Medical Marijuana Requests Increase By Up To 300 Percent
By micro99 at 15 April, 2009, 4:13 pm
While much of the economy has been struggling in the current recession, it appears one industry has seen its numbers soar so far this year - medical marijuana.
According to MSNBC.com, medical marijuana dispensaries across the country are reporting that their requests for the drug are up 50 to 300 percent since Barack Obama was inaugurated.
Some of the increase could be because of what has been seen by many as looser regulations on marijuana by the Obama administration. Attorney General Eric Holder announced last month that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency would only raid medical marijuana facilities that were in violation of both state and federal law - a stark change from the enforcement policy under the Bush administration.
But according to MSNBC.com, another factor for the increase could be the state of the economy.
Douglas Hiatt, a marijuana advocate told the news provider he has been inundated with calls from people looking to get access to medicinal marijuana and says a lack of health insurance for many, combined with the down economy could be the reason.
With more people spending more money for prescription drugs more people “will turn to medicine that is good for a whole bunch of ailments, that you can grow yourself and not spend a tremendous amount of money on,” he told the website. “That’s very appealing to lots of people.”
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