Medical Marijuana
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Medical Marijuana

Exploring the use and legality of medical marijuana, both in the U.S. and Israel.

Physician inspecting a marijuana plant before harvesting
Physician inspecting a marijuana plant before harvesting

In October, the AJT explored the use and legality of medical marijuana, both in the U.S. and Israel.

As one of the first nations to legalize medical cannabis, Israel is a global leader in research, development, and yes – pot. Israel has the highest rate of marijuana use, with 27 percent of the adult population between 18 and 65 having used marijuana in the last year, followed by Iceland (18 percent) and the U.S. (16 percent).

Despite those figures, marijuana remains illegal for recreational purposes in Israel. While it remains largely illegal in the U.S., 10 states have legalized cannabis for recreational use, and 29 permit medical prescriptions with a number of other states, including Georgia, maintaining strict restrictions on any medical applications.

Many of those restrictions focus on tetrahydrocannabinol products. THC is the component responsible for the “high,” while cannabidiol (CBD) is not as highly regulated.

With more research into medical marijuana happening each year, including staggering amounts in Israel, the list of diseases for which medical marijuana is an approved treatment continues to grow, including cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, among others.

For more on this subject, check out our interviews with Drs. William Silvers and Zachary Cohen. Both are experts in medical marijuana with an Atlanta Jewish connection.

View the original story here

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