Medical marijuana has been derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, which produces 2 different chemicals that can be used for medicinal purposes. The first one is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC. THC is the chemical that provides the “high” that people refer to when talking about the effects of marijuana. This chemical is illegal under federal U.S. law but can be used in select states for supervised medical purposes. The other chemical found in the Cannabis sativa plant is cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD contains on small, trace amounts of THC, meaning it won’t cause the “high” feeling that is often associated with the street version of marijuana. CBD that contains only small amounts of THC is allowed to be consumed under U.S. federal law when sold through an approved and licensed business establishment. In order to buy medical marijuana, many states and businesses require consumers to be in possession of a medical marijuana card that provides proof of needing marijuana for medical purposes.