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Medical Cannabis: Which Nations Have Legalised It?

June 15, 2024

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Medical Cannabis: Which Nations Have Legalised It?

The healing powers of cannabis are indisputable. Sadly, for the longest time, the war on drugs ensured that cannabis was demonized rather than utilized to its full potential. In the last few decades we have seen the public view shift. People are waking up the truth about cannabis. More nations are legalizing the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Smoking or vaping cannabis has a number of health benefits. It is a potent painkiller, making it extremely useful for patients suffering from chronic pain. It is also a muscle relaxant that has been extremely helpful for people suffering from parkinsons. It also has a number of mental side effects such as reducing stress and anxiety. And the main thing that separates cannabis from traditional medicines is that it is non-addictive.

Not every nation has yet legalized cannabis for medicinal use. But the number of nations that have is increasing each year. Today we are going to look at a few of the nations that have legalized medical cannabis.

Germany

One of the latest nations to legalize medical cannabis. The bill was finally passed by the German Federal Council in March of 2024. The bill came into full effect in April of the same year. Alongside this the German government also legalized the recreational use of cannabis in public spaces as well. But, it is still hard to get a hold of cannabis plants without a prescription. In the years to come we will likely see a number of cannabis dispensaries pop up within the nation.

The Netherlands

People often assume that cannabis is 100% legal in the Netherlands. Primarily due to the popularity of the Coffeeshops that are strewn throughout cities like Amsterdam. But it is actually a gray area. It is technically illegal to own or sell large quantities of cannabis. But there are a few loopholes that the coffeeshops use to get around this. And the government often turns a blind eye due to the amount of money that this industry brings into the nation.

Medical cannabis, however, is legal in the Netherlands and has been since 2003. The Netherlands is arguably one of the easiest nations to get a medical cannabis prescription in. But the Netherlands has a very closed system when it comes to the cultivation, import, and sale of medical cannabis. Meaning no private entities are involved in the process.

United Kingdom

The UK has been pushing for the decriminalization of cannabis for years now. But, due to the pushback from the Conservative government, it has been stifled at every turn. Luckily in 2018 the nation did finally legalize the use of medical cannabis. Including irradiated cannabis. This was a huge boon for many people considering the NHS has been under considerable strain for years now.

Irradiated cannabis isn’t used in many nations. The UK made a huge push for its usage during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The important information about irradiated cannabis is that it is much safer for people with a compromised immune system. Such as people with cancer or those suffering from Long Covid. We expect many more nations to follow in the footsteps of the UK in regards to the use of irradiated cannabis and the legalization of medicinal cannabis.

South Korea

South Korea finally made cannabis legal for medicinal purposes back in 2018. But only for specific medical conditions such as epilepsy, HIV, or certain types of cancer. South Korea was the first country in East Asia to legalize medicinal cannabis.

It is important to note that all recreational cannabis is still highly illegal within the nation. Both to cultivate or to use. Even possession of small amounts of cannabis could land you in a lot of trouble. And they take this very seriously too.

The United States

When discussing America the topic becomes quite tricky. The legalization of cannabis is handled at a state level, rather than nationally. As it stands there are currently 11 states where the use of medical cannabis is illegal. But, out of that 11, 7 of them do allow the use of CBD oil for medicinal purposes.

Every other state has legalized cannabis for medicinal use. But a large majority of them have completely decriminalized it and legalized its use for recreational purposes too. California is the poster child state for the legalization of cannabis. It was back in 1996 they legalized the use of medical cannabis. But it was Colorado that first legalized the recreational use of cannabis back in 2014.

The Complete Guide to Getting an Australian Residency Visa

Every year it is estimated that thousands upon thousands of people consider emigrating to Australia on a permanent basis. The lure of the beautiful beaches. The charm of the sunny weather. The rich history and fantastic culture. It’s no surprise that so many people want to run away to Australia and never return.

But, of course, not all of these people will actually move over, for a number of reasons. Some can’t afford it. Some simply change their mind. But most simply can’t pass the visa application process or secure a residency visa.

Australian Immigration

Australia is one of the countries known for its tough immigration stance. It is no small feat to secure a residency visa. They operate on a points-based system that assesses all applicants on a number of different factors.

These factors include everything from an educational background and language proficiency to employment history and personal interests. No aspect of a possible immigrant’s history is ignored when deciding who to let into the country.

The Australian government decided what jobs and skills are worth more points, based on the needs of the country. Jobs such as Doctor or Engineer will improve your chances of entering the country, whereas a job working as a fast-food worker might not be to your benefit. But this isn’t guaranteed. There have been times when the country needs more labor for general jobs.

So the first step to securing your chance is getting a residency visa is to take stock of your history and information and check out how many points you will get during the process. If you meet the requirement you will be off to a good start.

Family

If you happen to have family in Australia, or family roots from the country, your chances are greatly improved. Like with any country, you have certain rights attached to your heritage. If you can prove this, you stand a greater chance of getting approved.

Another way you could bypass a lot of the application process is through inheritance. If a family member in Australia leaves their estate to you, you can bypass the points system of the application process. In this instance, you would need to secure professional legal help and fill out a qld family provision application to ensure you actually receive the estate in its entirety.

The Application Process

Once you have calculated how many points you will receive due to your history you will now need to provide a number of different checks.

The first is, of course, a passport check. You need to have a valid passport for your current country. Without one, you will be finished before you even begin your immigration journey.

Secondly, you will need to make sure you have got a full police check done and ready to provide. Australia is very strict about criminal records. Even some minor infractions can lead to you be rejected from the country outright. So before you start the process make sure you have your check done.

You will need to put together a complete and comprehensive employment history. This goes beyond a simple CV. You will need to provide proof of income and references. The Australian government needs to know you are experienced and reliable. If you have a history of unemployment or being fired a lot, chances are you won’t get into the country.

Job Hunting

Employment is a huge part of immigration. Australia is insistent on only allowing in people who are going to work. They want to keep unemployment numbers down and have taxes being brought in. So providing your employment history is only the first step. You need to actually secure a job.

Now it is possible for you to wait until you are moved and settled to start job hunting. But this won’t help your chances of making it into the country.

Your best bet is to start job hunting while still in your home country. Start attending online or phone interviews. Apply to as many jobs as you can, even if you get a lot of rejection notices. If you can compile a lot of evidence of trying to secure a job you will greatly improve your chances of getting approved for immigration.

If you can actually secure a job in the country, you can have that company act as a reference for your application and get it sped along. The country is more willing to allow people in if they have already secured a job. So this is one of your best bets for getting into Australia.

History

It never hurts to start brushing up on your Australian history and customs as well. This will play a huge part in getting into the country, but it is mainly for what comes next. A residency visa is only the first step. After that, you will want to start looking into getting citizenship for Australia.

During the citizenship test, you will have to prove you are clued up on their history. Think of it as a history test but focusing more on basic history and customs, rather than specific details.

We hope this has helped you understand how the application process for immigration to Australia works. It is a tricky process but is a worthwhile one. Australia is a fantastic country and, if you make it there, you will not regret your decision to move!

Explaining Food Hygiene Legislation For Dummies

Food hygiene is essential for ensuring food safety. Failure to take proper hygiene practices often leads to unfortunate outcomes. Considering the risk involved in the consumption of unsafe food, food businesses are required to follow strict hygiene procedures to ensure the safety of consumers.

What is Food Hygiene Legislation?

Food hygiene legislation refers to the laws guiding food hygiene. These laws may vary depending on the state or country but they are all aimed at achieving the same goal, which is food safety.

Food hygiene is an important requirement for those in the food industry however, some businesses compromise on safety. The hygiene regulations were formed to ensure that businesses prioritize the safety of consumers.

Join us as we highlight simple and important food hygiene requirements to help ensure food safety.

5 Simple Food Hygiene Requirements for Dummies

Most of the laws guiding food hygiene may vary a little, based on the region, but they are mostly similar. These requirements are mostly referred to as the 5Cs of food hygiene, namely-

#1 – Check

Food Hygiene is not only needed during the course of preparing the food. Its importance goes way back to when the items needed for the preparation of the food were being purchased. One of the major issues that lead to foodborne illnesses is the consumption of expired products. Ensure that you do a thorough check on any food items to ascertain if it is safe for consumption. Check for signs of spoilage, the expiry date, and lastly, ensure that the packages are intact. Taking other precautionary measures without this first step is pointless.

#2 – Clean

The importance of thoroughly cleaning the environment and space where food preparations take place can not be overemphasized. All food contact surfaces are to be thoroughly washed and sanitized, and this includes food preparation tools and the entire workstation. Maintaining a clean food preparation space also involves pest control. It is the responsibility of every food establishment to ensure that they run their business in a pest-free environment. Food exposed to insects or animals like rodents becomes fully contaminated and can cause severe food-borne illnesses when consumed. Food business owners or managers can either get rid of the pests by themselves or hire professionals to help. If you are clueless about how to get rid of pests from your food establishment, joining a pest control forum online will help guide you through the process.

#3 – Cook

Cooking food thoroughly kills any bacteria in it. Food businesses are required to ensure that raw foods are cooked thoroughly and at the right temperature to ensure that they are fit for consumption. Cooking at the right temperature determines the lifespan of the food. After cooking, it is important to maintain the appropriate temperature required before the food is consumed or stored in the refrigerator.

#4 – Chill

Food is not supposed to be reheated more than once. The best way forward is to store the food in the refrigerator. While chilling has proven to be the safest way to store food, the food should be kept chilled below 5°C. It is also important to note that the food should not be stored for so long in the refrigerator. Ensure that the food is properly covered when chilling it, to avoid contamination. Lastly, clean the refrigerator before storing food in it.

#5 – Cross-contamination

Cross-contamination is likely to occur when the practices listed above are not properly followed. Cross-contamination involves the transfer of bacteria from one place or thing to another. For example, transferring bacteria from your hands to the food preparation surface or from the cooking tools to the food. The first step to avoiding cross-contamination is to ensure that raw food is kept far from cooked food. Other procedures include ensuring that your food preparation surfaces and tools are clean, thoroughly washing your hands, maintaining a pest-free workspace, and so on.

Conclusion

Food hygiene is an important practice that is necessary not only for food establishments but also for individuals. Consuming unsafe food can lead to both severe and minor illnesses. One of the most popular food-borne illnesses is food poisoning. Food poisoning occurs when the food is contaminated. This food-borne illness is often drastic, especially when not properly treated.

It is the right of every consumer to consume safe food. Failure to maintain proper food hygiene compromises the quality and safety of any food prepared. Making poor-quality food puts the health of consumers at risk, and it also puts your business at risk.

Follow the 5Cs of food hygiene to ensure that you meet up with the right standard that guarantees food safety.

Essential Tips for Preparing for the LSAT

New York can be a difficult place to begin your law career. With such a competitive market and new waves of future lawyers starting everyday, it’s important to make sure that you stand out from the rest. The most effective way to stand out in such a overpopulated career path is to achieve the highest grades you can in your LSAT. Here are some tips on how to prepare.

Revision time table

To do well in your exams, you are expected to retain a lot of detailed information, like case names and what particular laws entail. This is something that can’t be learned the night before your exams as it’s simply too much information. The best way to comfortably learn so much information is gradually over a couple of months. Set a few days a week as dedicated study time and before you know it, you’ll be ready to take on the exam.

Get a tutor

There is nothing wrong with struggling with the work for these exams, they don’t make it easy to pursue a career in law. There’s no point revising something that you don’t understand as you won’t be able to apply your new information to your exam questions. There are plenty of businesses offering LSAT tutoring in New York for very affordable prices so it may be worth looking into in order to achieve the best possible results. Even if you’re not struggling too much with preparing, tutoring will really give you the edge over other future lawyers and make sure that you get the best results.

Study buddy

Find someone that is taking the tests that you can study with. Law is largely a memory game and bouncing your knowledge back and forth from someone else is a great way to remember all the information that you need . Studying in pairs can be especially useful when it comes to remembering cases as it can be easy to forget your long line of names. An easy and fun way to remember some cases is by trying to match the case name to a description. You can get competitive with this and tally up who remembers the most, a little friendly competition is always a sure way to retain hard to remember information.

Post it notes

Invest in a colorful pack of post it notes and put them absolutely everywhere. On each post it note, write a piece of legislation or law that you need to remember and put the post it on something that you need to look at. A few good places would be on your bathroom mirror, on your wardrobe, next to your oven or on your fridge. This is a non forced way to remember important information and will mean that you are slowly picking up information in a non stressful way.

Sleep

What is most important is that you look after yourself. Make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night, drinking plenty of water and eating enough food. Around exam time it can be easy to forget that you need to look after yourselves, but when you’re under so much stress it is important that you make sure you put your own health first.