tu tuesday - crime

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/4-plead-guilty-after-marijuana-raids-3406118.php

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/

http://www.teenhealthfx.com/answers/alcohol,+smoking+drugs/43787

my question: what is the difference between medical marijuana and street marijuana? also who is authorized to prescribe this?

This article is about "Two Kalispell men and a Bozeman couple have pleaded guilty to federal drug charges filed after March 2011 raids on medical marijuana businesses." in certain states there is medical marijuana which is used for "treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions."  However it does has long-term effects and many pros and cons which make the decision to legalize it or not debatable. Most people describe the cons as it being a gateway drug but on the other hand, it is effective in treating pain, nausea and vomiting, AIDS-related loss of appetite, and other symptoms. The big difference between medical and street marijuana is "When marijuana is purchased in a non-controlled environment, there is no regulation for what it contains." Medical marijuana is handled and distributed in a controlled environment. Also only doctors who work in a state that legalized medical marijuana are allowed to prescribe it. However, they must consider the benefits and potential problems that may occur.

These four people were “ charged after a raid at Good Medicine Providers in Columbia Falls,” because of the intent to redistribute. The two men “pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.” But it also says “Good Medicine Providers was selling large quantities of marijuana, including 10 pounds provided to one informant.” That seems like a high quantity since it is suppose to be prescribed in small doses. With the amount that they are giving, it would seem easy to redistribute the extra amount because you aren’t depending on that over abundance. Not only did they steal the plants and a marijuana package, they also “sold several pounds of marijuana to a Helena medical marijuana provider after that business was vandalized.” That increased the level of crime and now Montana’s medical marijuana producing began to slow. “The state Legislature was working to make changes to the law” but I think that certain regulations should have already set when medical marijuana was first legalized. This problem shouldn’t have occurred if boundaries were given from the first place. It is said “ there were 14,364 registered medical marijuana users and 422 registered providers at the end of February, compared with 31,522 patients and 4,650 providers in May 2011.” There is only a three-month difference and the patients using doubled. Also more and more providers have been created but the regulations have not changed as more providers are created.