Hezekiah Allen, Executive Director of the California Grower's Association and President of Emerald Grown, representing Growers
Amber Senter, CEO & Founder of Leisure Life and California Rolls, representing Manufacturers
Chris Collum, President & CEO of Pacific Expediters Distributors, representing Distributors
Alec Dixon, Cofounder & Director of Client Relations of SC Labs, representing Lab Testers
Jerred Kiloh, Owner of the Higher Path and President of the United Cannabis Business Association, representing Retailers

Meadowlands 2018 State of the Cannabis Supply Chain

How medical marijuana can help Crohn's disease

Medical Marijuana and Crohn's Disease

Isa Perez (Head of Business Development at Meadow) moderates the Update from Local Regulators Panel with Joe Devlin (Sacramento Cannabis Policy and Enforcement), Cat Packer (Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation), and Nicole Elliot (San Francisco Office of Cannabis). Photo Credit: Kandid Kush.

Meadowlands California cannabis regulator panel 2018

David Hua Author Profile

A step by step guide to rolling a joint of cannabis

How to Roll a Joint a Step by Step Guide

Cannabis for Crohn's Disease

How to Roll a Joint Guide

History of cannabis criminalization in US

A smiling white woman with long, flowing blonde hair wearing a sleeveless gray top.

Aria Biswas

Meadowlands cannabis event local regulators panel Cat Packer Nicole Elliott

History of Cannabis criminalization in America

Meadow's cannabis point of sale

Meadowlands cannabis supply chain discussion Jerred Kiloh 

Meadowlands 2018 State of the Cannabis Supply Chain Panel

Cannabis Wellness

Cannabis Events and Culture

David Hua

Cannabis Retail

Watch the video or read the recording of the transcript to learn more about what's happening with California cannabis regulations from the regulators themselves

Meadowlands 2018: Update from Local Regulators with the Cannabis Czars of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento

Read more about what these operators see as the biggest hurdles for the supply chain to overcome

Meadowlands 2018: California's Cannabis Supply Chain Panel

The Cannabis 411 is a joint venture between Meadow and [The Cannabis Conservancy](https://cannabisconservancy.com/ "The Cannabis Conservancy"). The series aims to take an in-depth look at issues surrounding Cannabis criminalization, commerce, cultivation, and consumption.

### Overview
From the California Poison Amendment to the formation of the DEA, in the past 110 years a lot has changed in how Cannabis is criminalized and regulated in the United States. This issue of the Cannabis 411 focuses on the legal bodies and decisions that have moved the U.S. down the road of Cannabis Criminalization during the 20th and 21st centuries. There is a special focus on California, as the state has been a trailblazer for Cannabis. Though California was the first Western state to criminalize Cannabis, the state also attempted decriminalization decades before the rest of the country, and has pioneered the way for compassionate care. In order to write a document and not a book, this issue does not touch on every single law, nor does it delve into the many implications surrounding these laws. 

### Criminalization
The 20th century, particularly the first half, saw a sea change in government's involvement in the products that people consumed. As the nascent industry took shape, Cannabis and other drugs were shuffled between acts and amendments by a variety of state and federal bureaus. After decades of shakedown, the U.S. Government placed Cannabis in the strictest possible federal category. Nearly 50 years later, that is where it remains. Many states, including California, continue to craft new Cannabis laws that are a better fit for their health, safety, and economy. At present, any and all state laws that give any freedoms related to Cannabis are in violation of Federal law.

<figure>
 ![E.W. Kemble's "Death's Laboratory" 1906](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/4Y2RNF7Na9iBQlcAVSKvds/597ba8ab6def5db0e94c8b64b66a1c5c/Pure_Food_and_Drug_Act_1906.png)
  <figcaption>Source: E.W. Kemble's "Death's Laboratory" 1906</figcaption>
</figure>

### The Pure Food and Drug Act - 1906
In 1906, the U.S. passed the Pure Food and Drug Act. In part a reaction to "The Jungle", Upton Sinclair's expose on the Chicago Meat Industry, as well as the fraudulent yet flourishing patent medicine industry, the Pure Food and Drug Act made labeling of all food and drugs mandatory for the first time.

Furthermore, the act mandated that any product containing one of 11 potentially habit-forming drugs must include the amount of that substance on the label. These drugs were acetanilide, alcohol, alpha or beta eucaine, cannabis indica, chloral hydrate, chloroform, cocaine, heroin, morphine, and opium.

According to Thomas Szasz, author of "Our Right to Drugs", the phrasing of the law tells us the government more or less accepted the existence of a market in drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and morphine.[1]

### The California Poison Act Amendment - 1913
In 1913, the California State Board of Pharmacy added "loco-weed" to the state's Poison Act, effectively banning its sale. Many sources claim this was a legislative error.[2]

### The Harrison Act - 1914
The Harrison Act levied a tax on anyone involved in the creation or movement of narcotics (specifically opium or coca products). The act originally excluded doctors, and did not explicitly include Cannabis; however, it is noteworthy for a few reasons. It is the first example of this sort of federal taxation, and paved the way for future prohibition, and it is an example of how frequently drugs were incorrectly classified in U.S. law. The Act was first enforced by the Treasury Department's Bureau of Internal Revenue.[3]

### The California Poison Act Amendment - 1915
In 1915, California expanded on its Poison Act Amendment, banning non-prescription sale of "flowering tops and leaves, extracts, tinctures and other narcotic preparations of hemp or loco week (Cannabis sativa), Indian hemp".[4]

### Eighteenth Amendment - 1919
The Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the production and distribution (though not consumption) of alcohol; it went into effect the following year.[5]

### Narcotic Division - 1921
The Narcotic Division was formalized in the Federal Bureau of Internal Revenue in 1921. It is one of the earliest predecessors to the DEA.[6]
Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Tax - 1922
The aptly named Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Tax banned the import and export of narcotics in the U.S. Like the Harrison Act, it only mentioned Opium and Coca, but was used as a stepping stone for further Cannabis prohibition down the line. It led to the creation of the Federal Narcotics Control Board.[7]

### California penalties increase - 1925–1929
As anti-narcotics sentiment hardened in California in the 1920s, so did penalties. Illegal sale, which had initially been a misdemeanor punishable by a $100-$400 fine and/or 50–180 days in jail for first offenders, became punishable by 6 months to 6 years in 1925. Possession, which had previously been treated the same as sales, became punishable by up to 6 years in prison. In 1927, the law against opium dens was finally extended to Indian hemp, as originally envisioned in the 1880 Walker bill. In 1929, second offenses for possession became punishable by sentences of 6 months - 10 years"[8]

### Federal Bureau of Narcotics - 1930
Established in 1930, the Bureau of Narcotics was a merger of the Narcotics Division (1921) and the Federal Narcotics Control Board (1922). The Bureau was headed by Harry Anslinger, who played a key role in the U.S.'s increasingly stricter drug laws.[9] Mr. Anslinger has a troubled legacy. He is positively credited with dismantling many violent gangs throughout the country, and for running a successful government bureau on a shoestring budget during the Great Depression.[10]

However, Mr. Anslinger viewed Cannabis as the same, if not worse than, heroin, and would frequently give statements about cases of violence and insanity purportedly caused by Cannabis. With the inclusion of these embellished and apocryphal examples, Mr. Anslinger's testimony often reads like the script of a racist and misogynistic propaganda film - and a poorly written one at that. Unfortunately, his lies about Cannabis are one of the longest lasting parts of his legacy.[11]

<figure>
 ![War on Dope Harry Anslinger](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/6dLH2IVRV3fVUXuLlELf4b/38a04c8c83e44eb7b7496c6dbb9eaf9d/War_on_Dope.png)
  <figcaption>Source: Green Flower Media</figcaption>
</figure>

### The Uniform State Narcotic Act - 1932
The Uniform State Narcotic Act expanded on the Harrison Act to impose greater fines on those in violation of drug laws. Another aim of this act was to encourage states to pass further legislation against drugs; California had already done so with its Poison Act Amendment.[12]

### Twenty-first Amendment - 1933
The Twenty-First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, thus ending the country's prohibition of alcohol.[13]

### Reefer Madness Released - 1936
The propaganda film Reefer Madness was first released in 1936; it may be best understood by watching the trailer.[14]

### The Marihuana Tax Act - 1937
While the basis of the Marihuana Tax Act was to simply tax the legal sale of Cannabis, the Act's provisions were so expensive and extensive that it effectively rendered all Cannabis and its derivative products beyond the reach of any average citizen.[15]

<figure>
![Marihuana Tax Act of 1937](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/1CwKvEhn9PXEp5MJSMVeRo/73b2c40435e0b0eb7608ab7473df9478/Marijuana_Tax_Act_of_1937.png)
  <figcaption>Source: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol</figcaption>
</figure>

### Boggs Act - 1951
The Boggs Act imposed more serious sentences for drug convictions, including large fines and mandatory minimum sentences for first convictions.[16]

### Narcotic Control Act - 1956
The Narcotic Control Act further expanded the fines and mandatory minimum sentences of the Boggs Act.[17]

### Federal Bureau of Drug Abuse Control - 1965
The Bureau, a DEA predecessor, was part of the Food and Drug Administration.[18]

### Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs - 1968
Part of the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs was a merger of the Bureau of Narcotics and the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control.[19]

### Leary v. United States - 1969
In 1965, Dr. Timothy Leary was arrested for possession of Cannabis in Texas under the Marihuana Tax Act. He appealed this sentence, stating that the Act violated his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination; his case, Leary v. United States, reached the Supreme Court. In 1969, Leary won his case, as the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously deemed the Marihuana Tax Act unconstitutional. Dr. Leary's name may be familiar from his work with other psychotropics, particularly the Harvard Psilocybin Study.[20] [21]

Also in 1969, Leary ran for Governor of California against the incumbent Ronald Reagan. John Lennon penned "Come Together" for Leary's campaign.[22] Source: Docuhistorias

### Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act - 1970
The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act (CDAPCA) was enacted in 1970 "to amend the Public Health Service Act and other laws to provide increased research into, and prevention of, drug abuse and drug dependence; to provide for treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers and drug dependent persons; and to strengthen existing law enforcement authority in the field of drug abuse."[23]

Title II of the CDAPCA is known as the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Up until this point, most drugs were lumped into one or more categories without much thought. It is the CSA which first separated drugs into different categories - or Schedules - based on their alleged danger vs. potential for beneficial medical use.

Cannabis was placed in Schedule I of V. According to the original law, the findings required for Schedule I are:

A. "The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

B. The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

C. There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision."

Cannabis is listed on Schedule I both by name ("Marihuana") and chemical compound ("Tetrahydrocannabinols"). Up until this point, Cannabis was generally lumped in with opium and coca-derived products; however, according to this new scheduling, these drugs were allowed in the Schedule II category.[24]

Of the 11 potentially dangerous drugs listed in the Pure Food and Drug Act back in 1906, only Heroin and Cannabis were deemed as Schedule I. The rest of those drugs either had some form that was listed in a less severe schedule (including cocaine, opium, and morphine), or they were not on the list at all. It is worth noting that the Attorney General has the power to increase or reduce the Schedule of a drug as new information comes to light.

### Drug Enforcement Administration - 1973
Created through an Executive Order by President Nixon, the DEA replaced the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Nixon wanted to "establish a single unified command to combat 'an all-out global war on the drug menace.'"[25]

### Comprehensive Crime Control Act - 1984
The Comprehensive Crime Control Act was a wide sweeping piece of legislation that included a steep increase in fines for a variety of quantities of Cannabis.[26]

### U.S. v. Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Club - 2001
In 1998, the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, an organization formed to safely provide medical cannabis to very ill patients, was sued by the U.S. government; in effect, this suit claimed that Proposition 215, which had legalized medical Cannabis two years earlier, was in violation of the CDAPCA. The U.S. won this case, claiming that "There is no medical necessity exception to the Controlled Substances Act's prohibitions on manufacturing and distributing marijuana."[27]

### Gonzales v. Raich - 2005
This case was brought to the Supreme Court by a medical patient in California who had their Cannabis seized by the DEA. The outcome of the case asserted that the Commerce Clause of the Constitution - which states the U.S. has power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes" - allows the federal government to continue to criminalize Cannabis, even when patients are following the proper state laws of medical consumption.[28]

### Conclusion
The criminalization of drugs in the U.S. - specifically Cannabis - has been a meandering quest for public safety, fraught with misinformation and ingrained prejudices. It is perhaps best summed up with this quote below by Alexander Pope:

<callout>"A little learning is a dangerous thing; 
 drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: 
 there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, 
 and drinking largely sobers us again."</callout>

__Works Cited__

[1] Szasz, Thomas. Our Right to Drugs: The Case for a Free Market. Syracuse, 1996.

[2] Gieringer, Dale H. The Origins of Cannabis Prohibition in California. http://canorml.org/background/Origins_MJ_Proh_2012.pdf (24 October 2016)

[3] National Archives. Records of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Record Group 170: 1915–45, 1969–80. https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/170.html (24 October 2016).

[4] Gieringer, Dale H. The Origins of Cannabis Prohibition in California. http://canorml.org/background/Origins_MJ_Proh_2012.pdf (24 October 2016)

[5] Congress.gov. Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpreted. https://www.congress.gov/constitution-annotated/ (24 October 2016).

[6] National Archives. Records of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Record Group 170: 1915–45, 1969–80. https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/170.html (24 October 2016).

[7] Sixty-Seventh Congress of the United States. Session II. Chapters 201–201. 1922. http://legisworks.org/congress/67/publaw-227.pdf

[8] Gieringer, Dale H. The Origins of Cannabis Prohibition in California. http://canorml.org/background/Origins_MJ_Proh_2012.pdf (24 October 2016)

[9] National Archives. Records of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Record Group 170: 1915–45, 1969–80. https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/170.html (24 October 2016).

[10]Fearns, Sean. Transcript of "Standing in the Shadows: the Legacy of Harry J. Anslinger". DEA Lecture Series. October 15, 2014. https://www.deamuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/101514-DEAMuseum-LecturesSeries-StandingintheShadows-transcript.pdf (25 October 2016).

[11] Statement of Harry J. Anslinger, Commissioner of Narcotics, Bureau of Narcotics, Department of the Treasury. 1936. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/anslng1.htm (25 October 2016).

[12] Bonnie, Richard J., and Charles H. Whitebread, II. The Forbidden Fruit and the Tree of Knowledge: an Inquiry into the Legal History of American Marijuana Prohibition. Virgina Law Review 56.6: 971–1203 (1970). https://www.votehemp.com/PDF/The_Forbidden_Fruit_and_The_Tree_of_Knowledge.pdf (24 October 2016)

[13] Congress.gov. Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpreted. https://www.congress.gov/constitution-annotated/ (24 October 2016).

[14] IMDb. Reefer Madness. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028346/ (24 October 2016)

[15] Solomon, David. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/mjtaxact.htm (24 October 2016)

[16] Rothwell, Virgina L. Boggs Act. Encyclopedia of Drug Policy. http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/drugpolicy/n42.xml (24 October 2016)

[17] Cameron, Jennifer M., and Ronna J. Dillinger. Narcotic Control Act. Encyclopedia of Drug Policy. http://sk.sagepub.com/reference/drugpolicy/n238.xml (24 October 2016)

[18] National Archives. Records of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Record Group 170: 1915–45, 1969–80. https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/170.html (24 October 2016).

[19] National Archives. Records of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Record Group 170: 1915–45, 1969–80. https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/170.html (24 October 2016).

[20] ACLU. Leary v. United States. ACLU Pros & Cons. http://aclu.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=003427 (24 October 2016).

[21] Sigel, Efrem. Psilocybin, Senate Race Highlight Harvard Year. The Harvard Crimson. July 9, 1963. http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1963/7/9/psilocybin-senate-race-highlight-harvard-year/ (24 October 2016)

[22] The Beatles Bible. Come Together. https://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/come-together/ (25 October 2016)

[23] Public Law 91–513. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. October 27, 1970. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-84/pdf/STATUTE-84-Pg1236.pdf (24 October 2016)

[24] Public Law 91–513. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. October 27, 1970. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-84/pdf/STATUTE-84-Pg1236.pdf (24 October 2016)

[25] Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA History. https://www.dea.gov/about/history.shtml (24 October 2016).

[26] Public Law 98–473. Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1894. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-98/pdf/STATUTE-98-Pg1837.pdf (24 October 2016).

[27] United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyer's Cooperative. 2001. Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-151.ZS.html (25 October 2016).

[28] Body Politic: The Supreme Court and abortion law. Gonzalez v. Raich. Oyez - IIT Chicago Kent College of Law. https://www.oyez.org/cases/2004/03-1454 (25 October 2016)

Read more about the history of cannabis criminalization in the United States from the 1900s until the present

The Cannabis 411: A Brief History of Cannabis Criminalization in the U.S.

Rolling a joint is easy, and is a useful skill for any cannabis enthusiast. Below, you'll find an easy 10-step guide with photos that will help you create expertly rolled joints in no time. Let's get started! 

__Step 1:__
Gather your materials. You will need:

1. Cannabis Flower (To find a dispensary near you, visit [meadow.delivery](https://meadow.delivery/ "Meadow Cannabis Delivery")) 

2. Joint Tips

3. Rolling Papers

4. Grinder (alternatively you can use scissors)

5. Bowl

6. Pencil or Chop Stick 

![How to Roll a Joint Step 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/29yhOJA4a4EgfJfFAwhcha/ae635005faf3ee578f2458b53c25ca70/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_1.png)

__Step 2:__
Grab one of your tips. Make three small folds. Your tip (filter/crutch) makes it easier to roll and smoke. If you don't have tips, tear off a 1.5 x .5 inch rectangular piece of firm paper (business cards, rolling paper packages, raw tips, etc) and roll it to create one.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/4k6HrBa5aYKBD34pkOKOGq/62992622fdc2ea3a1eb9c1b225c4b9be/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_2.png)

__Step 3:__
Roll the tip up nice and tight.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 3](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/5yMRifvaergRWB50VyDkR1/1ff47ae796d94173bd3d60ed6e2fcddc/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_3.png)

__Step 4:__
Time to process the cannabis flower. Ideally, you can use a grinder to break up the cannabis flower, but if you don't have one available, you can always use scissors, or even a kitchen knife and cutting board. You want to shred the cannabis flower into small pieces so it burns evenly.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 4](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/63U3JcH3cMnsiZY8v1uUPU/de32431cb20589e728fbac4172ff2a34/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_4.png)

__Step 5:__
Grind the flowers thoroughly with even consistency (neither too fine nor coarse). Remove any stems, and pour the ground flower into the bowl.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 5](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/70Ijcmq1SgtZ7LO4Lbsx3i/6ce4a0133d9cb899553893b74a054bfd/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_5.png)

__Step 6:__
Lay the rolling paper on a flat surface, with the sticky side on top and facing you. Put your tip on the left side. Dump the flower from the bowl into the paper, spreading the cannabis flower evenly. Pinch the ends of the paper with your thumb and index fingers. Begin to roll the paper up and down, spreading the cannabis out evenly and creating a consistent shape.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 7](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/2geYQg5Ngphf5e9bmU5Z06/4397a5e0c918cae2f86aed8ef0f7deee/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_7.png)

__Step 7:__
Roll your thumbs all the way down until you can tuck the paper edge closest to you under the filter. Roll your thumbs back up so the paper rolls over the cannabis, creating a closed joint. Roll tight and pull hands away from each other to keep the joint taught as you roll.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 8](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/4P76t0ouAKRn7jYPsCKyHZ/e75a11be6b4bc91a275b14c428f8dc8c/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_8.png)

__Step 8:__
Once you've rolled it to the end, lick the glue along the top and seal the joint.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 9](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/3eDBM30BTD8P2g9Zp4IFP2/ef3c92870f2c328fbea4e35d4da3ea89/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_9.png)

__Step 9:__
Use your pencil or chopstick to pack the cannabis and fill the joint as large as you'd like it.
![How to Roll a Joint Step 10](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/6k4QkvMetmsRrt9GlOuJnQ/11d2c955ec1152445ab417f2f0f617ed/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_10.png)

__Step 10:__
Twist it up and enjoy!
![How to Roll a Joint Step 11](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/5MBximWG4RZ6lW8CGH4LUb/dc125d2a2b73513989b3c22b4555ec82/How_to_Roll_a_Joint_Step_11.png)

---

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To learn more about Meadow, follow us on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/meadow.sf "Meadow Instagram") and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/meadow "Meadow Twitter").

Read more to perfect your joint rolling technique

How to Roll a Joint: A Step by Step Guide

This article was originally published by Daniel Towns on the Meadow blog in November, 2014.

---

I had been using cannabis to alleviate my symptoms for nearly two years by the time a doctor diagnosed me with Crohn's Disease. It was the fall of 2010. I was a college sophomore at the time, with homecoming right around the corner. It was difficult to accept the fact that I suffered from a chronic condition, but I stayed in school thanks to prescription drugs and, as I've learned, thanks to cannabis.

Since 2010 I've experienced just one other flare-up of symptoms, the worst of which include ulcers, deficiencies caused by the malabsorbtion of nutrients, and the resultant fatigue that debilitates so many Crohn's patients.

I count myself lucky in the relative severity of my disease, which is itself extremely rare, because I have not yet undergone surgery for any life-threatening complications. Most patients with my condition will - and I may yet end up under the knife - but I argue that cannabis products significantly reduce that danger.

Many people have died at younger ages from aggressive, often untreatable Crohn's symptoms, so I feel more grateful for each healthy day at the age of twenty-four.

As a medical marijuana patient living in California, I have access to excellent medicine. Now that my home state of Oregon has followed its northern neighbor in legalization, I feel even more empowered to access treatment up and down this beautiful side of the country.

My patient journey was not always so easy, though. I arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area in the fall of 2009, without a medical marijuana recommendation, but I had already begun experiencing serious symptoms.
One year later, I reached my breaking point because of two legal drugs that are now completely off-limits for me. I did just about the worst thing any Crohn's patient could do: fighting a hangover with Advil.
Now I abstain from both alcohol and Ibuprofen because they can cause ulcers in a fragile gastrointestinal tract like mine. Before my diagnosis, however, I knew none of this.

I did know that one of the only ways I could eat in my condition was by smoking cannabis to achieve the increased appetite known colloquially as "the munchies."

In fact, I had eaten my most satisfying meals while medicated for years by that time, but flare-ups can exacerbate the suppressed appetite that afflicts many patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

My second and most recent flare-up occurred in the winter of 2013, and I was again prescribed a notorious little steroid known as Prednisone. This drug has a range of nasty effects including weight gain, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, and other harmful imbalances, and it can cause serious side effects if used in the long term.

After two regimens on Prednisone, I must admit that I felt much worse than I had at the height of any flare-up. Once again, cannabinoids helped me with pain while my intestines healed - this time, however, I was mostly suffering because I was weaning off of the steroids I had been prescribed.
My experience with cannabis as a treatment for Crohn's Disease is one of the biggest reasons that I'm excited to write for Meadow.

Cannabis was popular in ancient medicine as a cure for ailments of the stomach and digestion, but now we are truly living in a new age: medical researchers have finally begun to expose these hidden links with relation to Crohn's Disease.

Even with such high tradition in natural medicine, doctors and scientists explained the phenomenon very recently - the term 'endocannabinoid' was coined in the mid-1990s after a series of breakthroughs pinpointed THC-sensitive receptors in the brain.

These receptors were found to relate to a range of psychological and physiological responses that include the functioning of the gastrointestinal system. With the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, it became apparent that cannabis might achieve the transition from an ancient to a modern medicine.

What does this mean for patients with inflammatory bowel disease? Put simply, it explains how cannabis helps Crohn's patients to suppress symptoms like nausea, a cause of weight loss.

Increased appetite was a noticeable effect, but the evidence suggested calming and antispasmodic properties as well; people with IBD likely used cannabis to relieve pain, stress, and to help them sleep long before the discovery of the endocannabinoid system.

Following these implications, researchers began seriously investigating cannabis as a medication for Crohn's Disease in 2011, with promising initial results.

Here at Meadow, we strive to provide patients with accurate and objective posts on peer-reviewed research, which is why we've created this Cannabis Patient's Guide to Crohn's Disease.

Firstly, we do not recommend immediately adopting cannabis as a replacement for Crohn's medication prescribed by physicians.

Medical marijuana has been proven to reduce the need for medication in other diseases, and the same may be true for Crohn's Disease - however, we should wait for further research before moving in this direction.

In my experience, the best approach to controlling Crohn's Disease involves a combination of prescription drugs, cannabis, regular exercise, and a healthy diet.

On a side note, I do prefer certain pharmaceuticals over others, but some people suffering from a more aggressive case of Crohn's Disease may not benefit from my prescriptions.

With that said, medical researchers made impressive progress toward classifying cannabis as an approved treatment for Crohn's Disease in recent years.

The best scientific evidence for the effectiveness of cannabis as a Crohn's medication came in a series of three studies conducted between 2011 and 2013. Beyond the fact that each study included actual Crohn's patients using cannabis, each of the three publications is unique in terms of sample size, methodology, and reliability.

<figure>
![Cannabis as Crohn's Medication 2011-2013](//images.contentful.com/6kwu1u6s8j23/6nVfAes99ZQSP4DXnw4LTQ/b7b9de9f6440df6b4896acd8b6d2b570/Cannabis_as_Crohn-s_Medication_2011-2013.png)
  <figcaption>A graph showing the dates, sample sizes, and clinical response rates for three major studies of cannabis as a medication for Crohn's Disease</figcaption>
</figure>

In the first study, conducted by an Israeli team in August 2011, 30 participants rated their diseases on a scale called the Harvey Bradshaw index (also known as the Crohn's Disease Activity Index or CDAI).

After treatment with cannabis, 21 of the 30 "improved significantly," with the need for other medication also reduced. Remarkably, "15 of the patients had 19 surgeries during an average period of nine years before cannabis use, but only two required surgery during an average period of three years of cannabis use."

One of the most important benefits may be a reduction in the the number of surgeries undergone by Crohn's patients; the National Institutes of Health report that between 70% and 90% of these patients will require operations, of whom 39% require repeat operations.

While its results were promising, however, skepticism persisted in 2011 because this study was a first foray without the use of a placebo-controlled group. To their credit, the researchers did achieve impressive results as measured by the CDAI, which depends on both self-reported and observed criteria.

Later in 2011, a team of enteric scientists published a study of cannabis as a treatment for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), two common varieties of inflammatory bowel disease.

The Crohn's group consisted of 191 patients, of whom 91 reported lifetime cannabis use - a rate of 48%. Of lifetime users, an impressive 50% used marijuana to relieve symptoms. The numbers compare similarly between UC and Crohn's patients in the study because cannabis treats similar problems caused by the two diseases.

To achieve these measures, the team employed a questionnaire "regarding current and previous cannabis use, socioeconomic factors, disease history and medication use, including complementary alternative medicines."
For disease activity they used the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, another systematic index measuring the health-related quality of life for Crohn's patients. As a survey of nearly 200 people, this study provided further evidence for the reclassification of medical marijuana as a Crohn's treatment.

It was not until 2013, however, that the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology published the most definitive results yet achieved on the subject. In a placebo-controlled study of 21 Crohn's patients conducted over a period of ten weeks, 10 of the 11 subjects in the cannabis group induced a clinical response by smoking marijuana, with five even achieving complete remission.

The placebo group showed much lower rates in each category, providing a much-needed control for mounting evidence surrounding cannabis as a treatment for inflammatory bowel conditions.

With luck, these trials can provide the groundwork for a new series of experiments to prove the link between cannabis and Crohn's Disease beyond a reasonable doubt.

A review of medical literature published early in 2014 by the journal Pharmacology sought to do just that, highlighting the locations of cannabinoid receptors (classified as either CB1 or CB2) throughout the gastrointestinal tract and their potential clinical effects:

<figure>
![Crohns Disease IBD](//images.contentful.com/6kwu1u6s8j23/3afLmCLs6M4ouhAmekLP1z/3166e1ab4c2d992b64ea020bea1c7ab7/Crohns_Disease_IBD.png)
  <figcaption>Potential targets and mechanisms of CBs involved in the improvement of IBD. Natural and synthetic CBs act via intestinal CB1 and CB2 receptors to regulate epithelial permeability, motility, secretion (via the enteric nervous system), as well as leukocyte migration, recruitment and apoptosis. As the site with the highest CB1 expression (but also some CB2 expression), the brain may modulate motility, the sensation of pain and unpleasantness, thus positively influencing the inflammatory process. Source: Karger.</figcaption>
</figure>

Importantly, they emphasize that the brain is the principal site for CB1 expression and that CB2 has been detected in the brainstem. This means that the cannabis may reduce inflammation by acting on the central nervous system directly, perhaps influencing the sensation of pain, suppressing nausea, or relieving stress.

These conjectures make sense to me as a Crohn's patient, and researchers have long postulated that stress might cause symptoms to present. Paying respect to both ancient and modern wisdom, the review finds conclusively that cannabis has great potential as a treatment for Crohn's Disease. In their words, this "elegant translation" from natural to scientific medicine should set the stage for major discoveries in the near future.
Crohn's patients today may have the best chance at living normal lives seen thus far in the short history of this disease, and I believe that cannabis legalization could present another inflection point.

The research indicates that access to affordable cannabidiol and cannabis products could mitigate the pain and expense associated with Crohn's Disease, and public health officials, politicians, and dispensaries alike have taken notice.

If you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease and have not tried cannabis as a treatment for your symptoms, why not conduct your own clinical trials and report the results on one of the indices used in the studies?

No matter your background or condition, please recognize the mounting evidence for cannabis as a treatment for a range of conditions including Crohn's Disease - legalization may be able to prevent surgeries and even save lives.

---

Meadow builds software for the cannabis industry in California.

To learn more about Meadow, check us out on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/getmeadow), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/meadow.sf) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/meadow).

Read one patient's report about using cannabis as medicine for Crohn's Disease

A Cannabis Patient's Guide to Crohn's Disease

__April 2016__

When we started Meadow in 2014, it was with a vision to make medical cannabis more accessible to patients in California. 

That seed of an idea soon grew into [Meadow Delivery](https://meadow.delivery "Meadow Cannabis Delivery") — what started as a medical cannabis delivery e-commerce site that quickly featured more than 45 California dispensaries and delivery partners spanning across 38% of California zip codes.

In February 2015 the business expanded to include [Meadow MD](https://meadowmd.com/ "Meadow MD"), a platform for medical cannabis doctor’s recommendations. Using Meadow MD, thousands of patients across California connected with independent physicians from the comfort of their homes.

The next branch of growth came with the launch of the Meadow Platform in November 2015, a [cannabis retail](https://getmeadow.com/blog/tags/cannabis-retail "cannabis retail") software suite for dispensaries and delivery services in California.

<figure>
![cannabis analytics and reporting](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/6xLiWoOiHo3ZchQeqvOj4Q/4a0f4d9b010b4b84a4e3595e4a1f91a3/cannabis_analytics_and_reporting.png)
<figcaption> Meadow's analytics for dispensaries and delivery services. </figcaption>
  </figure>

Today we’re incredibly thrilled to announce even more exciting news.

Meadow has closed $2.1 million in seed funding from a group of incredible investors, including David Lee, YC partner Justin Kan, Reddit CEO and co-founder Steve Huffman, Reddit co-founder and YC Partner Alexis Ohanian, Angel Investor and Entrepreneur Hiten Shah, Slow Ventures, Liquid 2 Ventures, SOMA Capital, and Poseidon Asset Management.

We’re so grateful for these investors and their belief in our business, our growth trajectory and our values.

Today we’re also announcing the launch of our Cannabis Point-of-Sale and Inventory Management systems, the newest additions to Meadow Platform.
These systems have been built specifically for cannabis businesses, incorporating feedback and best practices from patients, dispensary partners, legislators and regulators across California.

### Why Does Cannabis Software Matter?
The cannabis industry is rife with complication.

Regulations governing medical cannabis businesses can be difficult to navigate and are often in flux. Therefore, many established companies have not built tools for cannabis businesses or developed services tailored to their needs.

Some have even dropped cannabis business clients once they learned the nature of their business.

This is where Meadow comes in. We understand, appreciate and value the cannabis industry and the far-reaching medical applications of cannabis. We also have our finger on the pulse of industry regulations.

__We’re creating solutions specifically for cannabis companies.__

<figure>
![turnkey cannabis software](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/3e3cryVtcSyHMJmpyL99g9/12c042af714fe87427c545f38751ed51/turnkey_cannabis_software.png)
</figure>

<callout>“We’re replacing outdated software and tools made for other industries with technology built from the ground up for cannabis. We work closely with our partners to understand the pain points and intricacies of their operations and work with regulators to ensure legal compliance and best practices.” — Meadow CEO and Co-founder David Hua </callout>

### What Are We Going To Use the Money For?

We’ll continue to scale [getmeadow.com](https://getmeadow.com "getmeadow.com") and Meadow MD to continue to provide our patients with access to medical marijuana.

We’ve seen and experienced the benefits of medical cannabis firsthand and will continue to service our patients and partners with the highest quality products and services.

“We plan to connect the entire cannabis supply chain, from farm to flame. We have the opportunity to build technology that will become the backbone of this industry — in California and beyond — and we’re thrilled to have an incredible group of forward-thinking investors backing our mission.” — CEO David Hua

<figure>
![Meadow founders Y Combinator cannabis startup](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/2ru5B8bxmT0mOLxu3o5SHF/f948ab74ffb49c89b9db81945e819c55/Meadow_founders_Y_Combinator_cannabis_startup.jpeg)
<figcaption>The Meadow Founders at a 2014 Y Combinator event in Palo Alto. From the left: Harrison Lee, Scott A Garman, Rick Harrison, and David Hua.</figcaption>
</figure>

Here’s what some of our investors have to say:

__Justin Kan — Y-Combinator Partner & Spokesperson, Founder Justin.tv/Twitch__

> With Meadow you have the combination of the right team, with the right product, at exactly the right time. We’re coming to a tipping point. Support for marijuana legalization has hit an all-time high. At YC we see software disrupting old industries all the time. Meadow is disrupting this budding new industry by bringing the dispensaries, customers and patients all to one platform.

__Alexis Ohanian — co-founder, Reddit, Y-Combinator Partner__

> We’re just beginning to unlock the medical, social, and economic benefits of cannabis and the results are already striking. Meadow is building world-class technology for a massive industry that’s only just starting to grow — the stakes have never been higher.

__Hiten Shah — co-founder at Quick Sprout and Crazy Egg, Angel Investor__

> I invested in Meadow because I believe in the team, their mission and the medicinal benefits of cannabis. I believe in David Hua and his team’s ability to create the best software for the cannabis industry that touches both cannabis businesses and the consumers interacting with them. I’m really excited to see this industry move forward with it’s potential to improve the lives of countless people. I believe Meadow will be a big part of the industry’s future with their software skills and, equally important, their compassion for the industry and it’s consumers.

__Emily Paxhia — Founding Partner & Director of Relations, Poseidon Asset Management__

> Our decision to invest in Meadow was based on the quality of the founders who brought true technology solutions to an underserved market. We also strongly believe Meadow’s platform and strategy works well with the regulations and optimizing the B2B experience. We appreciate that the team focuses on the quality of the product and understands how critical the political process is to the growth of a company in the cannabis industry. Their passion for the industry is translated into user-friendly and elegant platforms, which make the experience for patients and customers pleasant and efficient.

__Jeff Ferguson — President and co-founder @ PipelineDB, Angel Investor__

> I invested personally in Meadow because they are doing for the emerging cannabis industry what Uber did for transportation — take control of it by building great software.

### A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our investors and our patients. Thank you for your support! We’re so excited to continue to grow with this dynamic industry, and we’re grateful to provide quality medicine to our patients.

__The cannabis movement and social justice are at the core of Meadow’s values and DNA.__ We’d like to thank everyone who has joined us in advocating on behalf of cannabis. We’d also like to thank those who join us at education events — let’s continue to hone our swords together.

<figure>
![David Hua, Steve DeAngelo and more cannabis industry leaders](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/1cb49TURJ1i0b1ToDgddMb/b227229bbebfbcc3555e42268fc2040f/David_Hua_Steve_DeAngelo_and_more.jpeg)
<figcaption>David Hua, CEO and co-founder of Meadow; Steve DeAngelo, Founder and CEO of Harborside Health Center; Gavin Kogan Esq., attorney, political advocate and cannabis entrepreneur; and Emily Paxhia of Poseidon Asset Management at the Silicon Valley AgTech Conference in May 2015.</figcaption>
</figure>

__A special thanks to our teachers, mentors and partners. We stand on the shoulders of giants.__

A heartfelt thank you to: Steve DeAngelo, California Growers Association, Debby Goldsberry, the faculty at Oaksterdam, California Cannabis Industry Association, and The ArcView Group.

And a thank you to all of our partners, who are on the front lines everyday: The Apothecarium, SPARC, Vapor Room, and all of our other dispensary and delivery partners. We wouldn’t be here without you.

<figure>
![Cannabis Delivery Risk Mitigation](//images.ctfassets.net/6kwu1u6s8j23/7CoWPJlucRyIjKO83qdEH3/4a2108b3c5187debe18b8a6d88238abc/Cannabis_Delivery_Risk_Mitigation.jpeg)
  <figcaption>A recent event held at Meadow on Risk Mitigation and Driver Best Practices.</figcaption>
</figure>

### Stand with us on the right side of history.

To learn more about Meadow, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/meadow.sf "Meadow Instagram"), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/getmeadow/ "LinkedIn") & [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/Getmeadow/videos "Meadow YouTube").


Read more to learn about where we started

The Meadow Blog

Browse by tag:

Meadowlands 2018: Update from Local Regulators with the Cannabis Czars of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento

Meadowlands 2018: California's Cannabis Supply Chain Panel

The Cannabis 411: A Brief History of Cannabis Criminalization in the U.S.

How to Roll a Joint: A Step by Step Guide

A Cannabis Patient's Guide to Crohn's Disease

Meadow Raises $2.1 Million in Seed Funding To Grow Cannabis Retail Platform

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