Some of Iowa's most influential business leaders are urging state legislators to pass a bill that would expand the state's medical cannabis laws.

"Now is the time to help suffering Iowans and their families get legal access to this medicine, and we hereby call on Iowa lawmakers to debate and pass Comprehensive Medical Cannabis legislation this session," a letter signed by more than 90 business leaders and sent to lawmakers reads.

Meredith Corp. CEO Steve Lacy, Principal Financial Group CEO Dan Houston, Bankers Trust CEO Suku Radia, Knapp Properties CEO Gerry Neugent, local real estate developer Bill Knapp and BelinMcCormick attorney Steve Zumbach are among the influential names attached to it.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and neuroinflammatory disorder that affects the neurological system and impairs body functions. The pathogenesis of MS is characterized by development of auto-antibodies against myelin peptides/sheath of nerve cells thatresults in nerve inflammation and impaired neurotransmission control between the muscles and the central nervous system.

A Winnipeg doctor who prescribes medical marijuana says the beliefs that it's addictive and a gateway drug are just some of the myths smoke screening its real benefits.

"We find that there's no evidence of any addiction. There's no evidence of people wanting harder drugs or anything else," said Dr. Paul Daenick, a pain management specialist with CancerCare Manitoba. 

On Wednesday, Federal Court Judge Michael Phelan struck down federal regulations restricting the rights of medical marijuana patients to grow their own cannabis. He gave the Liberal government six months to come up with new rules.

The pineal gland – mythical seat of spirituality and consciousness, the site of the primordial “third eye” – has been of fascination to humanity since its function and importance were discovered. It is well-known that the pineal gland responds to psychoactive drugs, so what happens when we use cannabis?

What is the pineal gland for?

While undoubtedly important, the pineal gland does not possess mystical or supernatural properties, no matter how much some people would like to believe it. Even some great, renowned thinkers have fallen foul of magical thinking here, such as the scientist and philosopher Descartes, who described the pineal gland as “the seat of the soul”.

WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand government is reviewing its guidelines for the approval of medical cannabis use following a series of controversial cases around the narcotic.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said Friday he would also be raising the issue with counterparts in Australia.

Medical cannabis was a new policy area for New Zealand's Ministry of Health and the wider medical profession, so there would inevitably be fine tuning as the process developed, Dunne said in a statement.

The guidelines were set up after a teenager, whose family and doctors had appealed for medical cannabis treatment, died following a severe epileptic seizure last year.

Lawmakers in Australia legalized medical marijuana Wednesday, passing revisions to the Narcotic Drugs Act so a national body can be created to issue licenses to weed growers and regulate local crops.

Medical marijuana advocates had argued that patients were forced to purchase the drug on the black market because pot was illegal to grow and import for medical purposes in Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Against all odds, a medical marijuana bill is advancing in the Utah State Legislature.

The Utah State Senate voted 17-12 to approve Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs. It allows patients with certain ailments (such as cancer, AIDS, epilepsy and chronic pain) to use marijuana edibles, extracts and oils under the direction of a doctor.

Madsen said during Thursday's debate his latest version of the bill clears up the definition of "cannabis", and adds child-proofing standards, dosing regulations and other considerations.

Winnipeg medical-marijuana patients hailed a federal court ruling that struck down "arbitrary and overbroad" legislation from the former Conservative government banning Canadian medical pot users from growing their own weed.

And the one company in Winnipeg with a federal licence to supply medical marijuana indicated the ruling won’t affect it, at least not in the short term.

The city’s most vocal advocate for medical-marijuana rights said even without knowing whether Ottawa will appeal the ruling, he couldn’t contain his delight.

Medical marijuana can now be used in Australia to treat patients suffering from painful and chronic illnesses. The Parliament has passed new national laws and amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act now permit legally-grown marijuana for the manufacture of medicinal cannabis products in Australia. Changes proposed by the Turnbull government earlier this month had bi-partisan support.

What's this about Helen Kelly and the campaign to legalise medical marijuana?

A debate around medical marijuana has sprung into view after Helen Kelly revealed her request for a cannabis product had not been approved.

Who is this Helen Kelly and why does she want marijuana?