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Understanding the Laws Regulating Medical Marijuana

What is Medical Marijuana?

Medical marijuana refers to any part of the cannabis plant that can be used to alleviate a variety of health conditions. When people use medical marijuana, they are seeking relief from pain and medical symptoms, not to get high.

The cannabis that is legally sold in dispensaries for medicinal purposes is typically the same as the kind used for pleasure. However, as research continues to identify how the chemicals in the cannabis plant react in the human body, new strains of medical marijuana are being developed with a focus on health benefits and fewer chemicals that cause mind altering effects.

CBD vs. THC

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the most commonly used cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant. After CBD is removed from the plant, it is mixed with a carrier oil such as hemp seed or coconut oil. It is known to have therapeutic effects to alleviate conditions such as nerve issues, PTSD, physical pain, epilepsy, and autism.

THC is the psychoactive compound that is responsible for the psychological effects of cannabis. THC causes cells in the brain to release dopamine, which is what creates its feelings of euphoria.

CBD affects the body very differently than THC. Compared to THC, it would take almost 100 times more CBD to have any impact on the body’s cannabinoid receptors. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause any feelings of euphoria or intoxication, which makes it an acceptable medical treatment that is safer than the addiction and overdose issues associated with opioids that are traditionally prescribed to manage pain.

Federal vs. State Marijuana Laws

Cannabis is a prohibited substance according to the Controlled Substances Act that was passed in 1970.  Under this act, the Drug Enforcement Administration considers marijuana  a Schedule I drug.  This means that it is prohibited because of its potential for abuse, and there are not believed to be any medically acceptable uses.

Many more laws regarding the use of cannabis have been added, amended, repealed, and reinstated since the 70s.  Today, there are over 30 states that have legalized the possession of medical marijuana.  One of the main concerns with legalizing marijuana in individual states is that it is still considered illegal by the federal government. Federal laws take precedence over state laws, which means that you can be arrested and prosecuted for having and using medical marijuana, even if it is legal in your state.

Most of the state medical marijuana laws protect not only the users of medical marijuana, but they also protect their caregivers who may supply their medical marijuana. Many of the state laws include lists of specific conditions that qualify for the use of medical marijuana.

FDA Approval

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved cannabis for the treatment of any specific diseases or conditions. However, the FDA has approved some drugs that do contain cannabis.  These include Epidiolex, Marinol, Syndros, and Cesamet. These cannabis-derived drugs can only be purchased with a prescription from a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Learn More About Medical Marijuana

The legalization of medical cannabis is advancing worldwide, and there is much more that you can learn about medical marijuana and its use in the healthcare industry.  cannabiscareer.com, a leader in education with nationally accredited colleges, offers courses to help educate the growing global community of healthcare professionals, caregivers, and patients who want to learn about the science and clinical data behind medical cannabis.

Healthcare

How Cannabis Is Changing the Healthcare Industry

Legality of Marijuana

In the United States, marijuana has been legalized in over 30 states.  However, it still has not been legalized by the federal government. With at least several million Americans using medical marijuana, a majority of the country is in favor of complete legalization.

Uses of Medical Marijuana

One of the most popular uses of medical marijuana is to help control pain. While marijuana may not be strong enough to reduce severe pain, it has proven to minimize many types of chronic pain effectively. Part of the appeal in using marijuana to alleviate pain is a reduced risk of overdoses and addiction which are associated with opiates. It is also a safe alternative for people who cannot take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Aleve and Advil.

Marijuana is frequently used to lessen nerve pain, especially that associated with multiple sclerosis.  Currently, there are few other options that have proven as effective. Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis report that medical marijuana has helped them to resume their normal activities without feeling the side effects associated with more traditional medical treatments.

Other uses for medical marijuana include the management of nausea, weight loss, and glaucoma. Marijuana is said to work well as a muscle relaxant and can help to reduce the severity of tremors experienced by those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, it has been successfully used to treat wasting syndrome associated with HIV, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and a variety of other conditions involving chronic pain.

Marijuana Is Changing Healthcare

As medical marijuana continues to replace other drug alternatives, states where marijuana has been legalized are reporting fewer deaths from opioid overdoses. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that states with legalized medical marijuana have seen a 25 percent reduction in opioid-related deaths compared to states that do not permit the medical use of marijuana. Supporting marijuana as a replacement for opioids could also help to reduce America’s addiction epidemic which claims an average of 115 lives every day.

Increased Jobs in Healthcare

Medical marijuana is being used across the globe and continues to explode in the United States.  This dynamic growth is leading to new employment opportunities in the healthcare industry.  According to Marijuana Business Daily, approximately 215,000 new jobs have been created, with that number potentially growing to 475,000 by the year 2023.

Since education on the science of medical cannabis is generally not included in most medical training programs, there is a demand for healthcare professionals with this specific training.  To meet growing demand for sound, fair, balanced, and relevant medical cannabis education, cannabiscareer.com offers online courses to help educate healthcare professionals, caregivers, and patients who want to learn more about medical cannabis.

Throughout our course, you will learn everything from the history of cannabis to how cannabis products affect the human body, as well as how to effectively communicate as a Cannabis Dispensary Technician.  Earning your Dispensary Tech Certificate from cannabiscareer.com will give you a deep understanding of what a Dispensary Tech does and the underlying chemistry of how cannabis works on the body.

At cannabiscareer.com, our staff is highly educated and experienced, offering a winning approach to providing career training to prepare you for your new cannabis career path.

Career

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Budtender

The Legalization of Medical Marijuana

It’s an exciting time in the medical industry with the increase in alternative medicines such as medical marijuana. The legalization of cannabis is creating an entirely new segment of jobs that didn’t exist previously. If you are considering a career in the healthcare field, becoming a cannabis dispensary technician may be just what you are looking for.

As marijuana becomes legal in more and more states, every day, more cannabis companies are popping up, offering high-demand career opportunities. With the cannabis industry growing at such a fast pace, now is an excellent time to pursue an education that can help you prepare for a well-paying job with plenty of opportunities for advancement.

Although cannabis is still banned at the federal level in the United States, as of October 2019, medical marijuana has been legalized and is regulated in over 30 states. According to Marijuana Business Daily, the acceptance of medical marijuana has led to approximately 215,000 new jobs, and by 2023, that number could grow to 475,000.

Cannabis Dispensary Technician

One of the many career options in this growing industry is budtender, also known as a cannabis dispensary technician. According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a budtender in 2018 was $32,000. In addition to hourly wages or a set salary, many budtenders also earn tips.

This job requires a wide range of skills, from customer service abilities to a scientific understanding of the products that are sold in a dispensary. Budtenders need to be comfortable working with people to help them understand different strains of cannabis, as well as the varying levels and combinations of THC and CBD.

Marijuana dispensaries hire budtenders as their salespeople with the expectation that they will be product experts. A budtender is expected to know the current marijuana industry trends by researching products, attending trade shows, and learning about partner dispensaries. Budtenders must also ensure compliance with the local laws governing marijuana usage.

Part of the job is to ensure customer satisfaction by helping customers select the appropriate products for their needs. This means that as a budtender, not only do you need to know your products, but you also need to learn about your customers so you can make appropriate recommendations. You have to be comfortable asking people questions about their budget, lifestyle, and history of marijuana use.

How to Become a Budtender

There are several courses available to become a certified Cannabis Dispensary Technician. Classes may be offered in a traditional classroom setting as well as online. At cannabiscareer.com, we off a Cannabis Dispensary Technician Course that covers all areas of knowledge, including botany, biology, history, safety, and even customer service. Our goal is to establish a high level of comfort in a cannabis dispensary, which leads to great experiences for you as an employee and for your customers as well.

The course consists of 11 modules, each containing a variety of media to learn, including text, videos, and current articles. There are quizzes along the way to reinforce important information and an exam at the end of each module.

  1. History of Cannabis and the Cannabis Dispensary Technician
  2. Basic Infection Control and Safety in the Cannabis Dispensary
  3. The Endocannabinoid System
  4. Phytocannabinoids
  5. Pharmaceuticals (synthetic cannabinoids)
  6. The Human Body and Responsive Conditions to Medical Cannabis
  7. Modes of Delivery, Routes of Administration and Dosages
  8. Effectively Communicating as a Cannabis Dispensary Technician
  9. Risk Factors, Adverse Effects, and Appropriate Responses to Complications Associated with Cannabis Distribution and Use
  10. Legal and Ethical Issues Related to the Distribution and Use of Cannabis
  11. The Future of Cannabis Research

Get the Knowledge You Need

If you are a people person with an interest in the growing medical marijuana industry, a career as a budtender may be just the job you are looking for. This industry is expected to experience strong job growth as medical marijuana becomes an accepted alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. One of the essential skills you need as a budtender is product knowledge and industry knowledge. At cannabiscareer.com, we can make sure you get the education you need for a successful career as a Cannabis Dispensary Technician.

Cannabis Career

Cannabiscareer.com is a product of Legacy Education, a leader in education with nationally accredited colleges.

Legacy Education is here for you as you walk down your new cannabis career path.

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