Jim Jensen has an illuminating conversation with Amanda Reiman PhD, MSW, of The Drug Policy Alliance, where she shares the truth about medical marijuana.

Amanda is Manager of Marijuana Law and Policy at the Drug Policy Alliance, which is the nation's leading organization promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.

Amanda works to develop the Drug Policy Alliance’s marijuana reform work as it relates to litigation, legislative and initiative drafting, campaign strategy, policy advocacy, media relations, fundraising, and public education in the local, state, federal, and international jurisdictions in which the Drug Policy Alliance is active.

Amanda joined the Drug Policy Alliance in 2012 after working as director of research and patient services for the Berkeley Patients Group, a renowned medical marijuana dispensary. She has conducted many studies on medical marijuana dispensaries, patients and the use of marijuana as a treatment for addiction and regularly presents her research at the conferences of the American Public Health Association, American Psychiatric Association, International Cannabinoid Research Society and the Harm Reduction Coalition. When it comes to medicinal marijuana, she knows what she’s talking about.

• Her work with the Drug Policy Alliance

• How she become interested in medicinal marijuana

• The recent changes in federal policy and how it affects the medical marijuana industry

• Marijuana as a schedule 1 drug

• The social and economic effects of legalizing recreational marijuana in 4 states

• The medicinal components of marijuana

• The urban myth of the two most well-known strains of marijuana – Sativa and Indica

• How marijuana affects the body and the mind

• The dangers of marijuana

• The present state of marijuana research for medicinal purposes

• Her experiences with how the use of medicinal marijuana has helped her and others with chronic conditions

• The different ways that marijuana can be consumed

• The biggest misconceptions that people have about marijuana

• Advice for somebody who may benefit from medicinal marijuana but is having a hard time resolving deep-seated biases

• Where people can go for more information on medicinal marijuana and its potential benefits