When Logan Edwards returned home to Davenport in 2008 after his deployment in Iraq as a Marine, he was anything but the same.

Having just turned 21, he started using alcohol to cope with his anxiety, insomnia and nightmares. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, better known by its initials PTSD, Edwards drank every day for six months before seeking help. By the time he got it, it was almost too late.

After a long journey with many trials and errors and no real relief, Edwards, now 28, said he found a way to live his life in a functional and productive manner through the advice of a Vietnam vet. That advice: Smoke weed.

Illinois isn’t the first state in the Midwest to allow medical marijuana. Minnesota and Michigan have active cannabis programs for patients, while other nearby states are considering legislation. Some states allow children with seizures to be treated with cannabidiol oil, or CBD, a marijuana extract.

Here’s a look at where Illinois’ neighbor states stand:

- Wisconsin: Allows possession of non-psychoactive CBD oil to treat seizure disorder. Legislation to allow adults to use marijuana for recreational or medical reasons has been introduced, but it is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Officers conducted search warrants at two Iowa men's home Tuesday after they were charged in a drug traffic stop in Nebraska.

The search warrants were executed at homes in Fort Dodge.

Tyler Cervene, 22, and Bryce Loftus, 21, of Fort Dodge, were stopped on Sunday in Douglas County, Nebraska.  Officers reported finding about 33 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle.

The men were charged with intent to deliver marijuana and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.

Authorities said the men were transporting the marijuana from Colorado to Iowa.

Iowa officials reported finding "multiple narcotic related items" at one of the Fort Dodge homes.

The investigation into this case is still ongoing and additional charges are expected.

At the second Republican presidential debate, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie claimed that he’s “not against medical marijuana.” But his exchange with a registered cannabis nurse this week seems to suggest otherwise.

On Wednesday at an event in Newton, Iowa, cannabis nurse and Gulf War veteran Shelly Van Winkle asked Christie how he would balance states’ rights to legalize medicinal marijuana with the fact that federal law still considers marijuana a Schedule 1 drug. Would he do anything to address the confusion?

OSAGE, Iowa – Before making a decision one way or another about marijuana for it’s medicinal or recreational use, the town of Osage is meeting to open discussions.

The town hall meeting sponsored by the Mitchell County Substance Abuse Coalition is geared toward giving information to those who have yet to make a decision.

Speakers focused on the impacts that full legalization of the substance would have and what research is being done to allow for certain use.

Nurse practitioner, Jennifer Sleiter explained how the research to date does not support the advocacy of medical marijuana, which she clarified is use of the entire plant in most likely it’s smoked form.

OSAGE | A Des Moines-based pediatric nurse practitioner will speak on the potential pitfalls of marijuana legalization Monday at a town hall meeting in Osage.

Concerned primarily with the lack of medical research on usage, Jennifer Sleiter will speak on questions she said still need to be answered if the state would consider any expanded form of marijuana legalization.

The Mitchell County Substance Abuse Coalition will hold the event at 7 p.m. in the Osage High School gym, 820 Sawyer Drive.

State legislation passed last year made it legal to possess an oil form of medical marijuana called cannabidiol, or CBD, but not access it, which some parents have said is a barrier to using it as a treatment.

The Iowa Hemp Association plans to hold meetings in Fort Dodge and Emmetsburg in northwest Iowa Saturday and Monday to discuss the financial and environmental benefits of growing industrial hemp.

The group said adding industrial hemp to a corn and soybean rotation can improve soil health with added diversity and reduce compaction and erosion. “Hemp, with a deep taproot reaching up to 8 or 9 feet, can break up compaction, aerate the soil and further aid in nutrient absorption,” the group said.

It also might be a better option for cellulosic ethanol plants that now use corn residue to make the biofuel, the association said.

MASON CITY | An advocacy organization presented its case Wednesday night for what it says are potential benefits for legalization of medical cannabis.

Dr. Steven Jenison, the former head of the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program, spoke to about 25 people at the Mason City Public Library on Wednesday evening.

Iowans 4 Medical Cannabis organized the forum, one of three it is holding around the state this week.

Some who attended spoke of a years-long struggle to help their children through painful and chronic medical problems with what they considered potentially harmful medications.

"We have seen her suffer and suffer," said Jacqueline Loats, 46, who spoke of her now college-age daughter who has battled Crohn's disease since childhood.

Alaska

Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Alaska include:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
• Nausea
• Muscle spasms
• Multiple sclerosis
• Pain
• Seizures

For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Alaska’s application for medical marijuana registry

Arizona

Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Arizona include:

As cannabis prohibition laws crumble seemingly by the day, it’s allowing more research to be performed on this psychoactive substance that has long been a part of the human experience.

The first study to analyze the effects of cannabis on driving performance found that it caused almost no impairment. The impairment that it did cause was similar to that observed under the influence of a legal alcohol limit.

Researchers at the University of Iowa’s National Advanced Driving Simulator carried out the study, sponsored by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Institute of Drug Abuse, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy