The prospect of federal legalization of cannabis has been a topic of intense speculation among the public and the medical community alike. However, recent developments suggest that a nationwide legalization of cannabis is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
The current scenario appears to indicate that the Feds are unlikely to allow nationwide legalization unless they are somehow out-lobbied by Big Cannabis. The latter has been making significant strides in the industry, but it is currently facing stiff competition from big pharma, tobacco, and alcohol companies. Furthermore, for cannabis to become legal nationwide, enough red states must come online with med/rec economic infrastructure.
All things considered; it could take between three to six years for federal legalization to happen. This timeline assumes that big cannabis MSO corporations do not slip in extra language into the legislation that completely rejects any idea of home grow. It is essential to note that home grow refers to growing cannabis for personal use.
The possibility of a complete rejection of home grow by big cannabis MSO corporations is not far-fetched. After all, these corporations have significant investments in cultivating, processing, and selling cannabis products. They may view home grow as a direct threat to their revenue streams.
However, the parallel between growing cannabis at home and manufacturing Hydrocodone is not entirely accurate. Hydrocodone is a controlled substance used mainly for pain relief. It requires a prescription from a licensed physician and must be dispensed by licensed pharmacies.
In contrast, growing cannabis at home for personal use does not require a prescription or involve any controlled substance regulations. Furthermore, allowing people to grow their cannabis would provide them with an affordable alternative to purchasing products from dispensaries, which could significantly benefit patients who cannot afford expensive prescription drugs.
In conclusion, federal legalization of cannabis remains an elusive goal for now. While it may happen eventually, it will likely take three to six years and will depend on various factors such as economic infrastructure and lobbying efforts by different industries. In the meantime, patients will have to rely on state-specific laws governing medical and recreational use of marijuana and hope that home grow provisions remain intact in future legislation.
