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Cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with poor health outcomes for both mother and baby. However, its prevalence is increasing in the United States and Canada, while the perceived risk of using cannabis during pregnancy appears to be decreasing. This can be an undesirable unintended consequence of legalizing cannabis use.

Studies in humans and other animal species show that cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight, neurodevelopmental disorders (for example, impaired memory and thinking in infants and children) and maternal anemia.

Determining the degree of maternal and child health risks associated with cannabis is complicated by the lack of longitudinal studies in representative samples that monitor consumption of alcohol, tobacco, other substances and socio-ecological characteristics. However, given the available evidence, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics and a recent advisory opinion from the US Surgeon General recommend that doctors screen and counsel women about the health risks associated with cannabis use and advise women to abstain. However, these recommendations in the United States are being made in a socio-ecological context in which cannabis use policies and beliefs are becoming more liberal and cannabis is becoming more available. This may explain the growing trends in cannabis use among pregnant women in the United States and some other countries.

Cannabis use during pregnancy in the United States has more than doubled since 2002, increasing from an estimated 2.4% to about 5.0% in 2016. Among pregnant women experiencing nausea and vomiting (such as morning sickness), cannabis use is even more prevalent, increasing from about 6.5% in 2009 to 11.1% in 2016. In Canada, the prevalence of cannabis use during pregnancy appears to have increased slightly, from 1.2% in 2012 to 1.8% in 2017.

A possible explanation for the growing trend in prenatal cannabis use is the legalization of cannabis use. Thirty-three states in the United States and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for medical use. In addition, Canada, Uruguay, 11 US states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for recreational use. The laws allowing the use of cannabis for medical purposes appear to have been linked to an increase in cannabis use among the general adult population, as well as an increase in the frequency of cannabis treatment among pregnant women. In addition, the rise in biochemically proven cannabis use among pregnant women and cannabis-related adverse effects on the general population suggest that the rise in self-reported prevalence of cannabis use during pregnancy may reflect a real increase in the number of women who use cannabis during pregnancy. pregnancy, not the result of a more honest message – Legalization.

Reducing the perception of the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy can also be an unintended consequence of legalizing cannabis use. Legalization of cannabis use increases access to and availability of cannabis, especially through dispensaries. It is possible that dispensaries may advise on prenatal cannabis use, which is contrary to public health and clinical guidelines, leading women to believe that cannabis use during pregnancy is safe. In the United States, from 2005 to 2015, the likelihood of reporting no perceived risk of regular cannabis use increased by 13.0% (from 3.5% to 16.5%) among pregnant women who were not currently cannabis users and by 39. 6% (from 25.8 to 65.4%) among pregnant women who have used cannabis in the last month. In addition, pregnant women may increasingly perceive cannabis use as a safe remedy for morning sickness, especially with online misinformation about its health and safety benefits and cannabis dispensary recommendations. One statewide study found that most dispensaries recommend cannabis for morning sickness, medical dispensaries are more likely than retail dispensaries to make this recommendation, and more than a third of all dispensaries and 41.0% of medical dispensaries said callers who said who are in their eighth week of pregnancy and are suffering from morning sickness that cannabis is safe to consume during pregnancy. The economic benefits of legalizing cannabis use set the goal of making a profit in cannabis dispensaries in opposition to health messages aimed at preventing prenatal cannabis use.

Social consequences similar to those associated with drinking alcohol during pregnancy (eg civic obligations, mandatory reporting to child protection authorities) can result from cannabis use during pregnancy. For example, in the United States, many states consider substance use during pregnancy to be child abuse and punishable by law. These laws disproportionately affect low-income minority women due to discrimination. Few other countries criminalize substance use during pregnancy. However, policies that criminalize such substance use place the burden of responsibility for the health of the fetus and child on the mother without considering the socio-environmental factors that contribute to substance use behavior (e.g. cannabis use laws, poor medical advice in cannabis dispensaries, widespread availability of cannabis).

People and their social environment are inextricably linked. Therefore, as states and countries continue to legalize cannabis use, identifying and preventing the potential unintended consequences of such laws on maternal and child health will be critical. For optimal maternal and child health, women should refrain from using cannabis (and other substances) prior to conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Health-care providers should support women in these efforts by respectfully educating women about the risks of prenatal substance use and referring women to treatment when needed, rather than resorting to punitive measures. In addition, good practice should require dispensaries to display warning signs – similar to alcohol policy – of the risks of cannabis use, including cannabis use during pregnancy.

Hemp is fun for many people as a stimulant in their free time. Cannabis helps many people to heal their physical and mental ailments. But hemp is also a healthy, sustainable and economical raw material.

When grown, the plant also improves the quality of the soil in which it grows. Hemp has occupied a permanent place in people’s vehicles for centuries, for example, as a rope on ships or in bodywork. There can be a lot of hemp in our homes and buildings too. It is such a smart alternative to commonly used chemical insulation materials that create unhealthy working conditions when installed in a home.

Is there a fire hazard in a hemp house?

In principle, the question of whether hemp insulation increases the risk of fire can be answered quickly and easily. No, hemp as an insulating material is not particularly dangerous. Insulation materials that can be used in the European Union must comply with strict fire protection regulations and standards. Materials undergo some tests and are divided into fire resistance classes. Hemp insulation wool actually belongs to the fire-resistant class, more precisely, it has protection class C, according to the old classification it corresponds to class B1.

How are insulation materials like hemp tested for flammability?

In fire tests to determine the fire protection class, the material is first ignited as a single object (single object fire test). It is sometimes also tested in-line by simulating a fire in the corner of a room (corner fire test). In these tests, it is not only important whether the insulation material is flammable and how long it takes to catch fire. Points such as the degree of smoke or burning droplets that could be hazardous in the event of a fire are also included in the assessment. Although hemp and wood are smoke-generating building materials, the smoke from both materials is only slightly hazardous and non-toxic. This is rarely the case with unnatural insulation materials.

Hemp is highly flammable, so it can be used as an insulating material.

As an insulating material, hemp behaves in the same way as solid wood components. If the material burns out, a layer of ash and coal will form on the outside. This layer prevents the penetration of fire into the material. Thus, the fire is slowed down by its own combustion products. In addition, the smoke generated by a fire is relatively harmless. In this respect, hemp is even slightly superior to wood.

Thus, hemp is an excellent raw material for building components. Anyone who today thinks about their own home is unlikely to want to imagine that he is constantly surrounded by a large amount of chemical building materials. But if you know it’s an environmentally friendly, harmless hemp that keeps your home warm, life will certainly be much better.

Industrial hemp offers us two types of raw materials for construction and insulation materials. On the one hand, the hemp fibers are outside, and on the other, the woody core of the stem, the so-called hemp seed.

Hemp fibers have been used to insulate homes for many years. Hemp fibers can be used very well, especially in wood construction. They have excellent physical properties and outperform conventional insulation materials in many ways. For example: good insulation, ability to absorb moisture and release it again, very low energy consumption in production and good environmental friendliness.

But not everyone needs a wooden house or a frame house. In many areas, durable construction, such as mud brick, is widespread and popular. To this day, few people know that hemp can also be used to build massive buildings!

The combination of hemp seed and natural lime gives a massive building material – hemp lime. Some people know the English name Hempcrete, where Hemp means hemp and Crete means concrete. We prefer to use the term hemp lime in German because concrete and natural lime are very different. Concrete is a very energy-intensive building material and, like natural lime, cannot absorb and release moisture due to its porosity.

A genius in this regard is the fusion of organic insulating material from the hemp fire with a mineral binder called natural lime. Like natural lime, hemp seeds have a porous basic structure as they serve as a transporting layer for nutrients in the plant. This provides very good insulation as well as the ability to absorb and release moisture. The two main materials are in perfect harmony and develop in their combination, like hemp lime, a wonderful interaction that we can feel in the microclimate of the house with the help of clean air, balanced temperature and humidity.

The benefits of hemp lime are particularly evident in the monolithic construction. A monolithic wall consists of only one material. For single-story buildings, depending on the load on the roof, there is no need for a supporting structure due to the inherent strength of hemp lime. There are also various options for calculating load transfer in a structure. The structural design depends on the layout, architectural style, and hemp lime processing method. Informed consultation with experts before construction starts pays off later in a smooth and efficient construction. The monolithic structure made of hemp lime is perfectly complemented in the surface design with natural lime or clay plaster due to similar properties.

The monolithic construction method using a suitable building material alone solves many of the problems of sandwich wall structures. Moisture and, as a result, mold usually occurs when using hydrophobic plastic insulating materials that cannot absorb moisture. Modern building technology tries to solve this problem by creating an airtight layer in the building envelope. In this case, forced ventilation is mandatory.

The many benefits of hemp lime.
Really save energy!

Hemp lime has very good performance in heat storage, heat reflection and thermal insulation. This provides long-lasting warmth in winter and coolness in summer. This property is further confirmed by the influence of the condensation energy in the wall. Unlike ordinary masonry, hemp lime houses do not require additional insulation.

The real solution to moisture problems!

Hemp lime is a diffusion-open building material, composed of many very small open pores that can absorb and release moisture, thereby preventing harmful condensation in the wall. Compared to conventional insulating materials, hemp lime retains its good insulating properties even when wet. Hemp lime regulates room humidity and, like clay, has a cleansing and disinfecting effect. Natural lime is alkaline and therefore has natural antibacterial properties to prevent mold growth.

Safe in case of fire!

Natural lime is a non-combustible mineral substance. In the composite material hemp lime, organic hemp seed is covered with mineral lime. Thus, hemp lime is generally non-flammable and provides very good fire protection.

Privacy and comfort!
Hemp lime has sound absorbing properties. This creates soundproofed rooms and a pleasant calm atmosphere.

Good for purse!

Homes with exterior hemp lime walls can be plaster or sheathed with wood. Quality interior walls can also be made. This saves time and steps. When making a purchase decision, all relevant costs are rarely taken into account, such as the cost of repairs and maintenance of building materials. The cost of disposal must also be taken into account, as the current example of expanded polystyrene shows.
Good for the environment!

Hemp lime is a very durable and at the same time simple building material. Thanks to the monolithic structure, the material is subsequently easily separated from the supporting structure and mounting elements and reused. In addition, it can be added to soil as a nutrient source for humus accumulation.

Good for a man!
Correctly formulated hemp lime is a 100% natural building material that is harmless to health. For your own safety, you should pay attention to the full declaration of ingredients from the manufacturer.

Back to basics.

Today’s construction technology is influenced by many external factors. There are legal regulations such as the Energy Saving Ordinance, economic conditions and many technical products that help build a good home. In addition, many builders often save on high quality building materials in order to have more money for other purposes. The original purpose of building the house has been lost. The question may seem simple, but important.

Why are we building houses?

If clothes are viewed as people’s second skin, then our homes and living quarters are the third skin. In fact, it is about creating a protected space. It should be comfortable and safe. He must give us strength and keep us healthy. How to create such a space? Reflecting on this question is a good foundation for future-oriented construction.

Natural building and building biology.

Many construction biologists, craftsmen, manufacturers and builders have taken up this issue. In natural building, the construction method using exclusively natural building materials is combined with nature as the ideal model for healthy and energizing rooms and closed cycles of raw materials. Building biology integrates all issues related to building and its importance to people in a holistic sense and consistently adheres to an interdisciplinary approach.

In recent years, politicians and the media have repeatedly voiced myths and biases about cannabis in interviews and reports that are in no way true and are simply meaningless statements to spread cannabis rejection.
It is unlikely that anyone who has dealt with the topic of cannabis has a negative opinion / attitude towards the plant. In addition to the general prejudices surrounding cannabis use, it is often completely hidden that cannabis can also be used medicinally and as a useful plant.

We want this unsuspecting rush to stop. We have not yet heard any compelling arguments against cannabis and legalization, and for this reason we want to end the biggest myths and prejudices about cannabis once and for all.

Cannabis makes you stupid!
Cannabis myths and prejudices 1.

Unlike alcohol or opiates, cannabis does not destroy brain cells when consumed. The bias that cannabis makes you stupid is based on the fact that long-term and excessive use of cannabis negatively affects a person’s cognitive abilities.

This sentence is also often used because other things are usually said after consumption that they do not normally do. This is due to the fact that cannabis expands consciousness and affects thinking. Cannabis doesn’t make you stupid when consumed normally (1-2 times a week), nor does it affect cognitive performance forever.

Cannabis is dangerous and addictive!
Cannabis myths and prejudices 2.

However, no one has yet died from cannabis overdose – in theory, this is not even possible. The danger only arises when cannabis is consumed too often and the user cannot control their consumption. Cannabis is also dangerous when driving a car or bicycle, but this also applies to alcohol.

Cannabis is no more dangerous than alcohol and also causes less physical dependence. It is true that cannabis use can lead to high levels of psychological dependence. Those who are particularly at risk and risk factors that increase the likelihood of addiction can be found in the dangers that cannabis can pose.

The association that cannabis is so dangerous mainly stems from the fact that cannabis was / is a taboo topic in German politics and that false claims about cannabis that are collected and distributed in the media are constantly being made.

Those who smoke weed are not capable of anything.
Cannabis myths and prejudices 3.

Broadly speaking, cannabis can have two types of effects. An effect that calms and relaxes the consumer. The second effect stimulates the consumer’s thinking, and problems usually turn into simple things that are quickly resolved. However, the consumer’s motor skills are often impaired, so working under the influence of cannabis is not recommended.

Contrary to popular belief, cannabis users are capable of a lot shortly after use, this always depends on the type and amount of cannabis. Poets, thinkers, philosophers and artists – there are dozens of examples of true miracles that still shape humankind and were created under the influence of cannabis.

Cannabis is a drug.
Cannabis myths and prejudices 4.

Countless studies prove the exact opposite. Only a small proportion of cannabis users try harder drugs. This fact is usually due to the fact that cannabis can only be bought from dealers who have illegally acquired cannabis.

In the short or long term, every cannabis user is exposed to harder drugs – very few give up or take. If cannabis is legalized, contacts with dealers selling harder drugs will disappear. In addition, lately cannabis has been increasingly announced as an exit drug that helps alcoholics and opiates get rid of addiction.

Cannabis increases drug-related deaths.
Cannabis myths and prejudices 5.

The rumor is even worse next to the “cannabis is a drug” myth. More recently, an article appeared in which one CDU politician claims that cannabis is causing more drug-related deaths. This is complete nonsense, because the use of regular cannabis cannot lead to human death.

There are sporadic cases of cannabis users having accidents with their cars, but these are likely in the double-digit range. Alcohol kills thousands of people every year, but it is tolerated without forgiveness. Cannabis is not the cause of drug death in people.

As previously mentioned, cannabis was used as a medicine thousands of years ago. Whether as a pain reliever or for the treatment of many different diseases. This is still happening today, despite a worldwide ban, as more and more scientists and renowned doctors are speaking out in favor of cannabis use.

One example is Dr. Sanjay Gupta, an American neurosurgeon and writer. For years, he has been a fierce opponent of cannabis. In 2013, he went public, apologizing for speaking out against cannabis for so long. His own research was the deciding factor. He suggested that there is scientific evidence that marijuana can be equated to a Schedule 1 drug (much like heroin). This would mean that these substances are quickly addictive and have no medical effect.

In this and subsequent letters, Gupta pointed out how great the potential medicinal benefits of cannabis could be. It was a very powerful performance by a famous person who was able to make many positive arguments for marijuana.

There are now many scientific reports and studies on the use of cannabis for various diseases. The study is still in full swing and is far from complete.

The medicinal properties of cannabis.

Next, we would like to point out several diseases in which cannabis has already been successful in providing relief or treatment:

Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which, among other things, pressure in the eye increases, which can lead to blindness. A study by the US National Eye Institute found that cannabis can lower eye pressure when taken orally, intravenously, or smoked.

Lung function.

Cannabis does not worsen lung health, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and funded by the National Institutes of Health. In this study, 5,100 people were interviewed over 20 years and their lung function was also monitored regularly. Research has shown that cannabis can improve lung function, rather than impair it, as has always been thought.

Cigarette smokers are at increased risk of severe deterioration in lung function. However, an increase in lung volume has been found in marijuana smokers.

Convulsions.

Marijuana has a relaxing effect on our muscles and can be an effective remedy for cramps. Dr. Sanjay Gupta gave a well-known example of this. It was about the girl Charlotte. Charlotte suffered from epilepsy and had up to 300 seizures a week. After the cannabis treatment, these attacks almost disappeared and Charlotte still had about 3 attacks a month. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of marijuana in the treatment of epilepsy has been confirmed in several studies and reports.

Cancer.

It would be presumptuous to say that marijuana helps against all types of cancer. However, many cancer patients are already reporting that cannabis has helped them cure cancer. Research shows that cannabis has the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells and even cause some cancers to self-destruct.

Pain relief.

As mentioned earlier, cannabis was used as a pain reliever thousands of years ago. The Vikings already used it for childbirth and for toothaches. The Chinese used it primarily as a pain reliever.
Cannabis is still very popular as a pain reliever, and research also shows that it can help with many different types of pain.

Post-traumatic stress.

This illness can be extremely debilitating for the patient. It mainly affects people with traumatic experiences. This disease is widespread, for example, among soldiers returning from war. Initial research has shown that cannabis can be beneficial in treatment. Taking THC orally can help relieve symptoms of illness, such as memories, nightmares, and anxiety.

Stimulating appetite.

There are many diseases in which loss of appetite is a serious side effect. Psychoactive THC has been shown to stimulate appetite. This is especially beneficial for cancer and HIV patients, as they may find it difficult to eat. Perhaps THC can also be used to treat anorexia. But this still requires more research.

Anxiety.

Cannabis is known to relax and relieve anxiety. Research shows that these are the two most frequently cited reasons why people use cannabis (other than recreational purposes).

Tourette’s syndrome.

It is a nervous disorder that causes uncontrollable actions such as screaming and grimacing. Research has shown that cannabis can be very helpful in treating symptoms.

Cannabidiol’s potential for mental illness.

Many diseases can be treated with the hemp plant or the components of the hemp plant – medical cannabis per se, legal drugs with only CBD, or pharmaceutical products based on the hemp plant. They all have important effective active ingredients – cannabinoids.

A lot of material and a lot of research.

Hemp is part of human history. However, research on cannabis and its components began just a few decades ago, when Israeli scientist Raphael Meshulam laid the foundation for it. Thus, it was this researcher who isolated the first cannabinoid.

Since then, research has revolutionized and hemp-based pharmaceuticals have been on the market for some time. There are many resources out there on which diseases CBD and THC can help. Admittedly, there are some useless and completely mis-constructed studies among them, but many of them are very useful.

A study from the Journal of Cannabis Research was published earlier this year.

This study evaluates numerous studies that have examined how drugs containing CBD or CBD, such as Nabiximol, can help with mental illness. Nabiximol is a drug that contains CBD and THC in a 1: 1 ratio.
The investigation found 23 relevant studies on how CBD or nabiximol may help alleviate the psyche. To be able to compare how effectively a medicine is used for various diseases, a special system was created. This system was developed by the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011. This is judged by how clearly the evidence indicates that CBD or nabiximol may help against a given mental illness. The score ranges from Level A, which is the strongest evidence base, to Level D, which is the weakest evidence base. Drugs containing CBD and CBD have been shown to relieve psychotic symptoms and alleviate cognitive impairment.

These drugs have helped against overuse of grade B cannabis, which is a relatively high evidence base. Hence, if you have consumed too much cannabis, you can control your consumption by consuming CBD and CBD supplements. So hemp solves its problems.

A B score on their evidence base also scores the use of appropriate drugs for schizophrenia, social anxiety, autism, and ADHD. As a result, if you have any of these conditions and are taking CBD or nabiximol, you can expect improvement. Evidence of a degree exists for insomnia, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Tourette’s syndrome.

CBD formulations and their therapeutic potential.

This far-reaching investigation should be seen as the first step. It should be noted that only 23 studies were available for the range of diseases studied. However, these 23 studies do not provide a complete picture of this situation. It can be clearly stated that drugs containing CBD and CBD do indeed have therapeutic potential when it comes to mental illness. The exact mechanisms underlying this need to be explored more deeply, and furthermore, it needs to be ascertained which therapeutic approach is actually effective for which diseases. In particular, this requires large-scale RCTs.

Recently, the state legislature of Georgia was proposed a project on the legalization of cannabis for therapeutic use, which also includes provisions on the possibility of producing plants at home. Since 2015, there is a limited distribution program for plant extracts in the state; however, it serves an extremely narrow circle of chronically ill people, while giving them access only to oils with the minimum allowable concentration of THC. In addition, the old law does not include any provisions on the legalization of the production, processing and marketing of therapeutic cannabis plants; therefore, technically, citizens still have to use an illegally imported product for self-treatment.

“Although the oils are legal for use, they cannot be legally purchased anywhere within the state of Georgia,” says the main sponsor of the new project, the Republican deputy, Mick Graveley , about the existing rules . “Despite the fact that the practice has already proved that cannabis extracts containing a mixture of THC and CBD can be quite safely and effectively used in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in combating the symptoms of cancer and autism, from the point of view of the law, the type of product is a “dangerous drug”.

Although no one can guarantee the success of the new bill, it is worth noting that the representatives of both parties paid their attention to it. In addition, the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, promised the public to sign the project without delay if he was on his table after being considered in parliament.

“I express support for activists who support the rational use of cannabis for medical purposes, and I also welcome the possibility of adopting a bill calling for the creation of a regulated market for therapeutic marijuana in Georgia,” Kemp said at the end of last month in an interview on regional radio. “Judging by the data with which I happened to get acquainted, cannabis is indeed an effective and versatile medicine, the use and further study of which we must strongly support.”

Of course, in response to such statements from the leadership of the region, opponents of reform in the region have intensified and are preparing a campaign to oppose the possible expansion of the medical system. In particular, the US Parents Prohibition Organization against the Legalization of Marijuana, led by a native of Atlanta, Sue Rusch, has already opposed the possibility of developing the local cannabis industry, suggesting that any form of reform will lead the state to destruction and indiscriminate addiction.

“Legalizing even a limited form of hemp production will soon lead to a complete legalization of the distribution of this drug,” Miss Rush told reporters personally.

“Pay attention: Every region that allowed limited legalization of cannabis, as a result, came to the full legalization of the plant and the general growth of a large hemp business.”

Faith Holloway, representing the Union for the Defense of Freedom and Faith, which also opposed the possibility of reform, voiced a more moderate stance on the expansion of the medical market. “Although with due attention to detail, we can minimize the leakage of legal cannabis to the gray market, we should not forget that the sale of marijuana is a profitable business that can attract the lobby in support of further reforms,” she said . “Therefore, we should first of all think about educating citizens about the possible risks of using the plant, and not about fighting direct reform.”

Some nuances of the project:

Of course, it should be noted that the new project also includes several extremely controversial provisions. For example, the bill proposes to organize in the state only 10 plantations for the production of plants, while only 5 of the available licenses will allow the maintenance of a large field for crops, while the remaining permits will be issued to small firms and people involved in the extraction of hemp. In addition, both types of licenses will cost companies around 50-150 thousand dollars, depending on the size of the cultivated area and this is without taking into account the non-refundable contribution of 50 thousand to participate in the certification process. These factors indicate that the new market will operate in a mode of scarce supply in the face of an ever-increasing number of consumers, while offering them goods at a markedly inflated price,

Simply put, there is a very real possibility that such a “new” market system, if successfully adopted, will quickly begin to slip and fail for its own purposes, like an existing market created according to the 2015 plan.

The other day, a potential candidate for the US presidency from the Democratic Party in the 2020 elections, Senator Kamala Harris, spoke out with the open support of the federal legalization of therapeutic cannabis. Last Monday, during an interview on the program “The Breakfast Club”, the candidate admitted that she had often used cannabis in her youth, also supporting the idea of ​​legalizing the plant for its therapeutic use and study in the laboratory. “You are joking? Of course, I am familiar with marijuana and its use. After all, a part of my family is born in Jamaica, where using a plant is almost a universal tradition, ”she said to a question from the host about having personal experience in using marijuana. “I’ll say right away: unlike one other well-known politician, I smoked weed inhaling her smoke, ”she added with a smile, giving an allusion to Bill Clinton’s long-standing confession.

“Of course, it was a long time ago, but I do not deny that I used marijuana for recreational purposes and enjoyed it,” continues Miss Harris. “Actually. For this reason, I am not against the legalization of cannabis: As far as I know, when used, the plant only relaxes the human body and improves his mood. What we need in these difficult times is a similar means of fighting aggression and negativity. ”

“To begin with, we should adopt a limited version of the reform in order to open up access to people in need, and also allow scientists to freely conduct experiments on the plant. Further reforms can be carried out after research confirms that marijuana does not have long-term negative effects on the development and health of the human brain, ”she said.

At the moment, one of the main national organizations of cannabis activists, NORML, highly appreciates the position of Miss Harris, considering her one of the main political supporters of the legalization process in Congress. In particular, Miss Harris attracted the attention of the hemp community last year, when she sharply criticized the policy of the former US Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. “I will tell you what kind of justice reforms California needs: We need resources to fight international organized crime groups and modern slave traders exploiting migrants, not additional funds for ABN special forces, which only do what confiscates legitimate hemp medicine from old women, chronically ill children and veterans with disabilities. ”

Of course, Miss Harris was not always supporters of hemp reforms. Back in 2014, she refused to consider the possibility of recreational reform in the territory of her native state of California, and also refused to comment on the position of her then rival for the post of the State Prosecutor General from the Republican Party, who supported the idea of ​​legalization. “He is entitled to his own opinion on this issue, but I do not agree with him,” she then gave her only comment.

However, in recent years, the position of Harris, like many other politicians from both the Democratic and the Republican parties, has radically changed in the direction of open support for full national reform (which is not surprising, considering that according to the latest data, already about 62%. The country’s population is ready to support the full, universal legalization of marijuana). Last year, Miss Harris officially sponsored the Republican Senator’s project, Cory Booker, called the Act on Protection of Regional Legalization, aimed at protecting local reforms from possible sanctions from federal law enforcement agencies.

In his recently published book, “Truths close to us: History and culture of America”Harris paid attention to the problem of criminalizing cannabis, describing in detail how this policy was used by state and federal governments to combat youth movements, and, of course, to oppress the rights of Latin American and African American communities. “Although a number of studies and surveys show that all ethnic groups in the country consume cannabis with approximately the same amount, mainly related to the storage, consumption and distribution of plant disorders, the representatives of the African American and Latin American communities are in conclusion,” Harris reports . “If we legalize cannabis, then the police and other authorities can no longer use the criminalization of cannabis as a tool to control and terrorize these groups of the public.”

“It’s not worthwhile to deny that historically our country quite significantly limited the economic and social prospects of people according to their ethnic, class and gender characteristics, thereby casting a shadow on our democratic and meritocratic traditions on which the founding fathers built the United States,” she noted in an interview last Monday. “For this reason, in addition to the elimination of laws previously used, in fact, to criminalize certain groups of the population, we should adopt provisions that can increase their participation in the new market, as well as allocate tax funds to help various ethnic public and educational organizations.”

Last Monday, several members of the Minnesota state government told the public that the regional parliament would consider the possibility of full legalization of recreational marijuana by 2021.

Representatives of the Minnesota Democratic Party, Senator Melis Frantzen and MP Mike Friberg, are committed to developing a reform project by 2021. Given that neighboring Michigan formally accepted legalization at the beginning of the year, the sooner the state would accept legalization, the better.

“The legalization of cannabis is spreading rapidly across the country and across the continent,” notes Mr. Friberg in an interview. “After the onset of legalization in Michigan and Canada, it is obvious that Minnesota can no longer ignore the issue of hemp reform.”

The state government of Minnesota, after a lengthy debate, passed a law on medical legalization 5 years ago, but the dialogue on recreational reform began only last fall, during regional elections. As a result, the Democratic majority turned out to be in power for the first time in 4 years, several parliamentary and gubernatorial candidates from which openly supported the possibility of full legalization .

Recall that last year was quite rich in winning for the legalization movement: California has become the largest market for legal cannabis in the world ; Massachusetts was the first legalized region on the east coast of the United States; Canada formally opened its national recreational cannabis market, and, finally, the federal court of Mexico set a precedent in fact legalizing domestic cultivation and use of marijuana in the country.

In addition, shifts were observed in traditionally conservative marijuana regions. For example, Utah and Oklahoma announced regional medical legalization programs. Also, the governors of New York and New Jersey have announced support for plans to soon create recreational cannabis markets.

The former governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, was a well-known opponent of any form of hemp reform. On the contrary, who replaced him in the post, Tim Waltz, announced at the inauguration that he would immediately sign a draft on recreational reform. Also, Democrats hold the majority of seats in the Senate and the state parliament, which significantly increases the chance of reform for successful adoption.

At the same time, Paul Gazelka, the head of the Republican Party in the Senate, claims that she will aggressively resist the promotion of the project on recreational reform. “This issue is not a critical point of discussion, either related to the state agenda,” he tells reporters. “In addition, given the link between the legalization of marijuana and the increase in the number of accidents, street crimes and cases of schizophrenia, I can assume that such a reform will only adversely affect the future population of our region.”

In general, the developments of the plan already include the standard limit on the sale of cannabis: from 21 years old and older, as well as provisions aimed at combating the smoking of plants in public places and in transport. In addition, the law will allow local administrative associations, such as cities and districts, to independently regulate cannabis business and its taxation.

At the moment, politicians also want to include in the draft provisions on automatic amnesty for all people who have criminal records related to minor near-cannabis violations and misdemeanors.

In turn, it is worth noting that not all Republicans oppose the possibility of legalization and settlement of hemp business. For example, MP Scott Jensen, representing the town of Shaska, tells reporters that at a municipal referendum at the beginning of the year, more than 90% of the population voted to start a regional dialogue about the possibility of legalization.

“Voters demand decisive action from us,” he said. “This time, the excuses from the committees will not allow us to get away from the dialogue on reform.”

It is also worth noting that at the beginning of the month, an independent legalization bill, drafted by Democrat MP, Raymond Dunn, was also submitted to the regional parliament.

“We have yet to do a lot of work. In particular, there are hours ahead of discussions with a conservative minority that still impedes reform, ”says Friberg.

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