Cannabis legalization is spreading across the globe and it is triggering a wave of unparalleled medical cannabis research programs.

Since the discovery of the human endocannabinoid system in the late 1980s (and its role in the regulation of the physiological and cognitive process including appetite, pain, mood and memory), medical researchers have been interested to learn more about the potential therapeutic effects of cannabis as a treatment for a wide variety of illnesses. Unfortunately, the plant’s legal status and cultural stigma have made such research nearly impossible, leading to limited knowledge about the effects of the cannabis plant on the human body.

The legal marijuana industry has come an exceptionally long way in a very short period. As recently as 2005, recreational cannabis was illegal everywhere, just a small handful of U.S. states were allowing medical marijuana to be prescribed by a physician, and a Gallup survey found that just one out of three Americans supported legalizing weed at the national level.

Last year was a breakthrough year for the legal cannabis industry. Having long been viewed as taboo, the passage of the Cannabis Act in June in our neighbor to the north, and the official legalization and sale of recreational marijuana in licensed dispensaries and online stores as of Oct. 17, 2018, in Canada, validated the industry as a legitimate business model.

From skin-care lotions to bottled water, cannabis companies are rolling out a growing array of consumer products infused with a chemical found in marijuana called cannabidiol, or CBD.

The compound doesn't have the ingredient that gives marijuana users a high. Instead, CBD product makers say they promote general health and well-being.

The U.S. retail market for CBD is projected to swell from an estimated US$2 billion last year to US$16 billion by 2025, according to a report by equity analysts at Cowen.

A key factor in that forecast is the growing variety of CBD products that companies are bringing to market, such as drinks, capsules, gummies, topical lotions and tinctures, which are liquid extracts.

Overdoses due to prescription drugs is the top leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S. Over the years, prescription drugs, especially opioids, have been used, overused and abused. Unfortunately, it has moved from a crisis to a full-blown nationwide epidemic.

Smoking high-potency marijuana every day could increase the chances of developing psychosis by nearly five times, according to the biggest-ever study to examine the impact of pot on psychotic disorder rates.

The research adds to previous studies that have found links between marijuana and mental health problems, but still does not definitively pinpoint marijuana as the cause.

Psychotic disorders -- in which people lose touch with reality -- are typically triggered by factors including genetics and the environment. But experts say the new study's findings have implications for jurisdictions legalizing marijuana, warning they should consider the potential impact on their mental health services.

The cannabis stock sector is currently the hottest sector, and you can make big money by buying pot stocks.

However, while there are many companies that are trading publicly to choose from, you should be careful, because not all of them will survive in the long term.

To help you in your choice, I’m presenting three promising pot stocks that could boom in the coming months.

For National Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is cautioning parents to be aware of what their little ones could get into — including their marijuana.

Marijuana has the potential to be dangerous to children if ingested because of their size and weight. Marijuana-laced edibles pose a risk because they can look and taste like their unlaced counterparts. Children could eat a large amount quickly and become ill as a result.  

“The danger with (edibles) is that we don’t know how much THC is in them,” said Dr. Simon Kapaj, a medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “That can be a … concern because children are more sensitive to this harmful substance.”

Zenabis Global Inc. (“Zenabis”)(TSXV:ZENA) announced today that it is now licensed to process and sell cannabis oil products in Canada. The license enables Zenabis to now sell cannabis oil produced at its Atholville, New Brunswick facility, one of the largest indoor cannabis growing facilities in Canada, where Zenabis was already processing oil.

Zenabis expects to market and sell cannabis oil products to its medical clients and to adult use consumers through supply and distribution agreements that Zenabis has in place with nine Canadian jurisdictions including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon.

The Flowr Corporation (TSX-V:FLWR) (OTC:FLWPF) announced Monday that its FlowrRx products are now available for purchase through Shoppers Drug Mart’s online medical cannabis site.