If Canada's new government chooses to legalize marijuana beyond medical use then it should get into the business of controlling its supply and sale to prevent the rise of a "Big Cannabis," addiction specialists say.

Cannabis policy could be an issue ahead of October's federal election. The governing Conservative party favours the status quo, the competing Liberals have promised legalization and the New Democrats support decriminalization. The Green Party has said it would legalize and tax marijuana.

As medical marijuana gains traction as a treatment option for a host of conditions including chronic pain and other conditions, Canadian employers could find themselves grappling with a sticky issue.

"Individuals have the right to equal treatment ... without discrimination on the grounds of disability," says Jan Robinson, managing principal at human resources firm Morneau Shepell.

"Medical cannabis now needs to be viewed like every other doctor-prescribed drug."

But although employers have a duty to accommodate workers' medical conditions, experts say that duty must be balanced with the need to keep the workplace safe. That can be challenging, especially if employees perform duties such as operating machinery.

TORONTO - As medical marijuana gains traction as a treatment option for a host of conditions including chronic pain and other conditions, Canadian employers could find themselves grappling with a sticky issue.

"Individuals have the right to equal treatment ... without discrimination on the grounds of disability," says Jan Robinson, managing principal at human resources firm Morneau Shepell.

"Medical cannabis now needs to be viewed like every other doctor-prescribed drug."

But although employers have a duty to accommodate workers' medical conditions, experts say that duty must be balanced with the need to keep the workplace safe. That can be challenging, especially if employees perform duties such as operating machinery.

While there have been synthetic THC tablets around for quite some time, and medical marijuana markets on the rise, there has been another medical breakthrough as far as marijuana is concerned: yeast.

Yeast – hardly an innocent microorganism – is already used to produce alcohol, but this is believed to be the first time it has generated the natural chemical found in cannabis. They also have unpublished data to show they succeeded in creating a yeast strain that can make cannabidiol.

Researchers from the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany published their results in the journal Biotechnology Letters.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimously (7-0) in June of this year that dried marijuana is legal to be used to treat a variety of health issues. Medical marijuana may be used in oil form, as cookies or brownies, teas and more.

Just three months later did an Alberta mother with a severely ill nine-year-old daughter had to fly, with her daughter, from Alberta to Ontario (St. Catharines) in order to obtain a prescription for the dried marijuana. This because Alberta Health Services refuses to endorse the use of medical marijuana for pediatric patients with epilepsy. Sarah Wilkinson’s daughter Mia suffers from epilepsy and only medical marijuana (oil version) has for 19 months relieved her entirely of epileptic seizures.

Richert teaches in the department of history at the University of Saskatchewan.

In the award-winning 2013 movie, Dallas Buyers Club, we are exposed to heroic patient activism during the AIDS crisis in the United States.

Based on the true story of AIDS-stricken Ron Woodroof, a hard-partying Texas tradesman, the film shows a strikingly thin Matthew McConaughey battle his sickness and the legal authorities in Texas.

Woodroof, who's unhappy with his illegally purchased AIDS medicine, and on the edge of death, seeks out alternative and experimental drugs from a doctor in Mexico. Then Ron, being the savvy entrepreneur that he is, quickly establishes a club (a dispensary) to sell his unregulated, sometimes dangerous, imported medicines.

Council appears ready to accept medical marijuana facilities.

But it’s still trying to figure out where they should go in Niagara Falls and the distance they should be from schools, churches and homes.

After a lengthy debate Tuesday night, where politicians discussed a consultant’s study, council directed staff to come up with options for a future meeting where residents will be able to speak.

Council wants maps showing lands affected, the distance separating medical marijuana buildings and sensitive areas.

Alex Herlovitch, the city’s director of planning, building and development, said it would allow council to “see how much land we actually have where these facilities could locate.”

Justin Bieber may have been channeling his inner Cheech and Chong. While on a promotional tour in Amsterdam for his new song "What Do You Mean" and coming album, the Canadian singer was photographed at one of the city's many "coffee shops," where marijuana is sold legally.

Chatham-Kent police are thanking the public for continuing to send in tips about where people are growing marijuana.

According to police, members of the local police force’s Intelligence Section and Community Patrol located and pulled out approximately $1.48-million worth of marijuana this week alone.

The plots were found in 40 separate locations across the municipality.

Officers say the tips came from local farmers and other members of the public, adding they were able to spot some of the fields with the help of a local air service company.

Police are still on the hunt for more marijuana plants, so if you spot any, you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).