TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "I'm desperate for a solution to my arthritis pain and decided medical cannabis might be right for me," says Rachel Janzen, 31, of Kingsville, Ont. "I decided to take it upon myself to explore cannabis because, with a full life ahead of me, I need to manage what is sometimes debilitating pain."

Smoking marijuana more than once a week may lower men's sperm counts by about a third, according to a new study.

Researchers found that the men in the study who smoked marijuana more than once a week had sperm counts that were 29 percent lower, on average, than those who did not smoke marijuana, or used the drug less frequently.

The researchers thought that amount of reduction in sperm count "was quite a lot," said study author Tina Kold Jensen, of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

A contribution from the New Zealand Drug Foundation

In 2013, Professor Wayne Hall presented a paper at an International Cannabis Policy Symposium hosted by the New Zealand Drug Foundation in Auckland. It was a review into 20 years of existing research into cannabis titled "What has research over the past two decades revealed about the adverse health effects of recreational cannabis use?".

So far, so uncontroversial. 

Somewhere in Northern Colorado, just starting to peek out above the corn stalks that surround it, is an often misunderstood and recently approved test crop.

Colorado State University is starting to research hemp, a plant with practical uses but which is also the same species as marijuana, cannabis sativa.

CSU researchers planted 17 varieties of hemp on just less than a half acre on June 6. CSU is using the same protocols as a research project underway in Europe.

If you followed the local news in July 2014, you would've seen the photo op: a button-cute 10-year-old girl blushing happily next to Governor Andrew Cuomo as he signed legislation that would bring medical marijuana to the Empire State. That was Amanda Houser, of Suffern, who seems every bit of a normal preteen, if not for the seizures that she endures daily from Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy. Her family hopes that medical marijuana—now legal in our state, though not available until at least early next year—will help reduce the number of seizures that Amanda must hurdle during her life of school and play and Teen Beach movies. It's been over a year since that moment in the spotlight with Cuomo, and her condition has spiraled down.

On 18 September 2014, the Ministers of Defence and of Health signed a memorandum for a pilot project of "domestic production of substances and herbal preparations made from cannabis' for medical and scientific purposes. For the cultivation of plants a military pharmaceutical factory in Florence was chosen for the "skills of military and civilian personnel" and "manufacturing capabilities and quality control of its pharmaceutical industry," combined with the "security level of an army".

With Southern Nevada's first dispensary now open after months of red tape, medical marijuana cultivators are facing growing pains as they grapple with the state's strict testing standards.

Dispensaries report several batches of cannabis failing to meet the required levels for pesticides, mycotoxins or heavy metals, although the Division of Public and Behavioral Health could not provide specific data.Laboratory tests, required before medical marijuana can be sold, that growers have failed have led to pounds of marijuana being destroyed, constricting supply and delaying at least one dispensary from opening.

RENO, NV - Several licensed medical marijuana dispensaries have opened up in the Reno area recently. Currently, there are approximately 10,000 Nevadans with patient cards who can gain entrance into those shops. Nevada’s Department of Public and Behavioral Health is noticing a trend. While the activity is not illegal, it is not necessary for all patients, and can cause confusion.

There is only a limited number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Washoe County. They aren't open to the general public, rather those patients who upon a doctor's recommendation receive a state-issued ID and make their way in to the shop.

ATLANTA -- Cannabis oil is working for the 2-year-old Winder girl 11Alive has been following through her journey, and it was never more evident than during a recent therapy session.

"How do you feel? You look awesome," said Lainey Cleveland's therapist.

Smiling is monumental, a laugh is life changing, and standing -- well, that's a dream that suddenly feels real for Erin Cleveland and her daughter Lainey.

"It's like she's coming alive," Cleveland said.

Lainey recently went through an intense 10-day therapy session, and 11Alive was there on the continuation of the journey following this family.