After failing to gain enough support at the end of last year, a pair of bills aimed at clarifying and updating Michigan's medical marijuana law are back and creeping forward in the Legislature.

House Bills 4209 and 4210 mirror proposals introduced in 2013. If they become law, the bills would legalize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and allow for "medibles," marijuana products that are edible and used by many who can't or prefer not to smoke the drug.

Howard Wooldridge, a Washington lobbyist, is a former detective and forever Texan on an important mission — trying to persuade the 535 members of Congress to end the federal war on marijuana.

Liberals tend to be an easier sell than conservatives. With liberals, Wooldridge dwells on the grossly racist way the war on drugs has been prosecuted.

Conservatives hear a different argument, but one that Wooldridge holds every bit as dear: “Give it back to the states.”“The war on drugs,” he tells them, “has been the most immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crow.”

While Vancouver is looking at regulating the city's booming marijuana dispensary business, Victoria is considering a crack down on those flouting its bylaws. 

City staff are urging council to direct them to step up enforcement of existing bylaws and business license rules, meaning that marijuana-related businesses that won't comply could be shut down.

A report going to council on Thursday says the number of marijuana-related shops in B.C.'s capital has jumped from four to 18 in the past year, and the majority are operating without a valid business license.

Whonnockians lined the seats at City hall Monday afternoon at a committee of the whole meeting, where two local environmentalists presented a detailed report regarding the 40,000 square foot medical marijuana facility under construction in Whonnock.
Klaus and Betty von Hardenberg, who are a part of an organization known as the Thornhill Aquifer Protection Study (TAPS), posed a number of questions to council regarding the contentious greenhouse facility.
The most pressing of these questions: “how could this have happened, and why?”

MONTREAL — The day may soon come when those prescribed medical marijuana will not have to roll and smoke a joint to obtain its benefits. 

A palm-sized inhaler has been developed by Israeli entrepreneur Perry Davidson that delivers a metered dose of marijuana’s medicinal components. He says this method is more effective clinically and eliminates the high associated with cigarette inhaling.

Davidson, founder and CEO of the startup Syqe Medical, told participants at a daylong conference April 30 on Israel’s booming high-tech sector, that the device is the first of its kind in the world.

Illinois residents could use medical marijuana to treat chronic migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder, but not anxiety or diabetes under recommendations that an advisory board agreed to on Monday.

The board, which is made up of doctors, nurses, patients and a pharmacist, held a public meeting in Chicago to consider whether to expand Illinois' nascent medical marijuana program to include the treatment of additional diseases and disorders. The state Department of Public Health will consider the recommendations.

Besides chronic migraines and PTSD, the board voted to recommend adding osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy and diabetic neuropathy to the list of qualifying conditions for the medical marijuana program.

A demonstrator smokes a marijuana cigarette during a protest outside the Capitol building in San Juan April 20, 2015. People gathered outside the Capitol building as legislators are debating to decriminalize small amounts of medical marihuana and its cultivation, according to local media. REUTERS/Alvin Baez

MEDICAL cannabis was "unquestionably" the big issue at this year's MardiGrass festival.

Festival organiser Michael Balderstone said the issue helped attract large numbers to the event despite the terrible weather.

"Our online ticket sales were up a lot, about a third up," he said.

Nimbin celebrates cannabis at MardiGrass "protestival"

"Quite a few people didn't come (on Friday) because the roads got blocked. But it was lovely to wake up to the sun on Saturday and all the roads opened and people started turning up."

A committee representing a cross-section of professions and expertise has been established to develop rules for the state's regulated marijuana industry.

Oregon Liquor Control Commission Executive Director Steven Marks said the committee "will provide a balanced approach" to marijuana regulation. The committee will be chaired by Chris Lyons, a Gresham resident and former executive director of the Oregon Lottery.

In addition to the 15-member rules advisory committee, the agency also appointed members to two permanent subcommittees that will deal with technical issues. One will focus on licensing, compliance and law enforcement. The other will provide advice on tracking marijuana from seed to sale as well as marijuana testing labs.

The Italian military aims to lowers the cost of medical marijuana by growing it themselves!

The Italian army has unveiled its first cannabis farm, set up to try to lower the cost of medical marijuana in the country.

According to officials at a government-funded greenhouse outside Florence, Italy’s first medical marijuana crop, grown by the country’s military – is “coming along nicely”