There are no pharmacies in Alberta licensed to sell medical cannabis but there is at least one pharmacist locally that would like to see that changed.

“Pharmacies are the logical choice to be the distribution system. Pharmacists are highly trained and knowledgeable of drugs and drug interactions, have access to medical records, have all the security measures in place and are accessible to the entire community,” said Greg Buekert, pharmacist Greg’s Remedy’s Rx.

The ancient Romanesque village of Groznjan, Croatia, witnessed a truly historic moment on June 10: the announcement of the first-ever legal shipment of cannabis extract containing psychoactive THC (and non-psychoactive CBD) across the pond from North America to Europe.

Most European countries, as well as many American states that have legalized medical cannabis in some form in recent years, have struggled to create functioning systems, and some areas around Europe don’t provide access to herbal cannabis or specific cannabinoid preparations. 

While most people associate neurodegenerative disorders with diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson disease, there are actually hundreds of different neurodegenerative diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. As legalization continues to bring cannabis to the forefront, caregivers and loved ones of patients afflicted with neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly curious about whether medical marijuana can help alleviate symptoms. How might cannabis help the millions of patients diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder? 

Delays in renewing medical marijuana cards in New Mexico have grown so long that some seriously ill patients are resorting to purchasing marijuana on the black market, according to some patients and advocates.

The state Department of Health says the backlog was caused by a surge in demand from new applicants, reported The Santa Fe New Mexican (http://bit.ly/28LdVDt) . Although state law gives the department 30 days to approve or deny an application, spokesman Kenny Vigil said by email that the current wait is about 40 to 50 days.

Few industries have been able to change their narratives as drastically as legal marijuana, and it has done so with the help of two sympathetic groups: Football players with a traumatic brain disease and sick children.

Since California first legalized any form of cannabis with its medical marijuana law in 1996, 25 states have legalized cannabis for medical use and four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana. In the latest Quinnipiac poll, nearly 90% of Americans said they support the legal use of medical marijuana and 54% said that any marijuana use should be legal in the U.S. Just six years ago, 70% of Americans supported legalizing medical marijuana and 46% supported overall legalization, according to Gallup polls.

It’s a beautiful place for marijuana.

Costa Rica has an established history as a haven for liberal ideas, happy people, and gorgeous scenery. The country is one of the most environmentally friendly places in the world with 25% of the nation’s acreage protected from industrial development of any kind. It also disbanded its armed forced is the 1940’s, has fabulous healthcare, and a great education system.

Understanding the science behind the endogenous cannabinoid system.

As nurses, we are in a unique position. Not only do we advocate for our patients, we are active participants in each patient's experience of health and illness. As nurses, we share relevant information with patients-about their medical conditions, treatment options and ways of coping with both. 

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D) of Oregon, crowned “Congress’s top legal pot advocate,” by Rolling Stone, found an unlikely ally for his latest marijuana-related bill: Rep. Andy Harris (R) of Maryland. The conservative Republican introduced a provision that effectively blocked D.C. from loosening its pot laws, launching him to the center of the controversy about marijuana legalization as pot’s most vocal opponent.

Medical marijuana is already approved in over half of the U.S. and 5 more states will be voting on it in 2016. Todd Hagopian says we will soon see a tipping point in which medical marijuana companies like Insys Therapeutics (INSY) will be transformed from fringe enterprises trading at a discount into mainstream biotech companies with premium valuations.

Instead of waiting as long as three months for access to medical marijuana dispensaries, prospective Nevada patients can now be approved on the same day thanks to a new Las Vegas-based Division of Public and Behavioral Health office. For medical marijuana officials, that's a step in the right direction to establishing a healthy and safe medical marijuana industry.

The office opened last week on 2300 W. Sahara Ave in partnership with the Nevada Dispensary Association — a group of over 60 dispensary owners in Nevada — and allows up to 25 patients to apply in-person for their medical marijuana cards daily instead of sending their applications to Carson City.