Update from TIME:

U.S. Legalization of Marijuana Has Hit Mexican Cartels’ Cross-Border Trade

Feds Legalize Medical Marijuana.

On December 15, 2014 congress lifted the ban on Medical Marijuana.

Medical Marijuana has been legalized in 32 states over the last 16 years.

Medical Marijuana is an alternative natural medicine for patients with a wide variety of ailments such as cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma and chronic pain. 

Until Monday, the Federal Government’s ban on Medical Marijuana could have trumped these states’ laws.

In the latest $1.1 T spending bill (designed to prevent the US Government from shutting down) the ban on Medical Marijuana has been lifted.

Buried deep in the contents of the 1,603 page bill there is a condition that prohibits federal agents from raiding Medical Marijuana shops, in legalized states. 

“This is a victory for so many. It’s the first time in decades that the federal government has curtailed its oppressive prohibition of marijuana.” ~ Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) LA Times

This is a major shift in American drug policy.

Although the federal government stands firm in it’s refusal to legalize recreational marijuana, this is a big hurdle for Marijuana advocacy—this is the beginning of the end of marijuana prohibition. 

“The federal government should never get in between patients and their medicine.” ~ Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland)

With the absence of federal government backlash, there is one less obstacle for the remaining states to legalize Medical Marijuana. 

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Author: Ashleigh Hitchcock

Photo: flickr, flickr