A billion-dollar industry is on the rise in 10 states, soon to be 11. Your next-door neighbor, your babysitter, your parents, all could easily gain access to this. You’ve been taught in health class to stay away and say no to this illegal drug; but now it’s soon to be legally sold in stores near you.
The law permitting recreational use of Marijuana, goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020 for adults 21 or older. CBD oil, a lotion type substance containing THC oil, is already sold in various locations. Medical marijuana has been legal since 2014 and CBD oil can be purchased without medical marijuana cards.
CBD oil is not classified as a drug because it will not give you the effects of being high.  CBD oil provides some of the effects on a lesser scale as medical or recreational marijuana. CBD oil products can be sold at Family Video or found in the Louis Joliet Mall, all legal for sale if product contains no more than .3% THC. “THC creates a mind-altering high when a person smokes it or uses it in cooking. This is because THC breaks down when we apply heat and introduce it into the body. CBD is different. Unlike THC, it is not psychoactive. This means that CBD does not change a person’s state of mind when they use it,” according to medicalnewstoday.com.
CBD oil causes other changes in the human body helping with chronic pain, anxiety disorders, helping fight cancer, and much more, without effectively getting a person “high”.
“Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance” according to testcountry.org.
In the 19th century, marijuana became a popular ingredient in creating medicinal products which were sold in public pharmacies until they were banned. A law recently passed in 2014 allowed the use of medical marijuana as an alternative to “opioid painkillers.”
Marijuana is “effective in helping nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, chronic pain, ect.”  according to verywellhealth.com.
It is also effective with helping treat diseases such as lupus, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome, glaucoma, and 15 others and counting according to norml.org.
In 1910, after the Mexican Revolution the drug became associated with illegal immigrants and became effectively banned in 1937, with criminal punishment if found to hold possession of the drug, according to testcountry.org Now, with the new law in effect, people convicted prior to the law being passed with possession of under 30 grams have the chance to be pardoned and all charges removed from their record under certain circumstances.
Although deans are not able to comment on issues of legality, since age limit will still be 21 there should be no changes at the high school level.
Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, which states recreational marijuana is not allowed on school property unless consumed for medical reasons with proper documentation and supervision. It is also still illegal to undertake any task under the influence of the drug like, driving or work.
“Although accessibility has raised, there are and have been laws in place to restrict who can and can’t gain access.”  detective Matt Lehman said.
Sale of recreational marijuana is taxed in 7 states, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars, which is roughly only one percent of total tax revenue.
Sales are limited and monitored closely with laws in place for distribution. So starting in January, marijuana will be acessible in stores now, including Illinois.