A Toronto mother of three has opened up a medical marijuana shop on Parkdale's main strip on Queen Street West and a passer-by wouldn't even know it. Nestled between a flower shop and a bar, The Caylx Wellness Centre has no enlarged marijuana leaf emblazoned on the store front, its name isn't a play on words associated with weed and there's no neon lights; the go-to marketing designs for dispensaries. Instead store owner Danielle, who requested to not have her last name published, went a different route and focused on the importance of discretion. [continues 1070 words]
In the mountains of Pondoland in the Eastern Cape, 'intsangu' is green gold: the key to the rural poor's economic survival. Why then, despite global progress towards decriminalising cannabis, are police spraying crops with poison from helicopters? Niren Tolsi investigates. THE mountains meet the Indian Ocean on the Wild Coast. At Ebulawu, south of Port St Johns, green-topped peaks undulate up towards sheer drops into the blue maelstrom below, where waves crash against cliffs of white, grey and red. [continues 2891 words]
HARRISBURG (AP) - Some key Senate backers of medical marijuana legalization are expressing concern about a marijuana bill passed by the House last week, raising the possibility of a delay in getting the drug into the hands of Pennsylvania patients suffering from conditions like cancer and epilepsy. Senate staff and lawyers found what they say are numerous flaws in the legislation passed by the House last week. Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, who sponsored the initial bill that overwhelmingly passed the Senate last year, might press for changes and another vote by both chambers instead of agreeing to the House version and sending it to Gov. Tom Wolf for his signature. [continues 341 words]
Sponsor Says Governor Has 'Heart & Compassion' TALLAHASSEE With Floridians poised to vote this fall on broad legalization of medical marijuana, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a bill that will allow terminally ill patients to have access to marijuana as they try to ease suffering. The bill, which lawmakers approved this month, was one of 68 measures that Scott signed into law Friday. He also vetoed one bill dealing with a utility in Alachua County. Scott did not issue a comment on the medical-marijuana bill (HB 307), but House sponsor Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, went on Twitter to say the governor showed "heart & compassion" by signing the measure. [continues 472 words]
Two years ago, the medical marijuana constitutional amendment was on the ballot in Florida. Even though a majority of voters supported it - - 58 percent - it failed to meet the 60 percent threshold needed for passage. There was a strong and well-financed opposition that relied on doomsday scenarios and scare tactics. Others who opposed the measure did so by saying the change should be done by the Legislature in statute, not by citizens in the Florida Constitution. During that time the Legislature - opposed to full-fledged decriminalization of marijuana for medical purposes - passed a very limited form of non-euphoric marijuana for children with epilepsy or chronic seizures. [continues 698 words]
Two years ago, the medical marijuana constitutional amendment was on the ballot. Even though a majority of Florida voters supported it - 58 percent - it failed to meet the 60 percent threshold needed for passage. There was a strong and well-financed opposition that relied on doomsday scenarios and scare tactics. Others who opposed the measure did so by saying the change should be done by the Legislature in statute, not by the Florida Constitution. During that time the Legislature - opposed to full-fledged decriminalization of marijuana for medical purposes - passed a very limited form of non-euphoric marijuana use for children with epilepsy or chronic seizures. [continues 568 words]
Advocates are happy it was named, but not about the delay in naming it or the people on it. New Jersey's health commissioner recently appointed a panel that will decide whether chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions should be added to the list of a dozen ailments that qualify a patient to buy medical marijuana in the state. Patient advocates have been pressing for nearly four years to have the list expanded, saying it is too restrictive and prevents many severely ill patients from obtaining cannabis. [continues 825 words]
Google Considers Cannabis Dangerous, Unacceptable. A Minnesota-based medical marijuana company says Google is blocking its attempts to advertise online. Vireo, the parent company of Minnesota Medical Solutions, tried to take out a series of online ads in New York, where it operates four clinics and is one of several companies chosen by that state to grow and manufacture medical cannabis. Each time, Google rejected the ads, citing its policy against promoting "dangerous products or services." On Monday, the company expanded its online advertising efforts to include the two Minnesota clinics operated by Minnesota Medical Solutions. Enrollment in Minnesota's medical cannabis program remains relatively low - 1,133 patients since legalization last July. But Vireo announced that it would also attempt to place "Minnesota-targeted Google ads to make it easier for Minnesota patients to learn about using our medicines." [continues 463 words]
While Pennsylvania is closer than ever to making medical marijuana available for patients who need it, some hurdles remain along with important answers to significant questions. It's been two decades since California became the first state to allow for medicinal use of marijuana and cannabis. Since then, 23 states - along with Guam and Washington, D.C., have enacted similar legislation. Pennsylvania seems poised to join that list. In one context, it is about time. Enough studies have been done across the nation to justify appropriately managed and maintained medical uses for the drug in various forms. In another vein, opponents argue the state is bypassing the Food and Drug Administration. [continues 236 words]
With the recent news coverage regarding the Montana State Supreme Court's ruling on marijuana laws and the Montana Standard's editorial staff's response, it seems like the perfect opportunity to provide some clarifying facts about marijuana. Marijuana is not a harmless natural compound. The "medical marijuana" movement is a well-developed strategic plan to dupe the common man into believing that an illicit, illegal drug, with no proven medical benefit, should be used as medicine. The marijuana industry used the "medical" marijuana platform as part of a strategic plan to desensitize the perception of harm and normalize marijuana use. The result of this industry is to accomplish what has happened in Colorado, Washington state and Washington D.C., specifically legalized "recreational" use of marijuana. [continues 524 words]
WORCESTER - The passage of a medical marijuana bill this week by the state House has given hope to a Worcester mother who treats her 12-year-old son for daily seizures. "Ryan was nine months old when he was diagnosed with infantile spasms. The doctors call it intractable epilepsy now that he is older," said Erin McCann. "He has seizures that include head drops of 20 to 40 times over 15 minutes. He has two (seizure) clusters a day from this condition." [continues 575 words]
Erin Mccann's 12-Year-Old Son Has Intractable Epilepsy, May Benefit From Drug WORCESTER - The passage of a medical marijuana bill this week by the state House has given hope to a Worcester mother who treats her 12-yearold son for daily seizures. "Ryan was 9 months old when he was diagnosed with infantile spasms. The doctors call it intractable epilepsy now that he is older," said Erin McCann. "He has seizures that include head drops of 20 to 40 times over 15 minutes. He has two (seizure) clusters a day from this condition." [continues 573 words]
WORCESTER - The passage of a medical marijuana bill this week by the state House has given hope to a Worcester mother who treats her 12-year-old son for daily seizures. "Ryan was 9 months old when he was diagnosed with infantile spasms. The doctors call it intractable epilepsy now that he is older," said Erin McCann. "He has seizures that include head drops of 20 to 40 times over 15 minutes. He has two (seizure) clusters a day from this condition." [continues 572 words]
New Dispensaries Expected to Open This Summer The number of Connecticut's medical marijuana patients is likely to grow more quickly with the addition Monday of six new conditions that can be treated with cannabis. "I would expect there would be additional people," said state Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris on Tuesday. "We're pleased that more people with serious diseases will have access to medicine that can help them with pain, with symptoms and their underlying disease conditions." The new conditions eligible for the program are sickle cell disease, postlaminectomy syndrome with chronic radiculopathy, severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), ulcerative colitis and complex regional pain syndrome. [continues 306 words]
New Dispensaries Expected to Open This Summer The number of Connecticut's medical marijuana patients is likely to grow more quickly with the addition Monday of six new conditions that can be treated with cannabis. "I would expect there would be additional people," said state Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris on Tuesday. "We're pleased that more people with serious diseases will have access to medicine that can help them with pain, with symptoms and their underlying disease conditions." The new conditions eligible for the program are sickle cell disease, post-laminectomy syndrome with chronic radiculopathy, severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), ulcerative colitis and complex regional pain syndrome. [continues 306 words]
It could be years before patients have access to medical marijuana in Pennsylvania despite a bill to legalize it clearing the House with overwhelming support on Wednesday. Before officials can start implementing the bill, it first has to pass the Senate and be signed into law. The legislation, Senate Bill 3, is now back in the Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee and is awaiting a concurrence vote on the floor. Since the bill was essentially gutted in the House, where at one point more than 220 proposed amendments were attached, senators will likely thoroughly vet the alterations. [continues 470 words]
(AP) - A bill to let Pennsylvania patients who suffer from a list of ailments obtain marijuana for therapeutic purposes easily passed the state House on Wednesday, leaving only approval by the Senate, which overwhelmingly passed a similar bill last year. The House voted 149-43 for legislation that would set standards for growers, dispensaries and physicians. Patients could take the drug in pill, oil or liquid form, but would not be able to obtain marijuana they could smoke. Supporters said it would help relieve the suffering of sick people. [continues 539 words]
HARRISBURG - Patients and academic researchers would have access to marijuana for medical purposes under milestone legislation to place Pennsylvania among the ranks of states with legal cannabis programs. The measure approved by House lawmakers Wednesday envisions a research role for hospitals, universities and academic medical centers into the use of medical marijuana to treat diseases. The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton sees a potential avenue for getting involved with medical marijuana research in the future. "Some of the proposed uses of medical marijuana may be relevant to TCMC's Behavioral Health Initiative and cancer care in NEPA," said Dr. Steven J. Scheinman, president and dean of the college. "We may develop an interest in research on this topic but have no specific plans at present." [continues 264 words]
HARRISBURG - Both patients and academic researchers would have access to marijuana for medical purposes under milestone legislation to place Pennsylvania among the ranks of states with legal cannabis programs. The measure approved by House lawmakers Wednesday envisions a research role for hospitals, universities and academic medical centers into the use of marijuana to treat diseases. The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton sees a potential avenue for getting involved with medical marijuana research in the future. "Some of the proposed uses of medical marijuana may be relevant to TCMC's Behavioral Health Initiative and cancer care in NEPA," said Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., president and dean of the college. "We may develop an interest in research on this topic but have no specific plans at present." [continues 266 words]
PA. Would Allow Medical Treatment, Research Uses HARRISBURG - Both patients and academic researchers would have access to marijuana for medical purposes under milestone legislation to place Pennsylvania among the ranks of states with legal cannabis programs. The measure approved by House l awmakers Wednesday envisions a research role for hospitals, universities and academic medical centers into the use of medical marijuana to treat diseases. The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton sees a potential avenue for getting involved with medical marijuana research in the future. [continues 317 words]
