The advocators of a ban on cannabis would have us believe that even incidental use causes the brain to shrink, and that it causes psychoses or schizophrenia. The rumours about the brain shrinking stem back to this study in 2014, on which various sensational news reports are based. The study is not, however, a longitudinal study, but rather represents a snapshot study of a limited number of test subjects.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) adopted emergency rules and issued new draft rules on Wednesday to begin the process of aligning the medical marijuana market with the existing recreational market.

The board’s actions are the result of 2015 legislation, the Cannabis Patient Protection Act, which established a priority system for licensing existing medical marijuana outlets.

The emergency rules, which are effective immediately, allow the WSLCB to begin the process of licensing new retail outlets that may sell both medical and recreational marijuana. Existing recreational stores may also apply for an endorsement to sell both.

Looking for a medical marijuana prescription? Your general practitioner probably won’t help you get it.

Most doctors aren’t approved to certify Massachusetts residents as medical-marijuana patients, which is the first step toward receiving legal marijuana from one of the state’s two open dispensaries. In fact, there are only 108 certified doctors in the entire state.

Class actions continue to be at the forefront of the development of privacy rights. Recently, the novel tort of “publicity given to private life” was permitted to proceed as a cause of action in the class proceeding John Doe and Suzie Jones v. Her Majesty the Queen.[1] This latest privacy class action certification decision not only recognizes a novel form of privacy tort but also demonstrates how the courts find class actions a good vehicle for the prosecution of privacy breaches.

Drug giant Pfizer is starting 20 clinical trials this year and more soon after on treatments to conquer cancer as it also seeks to gain leadership in one of the hottest, and most lucrative, areas of medicine.

A decade ago, the world's second-biggest drugmaker by revenue wasn't even a player in cancer medicine. Instead, it was known for erectile dysfunction treatment Viagra and blockbuster cholesterol fighter Lipitor.

New York-based Pfizer Inc. then chose to make cancer one of its core research areas, pitting it against cancer powerhouses including Novartis AG, Roche Holding AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Merck & Co.

More than 12,000 people in Massachusetts are legally allowed to purchase marijuana from one of the state’s two open dispensaries.

How did they get that card? They started with a doctor. Probably not their regular physician, but one of the 108 statewide that are approved to certify patients. (You don’t need your general practitioner to give the OK on getting cannabis, though experts say it’s a good idea to talk to them about it.)

The Department of Public Health won’t release the names of those physicians, but Google “medical marijuana doctor in Massachusetts” and several pop up.

There is a trend in America right now when it comes to medical marijuana states. The newer the state, the stricter the program, which then translates to higher prices for medicine. These same states don’t allow patients to grow their own medicine, so patients either have to put up with being price gouged, or go to the black market. Most patients go the black market route. It’s not by choice, but at the end of the day these patients have to take risks and chances because they simply can’t afford to pay the high prices. Minnesota is one of those states. Per KOLO TV:

This story is part of a package produced in collaboration with ProPublica and includes reporting by ProPublica's Nina Martin and AL.com's Amy Yurkanin. Read When the womb is a crime scene