Cannabis in the United States
Cannabis in the United States is a hot topic with the signing of the Farm Bill
Over the last 20 years, cannabis legalization has been further explored, particularly due to its wide range of medicinal properties. With its undeniable benefits, people are beginning to incorporate cannabis regimens into their everyday lives, and many are left wondering what’s exactly legal in the United States?
Cannabis Federal Stance across the US
The history of Cannabis in the US can be traced back to the 1910’s. We used Hemp for ropes, clothing, and other types of textiles, but In 1925 the relationship with Cannabis began to change.The International Opium Convention banned Cannabis for anything other than medical and scientific uses. Soon, the United Kingdom outlawed Cannabis in 1928, and within a decade, the U.S. followed.
The fight for cannabis legalization has a long history and started gaining traction in the 1970s. The conversation about decriminalization began to happen due to the blatant war on drugs against Black and brown communities.
While not completely successful, more progress began to hit in the 1990’s when access to medical marijuana became legal in 1996 due to the AIDS epidemic and findings that cannabis edibles were helpful in relieving pain in patients suffering from cancer. More recently, we have seen the recreational Cannabis market explode, and more states are decriminalizing the plant.
Farm Bill
In December 2018, the Farm Bill removed Cannabis Sativa from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), thus making Hemp legal in the United States. The Farm Bill gave the authority to the FDA and regulated Hemp as it would anything else. CBD derived from hemp products must contain no more than .03 percent of THC.
Cannabis Sativa
The 2018 Farm Bill was such a monumental step for the legalization of Cannabis, with Hemp now being legal. Hemp is used to make both CBD extract and non-medicinal products like:
- hemp seed oil
- hemp powders
- hemp milk
- textiles
Hemp is non-psychoactive, and its properties are extremely beneficial as it’s rich in Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid found in Cannabis with immense benefits. To learn more about Cannabis Sativa (insert link to blog here) click here.
There is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD, and as more research comes out, many states have begun to adopt more progressive viewpoints in their laws as the culture around cannabis shifts around science and popular use.
Cooking with Cannabis Is it Legal?
With the path to legalization being built, cooking with Cannabis is truly dependent on the state you live in. Using hemp or Cannabis Sativa is legal throughout the United States but using high THC cannabis varies depending on the location.
There are many chefs in both recreational and medical states exploring the limits of cannabis cooking and experimenting with finer dining by infusing all types of foods. Check out the Hello High YouTube channel to learn more about the unique ways you can incorporate Cannabis into your daily meals.
Though recreational Cannabis has a ways to go in the United States, we’ve come further in the last 10 years than ever before. The More Act is a step in the right direction and will hopefully decriminalize Cannabis federally helping to end the war on cannabis.
Until then, individual states have the opportunity to join the myriad of other places who have made the jump including Oregon, California, and soon-to-be New York.