Cannabis and the Risk of COVID-19
The racing locomotive of cannabis legalization and its seemingly limitless consumer consumption continues. Coupled with this growing demand, it’s appropriate to take an objective look at cannabis use as it relates to the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) global pandemic and what risk smoking cannabis plays in COVID-19 pathology.
Drug Reform Continues in 2020 Election
Regardless of whether you’re happy with the results of the 2020 Presidential election, there were two very positive things that occurred of which all Americans can be proud. The first, and most important item from the election was that Americans still care about democracy. More citizens voted in this election than in any Presidential election in United States history.
The second substantive event on November 3rd was the continued crumbling of the draconian wall of marijuana/cannabis prohibition. Voters in five states, including Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota passed various degrees of cannabis legalization ballot measures, while one state, Oregon passed a ballot proposal that legalized the use of psilocybin mushrooms.
What is HR 3884?
On July 23, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives, introduced HR 3884, a historic piece of legislation that, if enacted, will revolutionize the cannabis industry. First, it will decriminalize and de-schedule cannabis (a.k.a., marijuana, for those using it recreationally), moving it from a Schedule I drug under the 1970 Controlled Substance Act (CSA), to a non-scheduled substance (meaning that cannabis does not meet the requirements for inclusion in any schedule).