In this third and final installment of our blog series on cannabinoids, we examine the current legal status of cannabis and products derived from the plant. Click to read the other articles in this series: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in the Human Body and Exploring the Entourage Effect.
With Canada poised to legalize marijuana on Wednesday, October 17 2018, cannabis is in the spotlight more than ever. As more and more people worldwide turn to this ancient plant for the treatment of various ailments, cannabis is experiencing a flood of scientific interest and laws around its use are being reexamined by legal entities all over the world.
The laws around the possession, distribution, and cultivation and consumption of cannabis vary widely by country, with most countries following the policies set forth by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), as well as the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotro pic Substances.
When considering legality of cannabis, there are two main categories of cannabis products: medical cannabis and recreational cannabis. There is also a distinction between decriminalization and legalization. Decriminalization relaxes the criminal penalties associated with personal marijuana use, while legalization allows individual possession and the legal production and sale of marijuana. In addition, legalization has another layer of complexity, as there is a distinction between the legality of medical versus recreational cannabis.
CANNABIS LEGALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
The U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has five schedules for drugs. Each schedule takes into account the drug
