Date of Award
5-10-2017
Major
Biological Science
Faculty Advisor
Anterola, Aldwin
Abstract
Medical marijuana has become increasingly popular in the United States. However, it has been around for as long as the art of writing has. Written records of marijuana being used medically have dated back to 2900 B.C. Many states have taken to legalizing the usage of medical marijuana recently, starting in 1996. There are now 28 states that have passed medical marijuana laws, as well as the District of Columbia. Citizens and lawmakers of many more states are fighting for legalization. Medical marijuana is capable of relieving symptoms of many different diseases and conditions for all ages. This paper explores nearly all aspect of the medical marijuana industry. Dispensary application, licensing, renewal, and tax fees are all discussed. This paper also covers the year that each state chose to legalize marijuana and in what way the law was passed. Dispensary, cultivator, and testing lab guidelines and numbers are listed. The testing guidelines per state are also discussed, as well as the conditions that each state allows the use of medical marijuana for. There are several different types of medical marijuana products, and each state has its own guidelines as to which products are allowed. Next, the number of registered medical marijuana patients is compared to the overall population of each state. To conclude, this paper will compare Illinois with the other 28 legal states/ regions.