Smoking cannabis doesn't only relieve stress, ease pain and cure cancer. Interestingly, a new study suggests marijuana can also improve treatment for heroin addicts.

Metro UK reports a study conducted by researchers at Columbia University investigated the use of cannabis among opioid-dependent subjects who were undergoing in-patient and outpatient detoxification with opioid addiction medication called naltrexone. While some in-patient subjects were given placebo, the others were given dronabinol --- a prescription drug that contains THC.

The Minnesota Health Department says it will expand the legal use of medical marijuana to cover people with intractable pain.

The department's top leaders announced their decision Wednesday after several meetings around the state to gather public input.

"The relative scarcity of firm evidence made this a difficult decision," Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said in a statement.

Last year, the website WebMD, a popular source of health advice from medical professionals, and Medscape, a web resource for physicians and health professionals that features peer-reviewed original medical journal articles and other resources for professionals and consumers, conducted a survey on medical marijuana.

The Turnbull government will introduce a national scheme to legalise medicinal cannabis by licensing growers next year, which could pave the way for a local industry.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said on Wednesday that the government had drafted legislation to establish a single scheme for growers in all states and territories, which would be introduced in Parliament's first sitting fortnight next year.

Ms Ley had previously said she would introduce a law before the end of this year to allow the states and territories to licence growers in their own jurisdictions.

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding cannabis throughout the nation, with many hot button issues. One group in particular that has been making major headlines lately are veterans, who have been struggling to find a legal way to treat their post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Could one of the most important entitlement programs for seniors ever cover a medical marijuana prescription? Here's what would need to happen.

There are certainly no shortage of issues as we head into the 2016 elections, some of which include terrorism/national security, U.S. economic growth, prescription drug inflation, and of course marijuana.

By Rick Pfrommer

When dabbing first exploded onto the medical cannabis scene in California, I viewed the practice with more than a little trepidation. I wrote an article for Harborside Health Center’s newsletter, Illuminator, questioning whether the practice was a wellness-oriented use of cannabis. I had no idea what I was in for. Both mine and Harborside’s Facebook pages lit up.

A new study of participants in opioid treatment programs in New York City reports a notable shift in the demographics of this population in the past 15 years. The study, “Demographic Trends of Adults in New York City Opioid Treatment Programs—An Aging Population,” reports that “In 1996, the majority of adults in opioid treatment were less than 40 years of age, while in 2012, the majority age group in opioid treatment were those 50 to 59 (7.8% to 35.9%), with large increases in those over the age of 60 (1.5% to 12.0%).” In addition, the race and ethnicity of program participants has become increasingly white, in the 60+ population, and increasingly Hispanic among the 50 to 59 cohort.

BETHEL — First, it was testicular cancer. Then tumors were found in his lungs.

And when those had finally shrunk — thanks to an aggressive chemotherapy and radiation — Brian Tomasulo learned that the cancer had spread to his brain.

After collapsing at work one day in May 2014, the Newtown resident was rushed to the hospital, where he had surgery to remove an egg-sized tumor from his frontal cortex.

The surgery was successful, but when Tomasulo woke up, he had a whole new set of challenges to deal with.