The stigma around cannabis in the U.S. continues to fuel the various myths surrounding its use and its users. As such, proponents of cannabis continue to highlight the potential health benefits, while educating on legalization efforts and debunking historical myths.

In part 1 of our interview with cannabis advocate Dr. Rachel Knox, she described her outlook on the effect the incoming administration may have on cannabis, particularly medical marijuana. Currently, the FDA still has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine. This is slowly changing, as more and more studies prove the medical benefits of the plant. The scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana called cannabinoids has led to two FDA-approved medications in pill form. Scientific research has shown cannabis to treat symptoms, related but not limited to, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, cancer, AIDS, spinal cord injuries, anxiety, and insomnia.

Here, Knox provides some more thoughts on how cannabis legalization can potentially affect the industry.

Cannabis legalization, regulation, and access boils down to misunderstanding, greed, and fear.

I believe that legislators are attempting to heavily regulate a plant they do not understand, and as a result, are misregulating it. I believe that states’ collective focus on the projected tax revenues of their recreational markets is short-sighted as medical markets are actually much larger and growing. I also believe that cannabis and natural medicine as a whole threaten Big Pharma’s bottom line.

I anticipate that government will continue to participate in local overregulation and in Big Pharma’s acquisition and control over medical cannabis product manufacturing and distribution. The FDA is already selling Big Pharma patents they hold on cannabinoid profiles for therapeutic use. People believe that the federal government is not involved in legalization efforts, but they certainly are—just in a very different way than anticipated or desired.

Patients, cultivators, and manufacturers participating in the recreational market have to maintain their own standards.

I recommend these participants to demand, cultivate, and manufacture organic and pure products so that medicinal grade products remain on dispensary shelves. I recommend that medical advocates work with legislators to develop favorable regulations that lift strict and sub-therapeutic caps on cannabinoid content of those products.

I also recommend that people learn how to grow their own plants if they live in a state that allows them to, and to fight for the maintenance of that right should revocation ever become a legitimate threat.

Despite the impact the 2016 election will have on access to cannabis medicine, I continue to stress that it is paramount to understand that cannabis is inherently medicine and can remain so even in a domineering recreational market.

My question to the masses is no longer “how can we access cannabis,” but “how do we want to access it?” The answer—be it from a personal backyard grow, the local dispensary, or the local pharmacy via a doctor’s prescription—will determine what standards need to define the recreational markets and what further legislative actions need to take place to preserve medical programs.

My answer would be that people should get to choose for themselves how they access their cannabis medicine from a diversified marketplace. But if we let the government decide, there will likely no longer be a choice.

I am hopeful that more states will adopt cannabis legalization, but my express wish is that they mindfully legalize in ways that benefit their people and not just their bottom lines.

Do you agree with Dr. Knox? Sound off and let me know on Twitter @kwild.

This article was originally published on BlackEnterprise.com.

Avid cannabis enthusiast, not to mention the owner of Colorado’s first African American owned marijuana dispensary, Wanda James, recently enlightened EstroHaze.com on the ‘whats and hows’ of entering the booming, novel marijuana industry. Check out what she had to say.

EstroHaze: How would you advise someone who is looking to invest in the cannabis industry, but has absolutely no clue on how to get started or what to invest in?

James: When I think about 2009 and 2016 the industries could not be more different. In 2009, when I started, there were no rules. Everything we did in 2009 we took from the idea of businesses that owned previously. When more dispensaries started opening, then they went back to the legislatures and started enacting different rules and regulations until we had the system that is in place today—which is highly specialized seed to sell tracking. It’s pretty intense these days.

How would you advise someone who is looking to invest in the industry but really has no clue whatsoever about how to get started?

There is no one answer as to how one does this. Everyone has different resources, different circles. A lot of times people want to know how to come up with 6, 10 or 20 million dollars to be able to do this. It’s not about one person being able to do this. It’s about what kind of team can you put together. Just like any other business, work in the industry, get to know people in the industry, network in the industry. Find your expertise in one part of it then find other experts to partner with.

What is the likelihood that someone with little to no 'know how,’ but with great passion for the marijuana industry, can find business/financial success in this blooming industry?

I think what we’re seeing now is that the industry is growing in so many amazing ways, so bloom where you’re planted. Even part of what you do, currently, works in the cannabis industry. For example, if you work in PR & marketing, there are now firms who are just dedicated to PR & marketing for cannabis.

What 5 tips could you offer to the novice cannabis entrepreneur?

1. Learn the plant.
2. Try the plant.
3. Get involved with conventions, expos, and your local normal.
4. Get political.
5. Don’t let anybody talk you out of it.

I’m too high. Not at this particular moment (ok, maybe slightly), but, in general, I’ve reached my too high point. My too high isn’t related to the over-consumption of a couple blunts, or weekend marathoning, but to the general state I’ve been in for months attributed to my consistent, disproportionate enjoyment of weed. I’m foggy. I’m dulling. I’m losing something in my essence that I can’t quite put my finger on but I know it’s dwindling and it’s likely because I’m too high.

I’ve been here before—more than I care to admit. I get here often. This is due to my affinity for excess and most often, if not always, prompts cold turkey quitting of something or another. I have to do it. I have to cut whatever that thing is that does whatever it does to cause me to get too anything.

I eat a Blow Pop today; I’d like 2 tomorrow and 3 the next day. I get what I like to call a “sugar bump” by Day 4 which prompts me to quit on day 5 only to return by Day 15. It is my cycle.

I’m afraid it may be cannabis quitting time. Note that this quit is temporary—30 days max, so, it’s more like a hiatus. I will use this hiatus to clear up—to reconnect with my thoughts, my words, my essence, my vibe, all things lying dormant beneath the fog. If I remain loyal to history I will complete this hiatus rejuvenated. I will wonder if my natural high has taken me higher than any blunt has ever done before. I will grow curious and test the hypothesis. I will be disappointed after my first hit of smoke to cleared lungs. I will sink slowly, lowly, in hopes of getting higher. I will proclaim that my natural high seemed a little more elevated, yet I will hit the blunt again to be sure. I will continue to do so until I am too high that I am low again. I will quit cold turkey and repeat.

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Sam here. 

You’re probably wondering ‘harpo, who this woman?’ well, if you promise to behave, i’ll tell you. i’m 1/3 of the estrohaze clique and when i’m not getting hazy (sometimes when I am) i write. what this means for you, you lucky bastard, is that you will be privy to some of my amazing, how did she think of that, oh my goodness i couldn’t have said it better, where has she been all my life words. *feel free to lower your expectation as i may have overshot here.*

nonetheless, every now and then there will be words and such, by and for raging cannabis enthusiasts. 

what will these words and such entail, you wonder? well…i haven’t a clue. i will share whatever it is to be shared at the time. 

will i be zooted whilst i share these words and such? maybe. you judging? 

will these words make any sense if i am, in fact, zooted? no promises. 

will you love me regardless? don’t you darn doubt it. 

what is the point? you. aren’t you always?

other members of the EH crew, Charlie and MJ, will pop in to see what’s up with you blazing people from time to time too. welcome them. they are worthy. 

that said, i’d like to propose a toast. raise ya spliff high—a little higher than that so i can see it—here is to the beginning of something potent and flavorful. may we all get high off each other’s supply. 

Cheers! 

don’t be selfish, yo. pass that.