Experts estimate that "the current system of drug control has failed" and that health authorities should decide on the use of cannabis.

The scientific evidence for medical benefits of cannabis appear to be more convincing. And according to experts, the results of many relevant and declining legal prohibition studies should force public health officials to decide quickly about the use of cannabis.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) will probably soon adopt a new position on cannabis, given the pressure it undergoes", explained Pavel Pachta, former deputy secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board ( INCB), before an audience of experts gathered at the International Conference on the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids, held since Wednesday in Prague.

Talk about smoking the competition.

Sisters Aurora and Eden Ray not only sold more than 100 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies on Friday, they did something maybe no other Oregon Girl Scouts have ever done: sell the organization’s famous Samoas, Thin Mints, Tagalongs and other cookies outside a medical marijuana dispensary.

“It’s actually great to sell here at this place because none of our Girl Scouts have done this before,” said Aurora, 11, standing Friday afternoon with her sister and parents, Ralph and Belinda Ray, outside the Oregon Microgrowers Guild on Cross Street in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood.

“We’re hoping to show people that we’re just trying to make a difference and help people and stuff,” Aurora said.

Medics took him to the hospital with serious injuries. No word on how he ended up in the water. Tearful testimony at the state capital right now. Dozens of people lead to legalize cannabis oil. Lawmakers. 99 people aren't scheduled to testify. Alexandra stone is live. Alexandra: hearings are still going on inside of the capital. Y. Mostly supporters of a bill that would legalize medical use of marijuana. The supporters come from nebraska but also families from out-of-state who have come to say that cannabis can save lives. She remembers watching her young daughter charlotte seizing hundreds of times a day. Three years ago when she was five years old she was that the end of her life. She was seizing every 30 minutes. She was on oxygen. We brought her home on hospice.

Supporters and opponents of legalizing medical marijuana flocked to the Nebraska Capitol Friday to testify on legislation on the subject.

A bill by Bellevue Sen. Tommy Garrett called the Cannabis Compassion and Care Act, would legalize medical marijuana. Among those who came to the Capitol to testify in favor of it was David Swarts of Palmyra. In an interview before the hearing, Swarts said he used to view the issue differently. "I used to think everything I’d been told for the last 60 years: that marijuana was the devil weed and that it led to other drugs," he said.

With society increasingly accepting the medicinal and recreational properties of marijuana, wellness tourism experts predict explosive growth in cannabis-related spa and travel packages.

Cannabis was listed second in Spafinder Wellness' recently released Top 10 trends report, which cited the growing list of medical marijuana dispensaries around the country that are adding yoga, massage and fitness as well as pot tourism, which is being developed in Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon, where the drug is now legal.

Among some of the new offerings:

With society increasingly accepting the medicinal and recreational properties of marijuana, wellness tourism experts predict explosive growth in cannabis-related spa and travel packages.

Cannabis was listed second in Spafinder Wellness' recently released Top 10 trends report, which cited the growing list of medical marijuana dispensaries around the country that are adding yoga, massage and fitness as well as pot tourism, which is being developed in Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon, where the drug is now legal.

Among some of the new offerings:

The RCMP had no data to back up their claims that medical marijuana grow operations under Canada’s old licensing system were inherently dangerous to producers and magnets for violent thieves and organized criminals, an expert told the Federal Court Thursday.

Imagine for a second, the pain an NFL player feels after a brutal Sunday afternoon game. A game in which men weighing in upwards of 300 pounds crash into each other at high speeds. Then, imagine the amount of painkillers those same players must take just to get out of bed the next day.

At a recent conference, former Broncos tight end Nate Jackson talked about his use of marijuana as a painkiller during his six-year NFL career.

“It kept my brain clean,” Jackson said Wednesday during the Cannabis Business Executives Breakfast that kicked off a three-day conference titled “Sports, Meds and Money.”

What do tech startups and marijuana ventures have in common? An increasing number of funding platforms are on the rise with the goal of supporting both these enterprises. Many of these startups have Silicon Valley veterans at the helm. In the case of the marijuana industry, although it may still be in its infancy, the potential for growth in this sector has many investors sitting up and taking notice. Among the primary factors now attracting investors to this still fledgling industry is that there is still ample room for innovation.

Hemp is a plant that has been cultivated in parts of the world for 10-12,000 years – possibly longer – and is estimated to have between 25,000 to 50,000 uses, with 5,000 uses in the textiles industry alone. Hemp has had a bad rap in the United States, supposedly thanks to the protectionist policies of a powerful few people in government and industry who had investments in key industries including pulp and paper. Hemp was lumped together marijuana usage, and used to pass the Marijuana Tax Act, partially by misinforming Congress and leveraging racial politics of the 1930s.