Apr 6, 2023
Social Equity, Cannabis, and LACBA’s Pro Bono Program
[Originally published in Los Angeles Lawyer]
Cannabis has had a long love-hate relationship with regulatory agencies. The federal government still hates it and deems it a Schedule 1 controlled substance, sharing the same category as heroin.1 Does that seem right, given that the plant arguably offers valid medical uses? California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996.2 Since then, the medical use of cannabis has been legalized in 39 states and the District of Columbia. The recreational or adult use of cannabis has been approved in 21 states and the District of Columbia.3 People with qualifying conditions ranging from epilepsy to social anxiety may, with physician referral, receive cannabis to treat or manage their conditions. Today, the use and general acceptance of medical cannabis continues to evolve in favor of medical programs.
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