As more states allow for the use of medical marijuana, the University of Vermont is offering a course in the science of the drug — and the professors say they are challenged by a lack of research on what has long been a taboo topic.

Other institutions have offered classes in marijuana law and policy, but the university's medical school is likely the country's first to offer a full course on medical cannabis, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Other medical schools have touched on the topic.

DENVER — A major marijuana-infused manufacturing facility issued a voluntary recall Tuesday because of potentially unsafe pesticide residues in some product samples.

EPMM Colorado, which does business as EdiPure, said the recall affects 35,000 units of about 23 gummy and hard candy marijuana products.

The recall affects the following products:

Canada’s marijuana legalization advocates are eagerly awaiting all-out victory under the Trudeau government, but for now, they will have to make do with baby steps.

Here’s one such step. For the first time, it’s now possible for medical marijuana patients to buy a weed product legally in Canada that isn’t for smoking.

Ontario-based medical marijuana manufacturer Peace Naturals has announced it has received permission from Health Canada to sell cannabis oil.

Many doctors, however, say the clinical and scientific evidence is insufficient for a wider recommendation of the drug.

In July last year, post-traumatic stress disorder became the only psychiatric condition for which the Health Ministry approves the use of medical marijuana. The decision, backed by the Israel Psychiatric Association, was a cause for optimism among many Israelis suffering from PTSD.

But it wasn’t long before difficulties cropped up, like finding a psychiatrist to recommend cannabis and obtaining a permit from the Health Ministry. In public clinics psychiatrists don’t recommend medical marijuana or make haste in filling out the necessary forms. In private clinics the situation isn’t much better.

'Patients are at risk of falling between the cracks once again,' says marijuana dispensary owner

Five pot shops in Vernon have agreed to sell marijuana on a rotating basis, after RCMP said last week they may raid stores if the owners don't close up shop.

The warning in Vernon last week followed several similar police advisories in other jurisdictions, including Nanaiimo, Sechelt, and Mission. In all three cases, police moved in with search warrants to seize products and make arrests.

The range of cannabis or hemp-based products available to the public is increasing over time. Variety is most welcome, as each of these products caters for different needs. Hempseed oil, cannabis oil, CBD oil … there are many options, that can be confusing to the average consumer. In this article, we break down the differences between hemp oil, also known as hempseed oil, and CBD oil.

For new cannabis users, the urge to push the limit may seem like a fun idea until things start going haywire. It’s important to have some sort of clue about what direction to go in when heading into unfamiliar territory, whether it’s first timers getting their kicks in Washington or Colorado or folks who haven’t had the opportunity to indulge in their favorite plant for quite awhile.

Oregon medical marijuana patients who work at dispensaries will no longer be allowed to vape or smoke under rules proposed by the state health authority.

In response to the state's Indoor Clean Air Act, the Oregon Health Authority's proposed dispensary rules prohibit smoking, vaporizing or inhaling cannabis products by dispensary employees who are medical marijuana patients.

They may still consume tinctures or marijuana-infused edibles. Employees can't consume in an area of the dispensary that is visible to the public outside of the establishment or visible to patients or caregivers.

Twenty three states, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, have some form of law allowing patients to use medical marijuana. Florida is among those states, but so far, patients have not been able to access the drug. 

90.7 Health Reporter Abe Aboraya spoke with Intersection Host Matthew Peddie.

PEDDIE: I want to start with some background because there is a lot of confusion out there. Is medical marijuana legal in Florida?

ABE: Yes. Kinda. It’s complicated. So last summer Gov. Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 1030, the Compassionate Medical Use act. This became known as the Charlotte’s Web bill. Now what this did was legalize a very specific strain of medical marijuana.

For a number of years now, families of children with epilepsy have been relocating to Colorado from around the world to try to obtain a special marijuana extract known as "Charlotte's Web" that they had heard had an almost magical ability to reduce seizures. In late 2013 and early 2014, as the political movement to legalize medical marijuana was heating up, many of these parents traveled to state capitals around the country to plead for help in getting access to similar treatments.