Many or, perhaps, most people utilize the benefits of marijuana for recreational purposes perhaps because it can be fun and perhaps because many governments classified the drug as having no medical benefit. Today, we’re starting to learn that’s not true. If you’re not sure how or why medical marijuana offers serious benefits, let me share my story with you.

An Important Medical Disclaimer

This year’s Earth Day event will include something never before seen in Reno – a medical marijuana informational section. Dubbed the “Cannabis Clinic,” it will include Nevada Botanical Science, the Nevada Medical Marijuana Association and area dispensaries.

Earth Day event starts April 23 at 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Idlewild Park.

“We know people have a lot of questions so we’re coming together at this event to answer them,” Nevada Botanical Science COO Bob Summers said in a press release. “Anyone over the age of 18 can stop by, visit with medical professionals and let us know what’s on their mind.”

Information shared could include:

A group of more than 50 physicians, including a former surgeon generaland faculty members at some of the nation's leading medical schools, has formed the first national organization of doctors to call on states and the federal government to legalize and regulate the use of marijuana in the interest of public health.

The Ohio Ballot Board unanimously approved the format of a medical marijuana and hemp constitutional amendment today, clearing the way for backers to gather signatures to put the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Supporters of the Medicinal Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Amendment must now gather 305,591 valid signatures of registered votes from at least 44 of the 88 Ohio counties.

It is the second medical marijuana issues cleared to try to get on the ballot. An medical-marijuana-only issue backed by the Marijuana Policy Project, a national advocacy organization, was approved by the board two weeks ago. Neither issue includes marijuana for recreational purposes.

After Victoria passed laws on Tuesday legalising medical marijuana to be given to children with severe epilepsy and New South Wales waiting for trials to be over, South Australia’s Liberal Opposition and doctors urged SA Health Minister Jack Snelling to reconsider medical marijuana laws prevailing in the state.

Currently, New South Wales is conducting trials on patients suffering from nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy. According to SA Opposition Leader Steven Marshall, South Australia is “well behind best practises.”

With the state’s top politicians joining forces to defeat a probable referendum legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in Massachusetts, the discussion once again is centering on who is in favor of legalization and who is not. But that’s the wrong question. The real question is: If residents vote for legalization — and they probably will, given that medical marijuana was overwhelmingly approved in 2012 — what should the policy look like?

Instead of setting up for a bitter battle, opponents and proponents should work together to develop a marijuana policy that gives voters what they want while also limiting risk.

In a matter of days Pennsylvania is expected to become the 24th state to legalize medical marijuana. That leaves many wondering how it will work.

The use of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania isn't something that we will see come to life for another year and a half.

Governor Tom Wolf is expected to sign the medical marijuana bill into law on Sunday.

There are 17 medical conditions that medical marijuana will be legally used to treat including epilepsy, cancer, MS and PTSD.

Patients will need a recommendation from a physician who is registered with the state and trained. Then that patient will need to be issued a medical marijuana card from the state, that will allow them to get the drug from one of 50 dispensaries throughout Pennsylvania.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed an amendment that would let Veterans Affairs doctors discuss and recommend marijuana as a potential medical treatment in states where it is legal.

An addition to the fiscal 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill, the bipartisan amendment sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, would let VA doctors discuss marijuana as a potential medical treatment, similar to the allowances given civilian physicians in medical marijuana states.

The move marks the second time senators have tried to improve access to medical marijuana for veterans who are treated at VA medical facilities and want to use marijuana for medical purposes.

Medicinal cannabis campaigners in Victoria have called on the State Government to open access to the drug to a larger group of people.

The Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2015, passed on Tuesday, means Victoria is the first Australian state to permit medicinal marijuana.

The Government said it would only be available to people in exceptional circumstances, with children suffering from severe epilepsy the first to access the medicine, in early 2017.

One mother who has been campaigning for the medicine to be legalised said the process was too slow and too exclusive.