More growers and more prescribing doctors, says reform, but stronger enforcement to stop drug ‘trickle’ into recreational market

Medical cannabis is set to hit pharmacy shelves in Israel in the form of cigarettes, cookies and oil, while the number of doctors permitted to prescribe the natural painkiller and the number of farmers allowed to grow it will substantially increase, according to a Health Ministry reform.

At the same time, the entire production and supply chain will be strictly supervised to ensure that medical cannabis, also known as marijuana, is kept out of the recreational drug market, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily newspaper reported Tuesday.

Our love-hate relationship with this seven-pointed leaf has been going on for decades. In fact, marijuana was in the top five most controversial topics of 2014. And while it continues making headline, behind laboratory doors scientists are changing the way they study the effect of this popular ingredient on our brains, which in turn might change the way we view this ‘weed’.

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As you read this review of the scientific literature regarding the therapeutic effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinoids, one thing will become quickly evident:

CBD has a profound influence on the human body. This one compound not only works on reducing anxiety but seems to affect every aspect of our bodies and minds. 

Let’s start with explaining that CBD comes from both Cannabis and Hemp. Both are actually sister plants, one has a compound that will get you high, the other will not.

For many patients, ailments make inhalation or ingestion of medicinal cannabis impossible. Left without options, many have come up with their own way to benefit from the medical aspects of cannabis – by suppository.

Cannabis activist and patient Jenn Bennett said she had previously used cannabis orally, but after learning about the application technique from other patients in the community she found that her body’s response was like nothing she had experienced before.

“I had such a good sleep, the effects of it were in 15 minutes. I was at times pain-free, and for me being pain-free is very rare,” said Bennett who uses cannabis to mainly treat her spinal stenosis, a condition that causes the spinal canal to narrow.

There are so many cannabis events these days. Some focus on industry, some focus on entertainment, and others focus on any number of other niches/topics within the marijuana world. I don’t attend many events, mainly because I don’t like to travel. More often than not I wait for an event to be over, and then try to find video footage from it on YouTube and live vicariously through others with camera phones.

That’s why I was really excited to learn about an upcoming cannabis event that focuses on health and is going to be streamed live online. I don’t have to travel anywhere, I don’t even have to buy a ticket. The 1st Virtual Cannabis Health Summit is going to be streamed live for free. That’s right, free! That’s my favorite price!

A new survey conducted by the Centre for Addictions Research of BC helps explain why Big Pharma is so afraid of cannabis. The pharmaceutical and alcohol industries, both powerful influences in Washington, have long lobbied against cannabis legalization in order to protect their profits.

However, the tide has turned as decriminalization of medical and recreational cannabis sweeps the nation and the continent. With legalization, more and more people are discovering how this plant can provide a safe alternative to the dangerous effects of prescription pills.

Facing a Feb. 1 deadline, supporters of a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana have topped 500,000 valid petition signatures submitted to the state.

As of Monday morning, the group "People United for Medical Marijuana" had submitted 523,168 valid signatures, according to the state Division of Elections website. The group needs to meet a Feb. 1 deadline for submitting 683,149 signatures.

The Florida Supreme Court on Dec. 17 approved the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment, which would legalize medical marijuana for a wide range of patients.

People United for Medical Marijuana, which also is known as "United for Care," has steadily moved toward meeting the signature requirement.

After someone named a strain of marijuana after former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, a battle over what to call the new prescription drug is lighting up.

Bubbling quietly like each toke from a water bong, there’s a new war brewing in the world of pot.

This one’s not about where you can buy it, who’s standing behind the counter or who’s doling out prescription. It’s about what to call the actual products lining the shelves.

For some producers, there’s no place in the industry for names like Green Crack, AK-47 or, for that matter, Rob Ford Kush.

Marijuana legalization has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past two decades, but 2016 could really be the year that it jumps into the spotlight.

This is a critical year for marijuana
Since receiving its first medical approval in the state of California in 1996, medical marijuana has been approved in 22 additional states. We've even witnessed voters in four states (along with Washington, D.C.) legalize the use of recreational marijuana for adults ages 21 and up. Over a period of two decades that's some pretty substantial progress for the industry.

There are a lot of people out there that think that marijuana smoke and tobacco smoke are the same, and that both are equally bad for you. But is that true? What does science have to say about the matter? More and more states are legalizing medical marijuana, but banning smoke-able forms of cannabis due to fears that marijuana smoke is the same as tobacco smoke. Minnesota and New York are examples of that. One of my heroes, Paul Armentano of NORML, recently wrote about this topic. Below are some excerpts from his article: