It comes as no shock to anyone who knows cannabis that it’s something of a miracle herb.

But as we bring this plant out of the dark and into the light, it continues to blow our minds – just how great the benefits of marijuana actually are!

We are talking about benefits to public health, to the economy, and to each and every person who develops a positive relationship with this therapeutic plant.

2016 is going to be a big year for cannabis and education is critical – if you agree don’t hesitate to share this list and spread the word!

Cannabis Beauty Defined™ Singled Out as a Top Holiday Gift of Choice by Globally Recognized Financial Publication

For years, Steve DeAngelo, an entrepreneur who got his start in the legalization movement hosting smoke-ins in front of the White House, thought that big business, big pharma and big tobacco would damage the cannabis industry. He had plenty of company. 

But today, DeAngelo sees a future where cannabis and big business help each other. In fact, he thinks such a collaboration may be the thing that helps move the industry to the next level of acceptance and legalization.

A national medical marijuana advocacy organization published a memo and model ordinance on Monday for California cities and counties recommending that they regulate the cultivation of medical marijuana instead of banning it. The memo and model ordinance are part of project by Americans for Safe Access (ASA) to support patients and advocates fighting bans on cultivation and pushing for local licensing and regulation of medical marijuana businesses.

Without prompting, Ophelia Chong mentions that she is "not related to Tommy." It's something she points out often — "not related to Tommy" is in her email signature— because it's a question that she is frequently asked. "Maybe we came, somewhere way back, from the same village, but no," she says. "Unfortunately, no."

MedReleaf Corp. Becomes the First and Only ISO 9001:2008 Certified Licensed Producer of Medical Cannabis in Canada MedReleaf
Posted on: 22 Dec 15

MedReleaf is now the first and only medical cannabis producer in Canada to be officially certified an ISO 9001:2008 company, solidifying their position as a leader in quality assurance within the industry. This latest accomplishment is not only a Canadian first, but also a rare achievement in the cannabis production space anywhere in the world.

• Equipment causes emissions equal to those of New Hampshire
• The industry's energy use is undoing cities' efficiency gains

Residents of Maryland who want to buy marijuana for medicinal purposes are likely going to have to wait until 2017, nearly four years after the state first made it legal.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission announced Monday that it won’t award licenses to grow and process the drug until sometime this summer.

It takes about four to six months to grow and process cannabis, industry and government officials say.

The commission had said it would start issuing licenses in January, but backed of that timetable last month after receiving more than 1,000 applications from would-be pot producers and dispensers.

It's been nearly eighteen months since Governor Cuomo signed legislation to legalize medical marijuana, and with only a few weeks left before the Compassionate Care Act is due to take effect, the five companies licensed to grow and sell cannabis are rushing to meet the deadline.