The spread of marijuana legalization in Colorado, Washington state, Oregon, and Alaska over the past few years means that more Americans can now legally buy and sell pot — but this has also given rise to a for-profit industry that may not have public health in mind.

As legalization opponents and drug policy experts put it, this new massive industry will mimic the worst parts of the tobacco and alcohol businesses, marketing marijuana to heavy drug users and encouraging more use and abuse — outcomes that even staunch legalization advocates wouldn't like.

HARRISBURG - Overdoses from synthetic marijuana continued to plague Harrisburg last weekend, police said.

Police Sgt. Gabriel Olivera said he didn't have the exact number of victims who overdosed but noted that detectives had a long list of victims Monday with whom they needed to follow up after weekend hospital visits.

Once victims are released from the hospital, he said, investigators try to interview them to determine exactly what they bought and where.

"We're still doing an investigation to see where it's going to lead us," Olivera said. "We're still doing follow-ups from people in the hospital."

ALBANY – The state Department of Health announced Monday it is accepting applications from businesses interested in becoming registered organizations to manufacture and dispense medical marijuana in New York.

The announcement comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo on July 7 signed into law the legalization of marijuana for seriously ill or injured patients.

It will be allowable in non-smokeable forms. Medical marijuana advocates have been clamoring for the state to speed up the process, saying patients, particularly sick children, need the drug as soon as possible.

Greenhouse Group, LLC, is looking to do much more for its customers then sell them medical marijuana should it be approved to open a dispensary in Deerfield.

The company, which hopes to open its facility at 151 South Pfingston Road in the Cook County portion of the village by the fourth quarter of this year, wants to develop a community for the people it intends to help.

CEO Mitch Kahn, a Deerfield resident, laid out his vision for Greenhouse at a workshop session of the Deerfield Plan Commission on April 23 at Village Hall. He aims to create an atmosphere where seriously ill patients can be comfortable. At a workshop session commissioners offer suggestions but cast no vote.

AUGUSTA — Medical marijuana patients, their caregivers and dispensary representatives on Monday urged lawmakers to support a bill that would allow patients to use smokeless forms of the drug in hospitals.

During more than two and a half hours of testimony before the Health and Human Services Committee, patients and caregivers described situations in which patients have been denied access to their cannabis therapy or were forced to take it surreptitiously because most Maine hospitals prohibit its use.

But several representatives of hospitals and doctors said allowing medical marijuana in the facilities puts them in the position of potentially losing federal certification and funding.

The recent spike in synthetic marijuana is not just a problem in Lincoln, but it's one hospitals are seeing nationwide. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports 1,900 exposures to synthetic marijuana in 2015. That is four times the amount during the same time last year.

Health officials are warning consumers that synthetic marijuana is not safe to smoke and there can be significant medical consequences.

Synthetic marijuana, also known as k2 or spice, is a plant material coated with THC, the active chemical compound in marijuana. Although synthetic marijuana is different from marijuana and can be dangerous and even deadly, because it is more potent that marijuana.

CannTrust develops new line of products in an easy, ready to use format at $3.50/gram

Guam - A medical marijuana policy forum was held on Saturday at the University of Guam where questions were asked of a panel which included people like public health director James Gilan and Dr. Laura Post.

On March 20th, 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments for and against medical cannabis derivative products becoming legally available to authorized patients.  The courtroom was filled with supporters while many others watched in the overflow rooms and on the CPAC live stream.  The entire proceeding was recorded and is available to view online on the Cannabis Digest Youtube page. Floating on the screen during the webcast was “Her Majesty the Queen vs. Owen Edward Smith”. Despite this sport scoreboard like opposition displayed for the audience at home, Queen Elizabeth II had about as much influence on the unfolding of our case as the Unicorn on the coat of arms above the judges heads.

Steve Mitchem’s career has spanned from evangelical minister to president of the luxury jeweler Tivol to the controversial world of online lending.

For the last few years, he’s also been growing and selling marijuana.

The Kansas City businessman is a partner in Buddy Boy Brands LLC, one of Colorado’s largest medical marijuana dispensary and cultivation companies. Over the last few months, he’s been doing his part to convince Missouri lawmakers to legalize his business in his home state.