The Canada Revenue Agency has confirmed that medical cannabis purchased under prescription is an allowable medical expense at tax time.

The CRA sent a letter to the Canadian Medical Cannabis Industry Association last month confirming cannabis from a licensed producer qualified as a medical expense.

The CRA was responding to a letter sent earlier this year by the CMCIA, the industry association for licensed producers of medical cannabis, asking for a ruling on the issue, according to association spokesman Cam Battley.

The CRA website includes medical marijuana and marijuana seeds on its list of eligible medical expenses.

Marijuana is quickly becoming America’s next big medical treatment substance. It’s been proven in research studies to help with a myriad of medical conditions, and federal agencies have finally published statements indicating that marijuana has medicinal value.

• Marijuana smokers found to be 65 per cent more likely to have blood sugar 
• People who've smoked it 100 times are 50% more likely to get prediabetes
• One in 10 people with the condition develop full-blown type 2 diabetes

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Cannabis smokers are far more likely to develop the early stages of diabetes, according to new research.

People who smoke marijuana were found to be 65 per cent more likely to have abnormally high blood sugar, which is a precursor for type 2 diabetes, a study found.

Illinois medical marijuana program to continue with 39 qualifying illnesses

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has rejected efforts to expand by 11 the list of conditions for which marijuana can be prescribed in Illinois.

The move came in two parts, both announced Sept. 10.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said it would not add the conditions recommended by an advisory panel established under Gov. Pat Quinn.

The department made the announcement by saying only that its director, Dr. Nirav Shah, had made the decision and the pilot program would continue with the 39 conditions and diseases already authorized.

New York City is joining the places around the country that is allowed to provide medicinal marijuana to those who have a prescription.

The city’s first marijuana dispensary will be opening in January 2016, near Manhattan’s Union Square.

The dispensary will be located on 14th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. It will be operated by Columbia Care, one of only five NYC companies that were awarded licenses to open a marijuana shop. The companies were chosen from among 43 competing companies from all over the nation. The licenses give companies the rights to open a New York State-based manufacturing facility, as well as up to four dispensaries.

Sebastian Pacher goes underground on legalising marijuana in the UK. With the first debate on the prohibition of cannabis in the UK for ten years what are the highs and lows of legalisation? Baroness Meacher Co-Chair of  The All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform discusses the failures of the war on drugs and what she hopes for the debate in October. We speak to people who are treating cancer and other diseases with cannabis oil and ask why the government refuses to acknowledge the benefits of regulation. Plus addiction expert Sarah Graham talks about what the negative effects of legalisation could be.

Few members of the medical community that have done their research will be able to deny pot’s ability to treat, and even prevent the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, the issue on the table is how to administer it. The medical establishment continuously delays the acceptance of cannabinoid drugs, without batting an eye when powerfully addictive opiates reach the market time and time again.

The pain in Debbie DiFranco’s fingers and toes is sometimes debilitating.

The neuropathy, as it’s called, is a side effect of the chemotherapy drugs used to combat her gynecological cancer. Few things help relieve the pain, which at times is so intense DiFranco has trouble simply going for a walk. Doctors have prescribed her several medications to combat the side effect, but they have side effects of their own, and their ingredients are sometimes questionable.

One thing that does help relieve the pain of neuropathy as well as other side effects from chemotherapy is marijuana, DiFranco said.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- National nonprofit organization 'Grow for Vets' is raising money and support for veterans suffering from PTSD and other medical conditions, as well as handing out free marijuana. 

The organization hosted a free cannabis giveaway and rally at Refuge PDX in Portland on Saturday. Both Veterans and non-veterans received gift bags containing information about Grow for Vets and free pot-related products. 

The rally aimed to raise veterans' awareness about alternative treatment options, and to highlight the frequency of prescription drug abuse and suicide. 

MORE than 100 pregnant women have given birth to babies while hooked on drugs over the last five years.

Data released under Freedom of Information rules reveals that between 2010 and to date, 117 babies were born by mothers who were addicted to illegal or prescribed substances. The most common drug was cannabis with 39 births, followed by methadone, with 35 addicted mothers.

All babies born to drug-dependent mothers are rigorously monitored and observed for any signs or symptoms of withdrawal Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust spokesman