MARIJUANA STATISTICS

According to reports, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. Marijuana has been proven to treat the symptoms of several conditions including AIDS, cancer and Glaucoma. Some states have passed medical marijuana laws, making it legal for ill patients to grow and consume cannabis for medicinal purposes. Despite the fact that some states have passed such laws, there is still much controversy surrounding marijuana.

Following are some marijuana statistics:

• Marijuana is most commonly used by young adults between 18 and 25 years of age
• Marijuana is one of the most popular drug among college students
• More than 30 percent of college students have reported to have used marijuana within the last year
• A 2005 study conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated that 97.5 million American older than 12 tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime, meaning about 41 percent of the population has tried marijuana

Marijuana has been linked to some temporary side effects, including short-term memory loss and dry mouth. However, it has not been liked to the development of serious health problems like those caused by tobacco. To date, there have not been any deaths linked to use of cannabis.

Medical Marijuana

Marijuana has been proven to be an effective treatment for some health conditions, and some states have passed medical marijuana laws, allowing patients to grow a certain amount of marijuana for their own use. There are specific steps a patient must take in order to be able to grow marijuana, and of course, those steps vary from state to state.

The controversy is still hot, however. In October 2009, the Justice Department sent a memo to U.S. attorneys outlining its policy for medical marijuana arrests. The department stated that it plans to back away from busting patients who grow, purchase and consume marijuana for medical purposes and focus on bigger targets such as drug traffickers who are clearly breaking the law.

If you’ve been arrested for growing or possessing cannabis and you feel that you have been wronged, it is in your best interest to speak with an attorney who knows the laws governing medical marijuana. The issue is complex and can be quite complicated. If you or someone you love is ill, don’t allow your medicine to be taken away from you. Contact the national marijuana attorney at Imhoff & Associates for experienced and professional legal counsel in your medical marijuana case.