Illinois officials posted new forms this week for doctors and patients in the state's medical marijuana program to reflect changes in the law, and announced Wednesday that July retail sales reached a new high at $2.9 million.

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation last month extending the pilot program until July 2020 and adding two qualifying health conditions — post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illnesses. Those changes are expected to further drive growth in the program, but won't be reflected in retail sales until next month.

After Ohio became the 26th state to legalize medical marijuana, plans to implement the new law have caused state officials to become concerned about the financial hurdles that lie ahead.

State officials have proposed a “closed-loop” payment processing system that is similar to pre-paid debit or gift cards.

The system would require that MMJ patients and registered caregivers put money into special accounts, using checks, credit cards or cash at state-licensed liquor stores,  or a state agency.

Despite the myths we’ve heard throughout our lives about cannabis killing brain cells, a growing number of studies indicate that cannabis actually has neuroprotective properties. Cannabis has been found to have an incredible ability to regulate emotional behavior, and may be the most reliable medicinal plant available as a therapeutic target for the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders.

The Role of Beta-Caryophyllene

Given the increasing prevalence of hypertension at a time when states are liberalizing cannabis laws, people want to know: what are the effects of cannabis on blood pressure? Does it lower blood pressure? The answers largely depend on who you ask or what study you read.

Research shows medical marijuana can reduce the side effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) and provide relief to those suffering from this illness. MS is an autoimmune disease and progressive neurodegenerative condition. It affects the nervous system, which gradually impacts the entire body.

According to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, half a million people in the United States have been diagnosed with MS. And according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, women are diagnosed with MS at lease twice as often as men, usually between the ages of 20 – 50.

From today, some doctors in New South Wales can prescribe medical cannabis products to patients, but don’t expect to wander into your GP complaining of a tummy ache and leave with a bag of weed. 

It’ll be way more complicated than that.

Medical cannabis campaigner Lucy Haslam says today’s changes are necessary, but fears the process is too complicated and chronic pain sufferers are excluded. 

Who prescribes

NSW Health Minister Pru Goward told ABC it's likely only specialists will be able to prescribe.

"Doctors who are familiar with the literature," she said.

These doctors will need to ask both state and federal bodies for permission every time they want to prescribe the drug to a new patient.

Researchers in Maryland and Arizona are looking for veteran volunteers to smoke up to two joints a day in a new study designed to find out if marijuana helps relieve symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

“We’re not arguing that cannabis is a cure, but our hypothesis is that it will at least reduce the symptoms,” says physician and study organizer Dr. Sue Sisley.

The $2.2 million study, paid for by a grant from the state of Colorado to the nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, will be conducted at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and Sisley’s Scottsdale Research Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mexico Even though the cannabis movement is weak and marihuana growing is a crime, there are already in Mexico authorized growers, grow-shops, social clubs and politicians proposing regulation. What could happen now in a country so strongly affected by the power of illegal drug trade? Find out in this article.

For many years there has been in Mexico a promising but modest cannabis movement. The Marihuana World March has completed its 16^th edition, and political debate on the issue of cannabis has always been ongoing, not for nothing is this the country where the term marihuana was coined. Since 2011 in Mexico City, debate about regulation of marihuana use has been present at the Federal District parliament.

Health Canada’s restrictive approach to marijuana safety testing is putting the public at risk, a growing chorus of scientists and activists warns – saying consumers are potentially being exposed to contamination in products that are widely accessible since the federal Liberals took power promising legalization.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie will decide whether New Jersey residents with post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated with medical marijuana after lawmakers approved a measure Monday.

The state Senate on Monday approved the measure previously approved by the Assembly that allows marijuana to be used to treat PTSD - if it’s not treatable with conventional therapy.

Lawmakers say the measure is meant to help military veterans diagnosed with PTSD.