Medical cannabis is now so common in the U.S. that most of us take it for granted. We forget what life was like before the states began decriminalizing medical cannabis. Things were pretty different back then.
Perhaps a quick review of medical cannabis history would help younger patients better understand what they now have access to. So many were not even alive when the push to bring medical cannabis into the spotlight began. Let us take a look, shall we?
Banned by the CSA In 1970
Cannabis had a long history of both recreational and medical use in the U.S. prior to the 1970s. The plant faced no federal regulation and was only lightly regulated by the states. Everything changed with the passage of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970. The legislation effectively banned cannabis by placing it on Schedule I.
Despite the CSA, advocates continued to push for medical access. A number of important court cases led the federal government to establish the Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) program in 1987. Unfortunately, the program was closed to new patients just a few years later. Those allowed to use medical cannabis under the program could continue doing so. But no new patients were accepted.
California’s Grassroots Push
Medical cannabis advocates in California took notice of the change in the federal program. They began the push to decriminalize medical cannabis in the Golden State shortly thereafter. They achieved their first victory with Proposition 215, which ultimately passed in 1996. The proposition made medical cannabis legal in California.
Success in California motivated other states to consider their own medical cannabis voter propositions. States like Colorado, Washington, and Oregon ultimately followed suit. Some 30 years later, thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia allow medical cannabis consumption.
Barriers Still Remained
Despite the early successes in California and a number of other states, barriers to medical cannabis remained. For example, conflicts in federal and state law prevented military veterans from accessing medical cannabis through VA services. VA doctors still cannot recommend medical cannabis to patients.
Meanwhile, the DOJ and DEA continued to enforce marijuana laws as they had the time and resources to do so. It was not until 2014 that Congress forced the federal government to turn a blind eye to state-legal marijuana by yanking funding. Through the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, Congress has effectively banned the DOJ from using taxpayer funds to enforce marijuana laws.
Where Things Stand Now
Medical cannabis in the U.S. has come a long way over the last 30 years. So where do things stand now? Dozens of states have decriminalized medical cannabis. The remaining holdouts will get there, eventually. Meanwhile, the federal government is actively considering moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III.
At the state level, businesses like Salt Lake City’s Beehive Farmacy are thriving. From pharmacies to growing operations to processing facilities, business owners are meeting the needs of patients around the country.
The main concern right now is banking. Until federal banking regulations are changed, cannabis remains largely a cash-only business. Cannabis companies cannot get access to even basic banking services like checking accounts, debit cards, and small business loans.
What the Future Holds
There is no telling what the future holds for medical cannabis. Some people are earnest in the belief that cannabis will ultimately be legalized by Washington. Still others think we are on the verge of a new era of regulation. Time will tell either way. But for now, it is enough to know that medical cannabis in this country has changed radically since the 1990s.
