By Tony Newman,director of media relations at the Drug Policy Alliance

For the last 15 years I've dedicated my life to ending our country's disastrous war on drugs. It has been an incredible journey, and I am happy to say that seeds that were planted a long time ago are finally bearing some fruit.

Uruguay made the headlines 17 month ago by being the first country to completely decriminalize marijuana use, a decision that was not without controversy and opposition – for example, the country’s pharmacies have refused to distribute the product. But that’s recreational cannabis; this report is about medical cannabis and here, again, Uruguay seems to be setting the pace: it was the first nation in the world to fully legalise the research and development, as well as cultivation, distribution, sale and consumption of non-synthetic cannabinoids and hemp.

Health Minister Rona Ambrose upset many cannabis activists in late April with her criticism of the City of Vancouver’s plan to license marijuana dispensaries.

This Mother's Day, we're honoring women like Nicole Nazzarine, mother of Sophia. Her daughter suffers from uncontrolled epilepsy & resides in Ohio where medical marijuana is still illegal. Support local mothers and help grant them a ‪#MothersOneWish this #MothersDay2015.

Thank you to Women Grow for making us aware of this campaign!

An event for legalization of marijuana will end with a happening at  Štvanice Island

Worldwide, the movement to legalize marijuana was gaining momentum, with some countries and US states fully allowing sale and use. But in the Czech Republic and much of Europe it is still not fully legal. Possession of a small amount in the Czech Republic has been decriminalized, but that is not the same thing.

Million Marijuana March 
When: Friday, May 8 at 12:30
Where: Start at Karlově náměstí, end at Štvanice Island
http://mmm.legalizace.cz/

VICTORIA, May 7, 2015 /CNW/ - T-Bird Pharma Inc. (TSXV:TPI) ("T-Bird" or the "Company"), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing premium quality medical marijuana products and a licensed producer ("LP") under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (Canada) ("MMPR"), is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Thunderbird Biomedical Inc. has received a notice from Health Canada dated May 6, 2015 confirming the renewal of its production license, and including the expansion of its license to include full authorization to commence medical marijuana sales.

The marijuana industry in the state of Washington brought rise to more than just the opportunity for anyone over 21 to legally purchase a variety of marijuana products—it opened the doors to a variety of investment opportunities and new businesses, while also extending the legitimacy of businesses decades old. It is essentially de-vilifying an entire retail segment. If someone is interested in a new career, there are a number of options in the marijuana market.

A Bellevue senator who is passionate about the state legalizing marijuana -- for medical purposes only -- finally got his day to try to convince 48 other lawmakers to join his crusade. 

Sen. Tommy Garrett, who made the bill (LB643) his priority, opened debate Thursday this way: This is for the moms.

He told senators they had an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of Nebraskans who could benefit from medical marijuana. 

The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine in March 1999 said medical research has discovered beneficial uses for cannabis in treating or alleviating the pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with debilitating medical conditions.  

Family propelled JP Holyoak into the weed business: his daughter, Reese, has a rare illness, and Holyoak believes in the power of medical marijuana.

He believes in it so much that his company, Arizona Natural Selections, operates two medical marijuana dispensaries that have served about 9,000 patients since opening last year. Holyoak, a financial adviser, has a big cannabis nursery in a warehouse on an industrial estate near Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. And he believes that recreational marijuana should be legalised – not through any enthusiasm for stoner culture, but because it is sound conservative policy.

Louisiana has always played hardball when it comes to punishing small-time drug offenders, but that could soon change. The state House's Administration of Criminal Justice Committee voted 10-4 Wednesday to approve a bill that would soften the state’s restrictions on people convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana. The proposal is next expected to go to the House floor for debate, the Times-Picayune reported.