After serving three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kristoffer Lewandowski was medically and honorably discharged from the Marine Corps.

He is now a 100% disabled veteran because of the severity of his PTSD. Since he has gotten out, the VA had him taking up to 13 pills a day to treat his PTSD. The pharmaceutical treatment was killing him.

Early clinical research shows that medical marijuana is highly effective for treating PTSD, and it does not have the dangerous side effects of SSRIs.

After realizing that the meds were killing his liver, Lewandowski decided that it would be a good idea try marijuana as a treatment. He began growing 6 plants for his personal use.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)-A petition for a proposed initiated statute called the “Fresh Start Act” which would expunge the criminal record of a person with past marijuana convictions if it becomes legal in Ohio, was certified by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.

According to the Attorney General’s office, the petition, a proposed initiated statute, was certified as containing both the necessary 1,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters and a “fair and truthful” summary of the proposed law.

Perhaps as befits a godfather of the Italian-Australian Mafia, Frank Barbaro was, in 2003, attending a funeral every fortnight.

"Frank Barbaro was prepared to travel very long distances to attend such gatherings,"  were the dry words of a 2003 joint-police report into the state of the Mafia in Australia.

"These attendances at funerals of [Italian Organised Crime] and family connected associates related to matters of respect, and presented networking opportunities."

Barbaro, a Griffith, NSW-based scion of one of the pre-eminent families of the Calabrian-Mafia, apparently styled himself as the glue that stuck the Australian Mafia together.

The former president of New Zealand First's youth wing has been charged with possession of cannabis for supply.

Curwen Rolinson's always been a troublemaker for New Zealand First and now it seems he's a law-breaker as well.

Police arrested the aspiring politician on April 15, and he since appeared in court charged with possession of cannabis for supply.

He's remanded on bail but will be back before a judge next Wednesday.

DECRIMINALISING THE POSSESSION of drugs for personal use is to be considered by the Oireachtas.

A delegation from the Oireachtas Justice Committee visited Portugal last month where the approach as been in operation for 15 years.

The public’s views are now being sought about whether a similar approach should be considered here.

In 2001, Portugal introduced a system whereby drugs were not legalised but possession of a small quantity did not result in a criminal record.

Instead, possession of illegal drugs is treated in a similar way to a traffic offence and anyone in possession must attend a treatment programme within three days.

Funding for this service is split, with 60% provided by the State and 40% by the National Lottery.

Kris Lewandowski had survived tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine, but he feared the side effects of the dozen pills prescribed by a doctor would kill him.

That’s when the 33-year-old father of two began growing marijuana in his backyard to treat his PTSD symptoms, his wife, Whitney Lewandowski, told BuzzFeed News.

The couple and their two young sons were living outside Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in June 2014 as his honorable discharge from the Marines processed. Finding the best mix of medication for his mental health was a process of trial and error, Whitney Lewandowski said, and one Sunday night, there was an “issue.”

“We called for help,” she said.

DENVER 

Editor's note: A paragraph has been removed that included false information on the use of public funds to fight drug abuse. The correct story on that topic can be found at the link under this column.

Marijuana causes kids to kill themselves! It makes IQs drop!! If children accidentally eat edibles, they will be poisoned!!!

OK, now that I have your attention, I just want to say that none of the above is proven to be true. But Sheila Polk, Yavapai County attorney, and her anti-drug MATForce group has spread such propaganda in statewide programs and billboards. 

Before I can address the negatives or benefits of cannabis, we all first have to take a look at the current state our country and Government is in.

There are so many problems which our country is facing, which government is not quite fulfilling and majority of our people is not acting as the best sidekicks to take on these issues and making it a 50/50 partnership. From issues of poverty mainly, to corruption within our parliament house, to drugs, crime and so much which we are all familiar with, either from first hand experience or having to bare witness to a friend or stranger.

So personally these problems should firstly be improved or dealt with accordingly before we can get to legalising cannabis and enjoy it in a mature and secure environment.

The Irish public is being invited to have a say in what is thought to be the country’s first official examination of the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use.

The Oireachtas Justice Committee is seeking submissions from people and organisations on alternatives to the current model of criminalisation. It comes on the back of a committee trip to Portugal, where a delegation studied its model of decriminalisation of the possession of drugs.

A report published by the Justice Committee on the Portuguese system said the approach “has not resulted in an increase in drug-taking nor has it resulted in Portugal becoming a destination for drug tourists”.

It said the Portuguese government and police had also told them: