Use Of Medical Marijuana Grows Across America Despite State Restrictions

The medical marijuana industry continues to grow across America despite the respective legislative restrictions in each state.

An investigation made by correspondents from USA Today said that the different states where marijuana has already been legalized dealt with the medicinal herb differently regarding its regulation. Twenty-three states including Alabama have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes despite the prohibition made by the federal government.

Some states showed leniency and loose regulation like New Mexico whose government does not charge any fee for medical marijuana cards whereas Minnesota charges as much as $200 for the same.

Government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration as well as the National Institute on Drug Abuse stated that the federal government have yet to conduct numerous studies and experiments to thousands of individuals in order to include marijuana in its list of accepted and prescribed medicinal options.

The state of Montana, in particular, has begun to look the other way with its marijuana legislation. According to NBC News, the industry has effectively broken down based on the efforts by state legislators and those against marijuana.

The marijuana industry started to rise in Montana when it was legalized in the state over a decade ago with a some 60 percent favoring its approval. Afterwards, said industry ballooned when the Justice Department declared its non-interference with medical-marijuana users as long as compliance with the law is observed.

Despite the ongoing court battle on the passage of the law that will block the use of medical marijuana, there has been an increase in the number of medical-marijuana patients from almost 9,000 in June 2012 to over 12,000 patients this June as well as the number of marijuana providers from 390 in 2012 to 440 this year, according to the Missoulian.

In an interview with the Missoulian, Elizabeth Pincolini, owner of medical-marijuana clinic Billings Wellness Center said that Montana is the only state going backwards, referring to the legislative movement to promulgate a strict prohibition on the use of medical marijuana.

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