Escapees March-April 2019 Vol 40 Issue 5

prohibited in any form. In fact, South Dakota is the most restrictive state in the country, only allowing FDA-approved CBD oil. In the middle of America’s midsection sits Colorado, where medicinal and recreational possession of marijuana have been legal since 2012. Currently, in this state, there are more marijuana dispensaries than there are Starbucks and McDonald’s locations combined. Yet, if Tom and Donna choose to travel from there to Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana or Illinois, they can face the same laws as they faced in Montana, which only allow medicinal marijuana in a few circumstances. Next, while traveling to Texas and then on into the deeper South: Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, then up to Tennessee and Kentucky, and even midwestern Indiana, they will find that all these states strictly prohibit possession of marijuana for any reason (with an exception of one rare form of epilepsy in Texas). Medical and recreational marijuana is now legal in Michigan. The same is true for Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. Meanwhile, Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, New Hampshire are like Montana, yes to medicinal marijuana under state rules, but no to recreational use. The same is true for Florida. If they decide to take a trip to Hawaii, they will find that Hawaii allows medical marijuana use, but not recreational.    After crossing the country by RV, Tom and Donna could decide to venture into Mexico. There they will find that Mexico, like Canada, has now legalized marijuana. However, they must not have any marijuana at the border between the U.S. and Mexico as our borders are patrolled by federal agents, and their potential arrest at the border could be a catastrophe. Basically, the law is currently in chaos. Despite laws that became stricter since marijuana prohibition began (in the 1930s), there are big changes occurring. In the last election in

November 2018, many more states eased the laws prohibiting marijuana use. In almost every state, there are now robust “hemp industrial pilot programs” that allow farmers to grow hemp and universities to study it. President Trump also signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law where hemp became classified as an agricultural commodity. It appears the decriminalization of marijuana across the To bring this topic full circle, I remember the 1935 cult classic movie, Reefer Madness , produced to help “educate the public” on the dangers of marijuana. The movie touted frightening and outrageous claims that if a young person were to use even a bit of marijuana in any form, it would lead to shocking acts of violence and often end in incurable insanity! Up until the 1930s, cannabis had never been regulated in any form. The message during these prohibition years was that it was a dangerous narcotic that had to be outlawed. So, from then until now, laws have become stricter and prisons have become more crowded. It was found that cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and it has possibly played a role in pharmaceuticals even longer. The oddity was in making it illegal. Thus was born 85 years of restrictive laws. Although we are beginning to witness the gradual demise of these laws, until cannabis is legalized throughout every state, it is not advisable to travel with it in any form without knowing the laws of each state you travel through. U.S. will occur soon.                                                              

                                       

                                                                                                          

                     

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   

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