supporters. This side views marijuana use as a potential alternative to painkillers which are detrimental to vital organs. This crowd is mainly made up of physicians and health-care professionals, as wells as patients of chronic illnesses and pain.

Doctors and nurses say that cannabis is a less toxic and less expensive medicine for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, migraines, cancers, and many other disorders which cause chronic symptoms and pain. This side also states that marijuana’s versatile nature allows patients to gain the pain relieving effects through ingestion, canceling out the negative effects of smoking. Besides all these benefits, this crowd pushes for a safe, reliable and quality-controlled source of marijuana which can only be achieved through legalization.

It is believed that after this source is created, many adverse effects of “bad” marijuana will disperse. Another camp of this debate is the supporters of full legalization of marijuana use and growth for medicinal and recreational use. These supporters claim that marijuana should be allowed to be used in the way alcohol and cigarettes are used recreationally. They state these comparisons have worse long-term effects than THC and yet they are taxed and regulated. Another point they make is that marijuana would inject millions of dollars into the economy once government grown marijuana is taxed.

Besides the smoking and ingesting of the drug, the plant can be used for its naturally produced fiber known as hemp. This can be cultivated from the stem of the plant and used commercially and industrially for paper, textiles, biodegradable products and medical purposes. Overall, they believe the claimed dangers of marijuana are exaggerated and not enough medical trials have been done to verify these claims. As a college level youth and the Legalization of marijuana use in California is on the ballot, I am interested in learning about this issue before I cast my vote.

I have seen the benefits of medicinal marijuana in my family and can attest to the pain relieving effects. As for the recreational use, I believe that alcohol is a much more dangerous substance that can be detrimental to mental and physical health and cause irrational decisions while under the influence. Prohibition has shown to not be a viable solution in the past and I don’t think it can ever solve anything. Regulation on the other hand can prove to be effective because substances will not be bought and traded illegally. I think the legalization of marijuana will improve lives, decrease crimes, and slightly improve the economy.

Works Cited DeLisle, Judi. _Medical Marijuana Research Guide. Valencia West Campus Library_. Web. 20 Mar. 2007. 7 Apr. 2010. “DEA, Controlled Substances Act. ” Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. Web. 08 Apr. 2010. “The Marijuana Initiative Is a Silent Killed and It Should be Defeated – Los Angeles, March 25/PRNewswire/. ”_PR Newswire: Press Release Distribution, Targeting, Monitoring and Marketing. _Web. 08 Apr. 2010. “Fact Sheet – Marijuana. ” The WELL – The Birthplace of the Online Community Movement. Web. 08 Apr. 2010.

The U.S. cannabis market is . It’s so exciting that thousands of industry movers and observers descended upon the on Sept. 7 in Los Angeles, to share their ideas and developments in the cannabis space.

There was some talk at the four-day event about how American marijuana producers are behind the curve in terms of farming innovation. American investors are putting big money into cannabis retail futures, but even bigger money is going to high-tech cannabis farming in other countries. Israel, for example, has been labeled where companies like Philip Morris have made a significant investment.

New post: Cannabis Industry Talks This Week At Cannabis World Congress LA

— MJ Headline News (@MJHeadlineNews)

Related: 

This New Economy

“Every business can touch the future cannabis economy,” says Saul Kaye, founder and CEO of, a Beit Shemesh, Israel-based marijuana startup accelerator and consultancy. “If you’re a marketer, if you’re an online guru, if you are a tech person, if you want to develop a drug, a prescription medication, if you want to develop grow-tech, everything can be developed into this new economy.”

Research in this space in Israel centers largely on developing the potential of medical marijuana and its derivatives for mass production and distribution. Such focus could lead to a synthetic with no need for agro-farming. Despite that direction, research will produce valuable bits and pieces that others may adapt to cannabis farming and harvesting.

The United States government has been growing medical marijuana at the University of Mississippi since the 70s!

— growmedicine (@growmedicine)

Up-By-The-Bootstraps

Under the radar, bootstrapped amateur farming methods continue to rule in the U.S. However, the launch of Newport Beach, Calif.-based cannabis agricutlure startup  the first publicly-traded medical marijuana producer, and the continued government-contracted medical marijuana research at the , could lead to standardizing methods, processes and quality.

Related: 

What Does It Take?

The high-tech challenge is to produce large quality crops indoors where lighting, climate and cultivation often present problems. Cultivation, growth and harvesting require close watch, continuous monitoring and pricey equipment. High-tech cannabis farming also means planning for space, soil composition, energy cost and climate control. Choices are additionally influenced by square footage, market potential and scale of production.

A large number of operations are using farm technologies that have been developed for other agra-industries, such as large-scale food production. “There are technologies in climate control, soil management, nutrient applications, integrated pest management and the like, all being used in both large-scale food production and large-scale cannabis cultivation,” said Rachel Gillette, a Denver-based marijuana regulatory compliance attorney and shareholder with the law firm .

The High-Tech Alternative

One advanced technology marijuana-growing alternative is hydroponics. Hydroponic systems let you grow cannabis without soil. Plants are rooted in nutrient-rich water in any number of configurations. Among these are: 

• Passive systems: In passive hydroponics, you set plants above a reservoir of nutritious solution, which the plant absorbs through a wick, which feeds, not smothers, them.

• Active systems: Programmed mechanical systems feed the cannabis roots.

  • Ebb and flow: These systems periodically flood the root systems and then drain for 20 minutes.

  • Bubbler systems: An air pump regularly percolates a nutrient solution up towards the roots systems of suspended plants.

  • Drip feed: Drip tubes feed nutrients from above into the plant’s potting medium.

  • Nutrient film: Water passes down a tray where it feeds a number of plants 24 hours-a-day.

  • Aeroponics hydro grow: This suspends seedlings above a dark growth chamber set at 100 percent humidity to maximize the oxygen and nutrients absorbed.

Related: 

Bottom line: If you plan to market marijuana in the growing weed economy, it’s imperative that you thoroughly educate yourself on the many aspects of cannabis farming. “The cannabis industry will undoubtedly benefit greatly from agricultural innovations that have been developed over the years,” said Gillette, “whether they’re developed in the U.S. or abroad.”