About a week before the Louisiana Legislature convened, state Rep. Dalton Honore trekked to Denver for field research related to legislation he's pushing in Louisiana. The journey brought him just a few blocks from the Colorado State Capitol, to a marijuana dispensary.

"Some of the (pot) shops look like Apple stores," said Honore, a Democrat from Baton Rouge, as he scrolled through photos of marijuana plants on his iPhone.

The 72-year-old is a former sheriffs deputy who has "never had a marijuana cigarette in my life." Moreover, he said, he's never been in the company people smoking it. But Honore said it is time stop locking people up for using the drug and start treating it more like alcohol by focusing on education and treatment.

The Lebanon County Drug Task Force made two arrests for synthetic marijuana last week and the District Attorney issued a stern warning. Jared Brandt, 26, of 1110 Guilford Street, Lebanon, was arrested on April 23rd. Police say they found a quantity of synthetic marijuana, new packaging and a heat sealer during a search of Brandt’s residence.

Brandt was taken into custody and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Synthetic Marijuana, Possession of Synthetic Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Designer Drug as well as a parole violation. He was arraigned before MDJ Carl Garver and ordered held in the Lebanon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Although she has not been charged with a crime or arrested over the medicinal marijuana that was found in her home, a libertarian-leaning Kansas activist is at odds with her state over the custody and future of her 11-year-old son.

Once again, our community’s state line perch provides valuable insight into governance.

On this issue of marijuana, we see side-by-side state legislators acting differently.

Iowa law allows only one form of medicinal marijuana, a non-intoxicating extract found to be effective for a form of epilepsy. But the law approved in 2014 is written so that the handful of eligible patients have no way to get or transport it.

On March 20th, 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments for and against medical cannabis derivative products becoming legally available to authorized patients.  The courtroom was filled with supporters while many others watched in the overflow rooms and on the CPAC live stream.  The entire proceeding was recorded and is available to view online on the Cannabis Digest Youtube page. Floating on the screen during the webcast was “Her Majesty the Queen vs. Owen Edward Smith”. Despite this sport scoreboard like opposition displayed for the audience at home, Queen Elizabeth II had about as much influence on the unfolding of our case as the Unicorn on the coat of arms above the judges heads.

The Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol party has launched its manifesto, calling for a review of UK drugs policy.

Cista has 32 candidates and describes itself as the first pro-drug reform political party.

The manifesto includes a commitment to an economic evaluation of a legally regulated cannabis market.

The party says it will remain a single issue party, focused on creating a legal drugs market.

Paul Birch, the leader of Cista, who is also a co-founder of social network Bebo, said that in a regulated market, controls can be implemented.

"We've had a regulated alcohol market in the UK for hundreds of years. We need a regulated cannabis market for people's health and wellbeing," he said.

At the Marijuana Investor Summit on April 22, 2015, attorneys Marc Ross, partner at Sichensia Ross Friedman Ference, and Michael McGrory, partner at SmithAmundsen, explored the history of marijuana laws and the factors that will shape the future of marijuana legislation.

We need to tackle the folly and futility of drug prohibition, in which we have created an irrational and unscientific bifurcation of drugs. An archaic system that favours, promotes and culturally embeds the use of some drugs, while fiercely policing, prohibiting and punishing the use of other drugs.

RCMP have seized a significant amount of marijuana after a grow-op bust late last week.

During a routine traffic stop last Thursday, RCMP pulled a vehicle over that reeked of marijuana and had waste from a grow-op inside. Police obtained a warrant and carried out a search of a property connected to the driver in the RM of Reynolds the next day.

RCMP from three separate rural detachments — Lac du Bonnet, Whitemouth and Beausejour — converged on the property and seized roughly 500 marijuana plants and grow-op equipment.

A 56-year-old man is now custody. He has been charged with unlawful production of marijuana and possession with the intent of trafficking.

His court date was set for April 27 in Winnipeg.

Owens also said that if marijuana is legalized, “It is critical that we expunge the records of those who have non-violent criminal records related to marijuana.”

Dr. O’Dell Owens, president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and the former coroner for Hamilton County, endorsed on Monday the proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana in Ohio.

In a statement issued by the legalization campaign ResponsibleOhio, Owens said that as a physician, he believes patients should be able to assess the medical value of marijuana in consultation with their doctors.