Medical
Patients rights group challenges city council to change local marijuana law
10/25/16--Representatives of Kern Citizens for Patients Rights initiative announced Friday they had successfully submitted a petition to the City Clerk's Office to better regulate medical marijuana within Bakersfield. The petition demands better regulation of medical marijuana activities within the city limits. The patient’s rights organization knows they’re fighting an uphill battle and expect the city council to reject any upcoming initiatives for recreational marijuana - and an even harder fight for legal medical usage. Read Pennsylvania advances rules under new medical marijuana law
10/25/16--The state moved a few steps closer to setting up a medical marijuana program on Tuesday as the health department posted draft rules for dispensaries and said temporary regulations for growers and processors would be made public in a few days. The draft regulations for dispensaries would prohibit facilities within 1, 000 feet of schools or day care centers and require employees to be at least 18 years old. Visitors would be notified they are under video surveillance inside the establishments. Read Plans for massive marijuana greenhouse advance
10/25/16--Denver-based AmeriCann Inc. is preparing to build the state’s largest marijuana greenhouse, a sprawling, high-tech complex that could eventually expand to nearly 1 million square feet. The facility, to be built in phases over several years, is designed to bolster the state’s struggling medical marijuana program. But, if voters decide on Nov. 8 to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use by adults, AmeriCann expects to accelerate construction and would likely rent some of its cultivation space to a retailer of recreational cannabis. Read Shoppers Drug Mart formally applies to distribute medical marijuana
10/25/16--Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's largest pharmacy chain, has formally applied to be a distributor of medical marijuana. The move is the next step in a logical progression for the chain, which earlier this year was looking into the possibility of entering the burgeoning business. Read Steep Hill launches new high detection cannabis pesticide testing in CA
10/19/16--Steep Hill, the global leader in cannabis testing and analytics, published an early report on the prevalence of pesticide contamination in the medical cannabis supply chain in California. According to the lab's new technology and recently launched "quantified pesticide analysis," 84.3% of cannabis samples submitted in Steep Hill's Berkeley lab tested positive for pesticide residues. These results were significantly higher than expected and are cause for concern for California cannabis consumers. Read Michigan could gain millions in tax revenue in legal marijuana market
10/16/16--A fully developed legal market for medical marijuana in Michigan could lead to millions of dollars in new state tax revenue. Some analysts' estimates suggest it could top $63 million a year. Michigan could be the third-largest state medical marijuana market by 2020, with $556 million in projected sales that year, according to a 2016 report from ArcView Market Research. The state would rank behind California and Colorado, and ahead of Arizona and Oregon, the report suggests. Read I-182: The marijuana initiative
10/14/16--According to David Winter of KULR 8 News, arguably the most controversial measure on the ballot this election season is I-182, the marijuana initiative. This week, Winter covers the pros, the cons, and the cost of all four statewide initiatives, in addition to providing perspectives on I-182. Read Marijuana, cash seizures on Highway 101 mark the arrival of pot harvest
10/14/16--North Coast narcotics agents are busy intercepting money and pot along Highway 101, and other locations at the end of the busy outdoor growing season. Cash buyers heading north to Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity counties as well as those returning south with buds from the fall harvest are being stopped near Cloverdale by officers participating in interdiction efforts. Read Nine states will vote on legalizing recreational and medical marijuana
10/14/16--Nine states have marijuana measures on the ballot this November. In five states — Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada — voters will decide on legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. In four others — Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota — voters will weigh in on medical marijuana, which is already legal in nearly half the country. Read Patients still waiting, 900-plus days after state changed law
10/14/16--It has been more than 900 days since former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed the bill legalizing medical marijuana in the state. Dispensaries are anticipated to open by next summer, but legal fights with the Natalie M. LaPrade Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission over licenses to grow the plant has many concerned that access will keep patients waiting longer. Read Now available in N.J.: Cherry or grape cannabis lozenges
10/13/16--The first cannabis-infused lozenges approved for sale in New Jersey were offered to registered medical marijuana patients Tuesday at a dispensary in Camden County, one year after it opened. The Compassionate Sciences Alternative Treatment Center in Bellmawr announced it would sell a bottle of 30 grape- or cherry-flavored lozenges for $75, or $60 if patients qualify for financial assistance. Read What happens to medical marijuana if Proposition 64 passes?
10/12/16--From privacy protections for patients, exemption from state sales taxes, and protections for medical cannabis patients who are parents, Yes on Proposition 64 spokesman Jason Kinney said the measure bolsters the rights of medical marijuana patients while keeping the state’s previous medical marijuana rules intact. Read Which Bay Area county issues the most medical marijuana cards?
10/13/16--Currently, a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) is required to use marijuana in California. The San Francisco Chronicle examined each of the nine Bay Area counties to compare which county has the most MMICs for the 2016-17 fiscal year, and also how the demand for MMICs has grown per county since 2004. Read Legalizing marijuana in Arizona could strengthen drug cartels
10/11/16--According to an article by The Associated Press, if Arizona’s ballot measure passes, pot shops would soon arise in a place that has long been a center of drug smuggling. How drug cartels respond to legalization has been a focus of debate in Arizona. Law enforcement leaders say the change will strengthen cartels, allowing them to infiltrate the legal pot market, and driving them to sell more hard drugs. Advocates of legalization say it will undercut the cartels by eliminating a key segment of their business. Read Hawaii dispensaries not yet growing medical marijuana plants
10/12/16--Medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii have all identified sites to grow their products, but have not begun cultivating the plants because they haven't been given approval from the state Department of Health. One reason is because the state doesn't have a software system to track the product from seed to sale. Furthermore, no laboratories have applied with the state to test the product, and medical marijuana cannot be sold from dispensaries before it's tested. Read Sonoma County unveils marijuana land use ordinance
10/6/16--More than 200 people attended a Cannabis Community Meeting held by county officials to explain a proposed land use ordinance. Cultivation of up to six plants for personal use is allowed across the board in the county’s 24 different land-use zones, except for medium- and high-density urban residential zones. Read Marijuana dispensaries eye Salisbury locations
10/8/16--American Cannabis Company and Nature’s Remedy of Massachusetts have indicated they’d like to site medical marijuana facilities in Salisbury. In light of the new interest in Salisbury, selectmen decided to hold a workshop with both entities at 6 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Town Hall. The workshop is open to the public. Read Another medical marijuana facility wants to sell in Canton
10/9/16--Nature’s Remedy of Massachusetts presented a proposal on building a new medical marijuana dispensary at 20 North Street. If approved, the facility would be the second medical marijuana dispensary proposed in Canton. Read Debate over when Ohio physicians recommend medical marijuana
10/11/16--According to The Ohio Patients Network, purchase the state’s medical board is ignoring part of Ohio’s Medical Marijuana law that allows for patients to possess medical marijuana before the full regulatory system is put in place. Yet, the State Medical Board of Ohio says physicians are not permitted to issue a state of Ohio approved recommendation until he/she has obtained a certificate. Read Autistic children could soon be prescribed medical marijuana
10/3/16--The Minnesota Department of Health is considering adding autism to the growing list of conditions in which the patients can be prescribed medical cannabis. The consideration carries with it a lot of emotion for families looking for something to help their loved ones with a condition where so little is known. Read Top lobbyist represents winner of controversial medical marijuana license
10/3/16--Holistic Industries LLC, represented by top-earning lobbyist Gerard E. Evans, was awarded a lucrative Maryland marijuana-growing license after a state commission pulled it from the ranks of losers and gave it a winning slot. Holistic was originally ranked too low to receive one of 15 state growing licenses, but members of the state's Medical Cannabis Commission reconsidered an earlier vote. Read Doctor subpoenaed in Illinois medical marijuana investigation
9/27/16--Dr. Bodo Schneider, who works at a clinic where many patients try to access the state's medical marijuana program, has been subpoenaed in a state and federal investigation. The investigation is in response to alleged improper controlled-substance prescriptions from the southern Illinois doctor. Read Amoeba Music gets license to sell marijuana
9/27/16--Amoeba Music has been granted a marijuana dispensary license for their Berkeley, California location. The new dispensary can be found in the store where the jazz section is currently located and has been a goal for Amoeba’s co-founders for a while now. Read Mass. marijuana doctor should not have lost license, judge says
9/26/16--Dr. John C. Nadolny, medical director of Canna Care Docs, should not have had his medical license suspended for allowing nurse practitioners in his office to certify patients for medical marijuana use, according to a state administrative law judge. The Board of Registration in Medicine had ruled that Nadolny was an immediate threat to public safety. Read Retail marijuana could hurt medical marijuana
9/28/16--A new report from GreenWave Advisors believes that legalized retail marijuana will disrupt the emerging medical sector. GreenWave wrote, “Though Arizona permits only medicinal use, new cardholder applications were down sharply in May, perhaps in anticipation of a favorable election outcome for recreational use.” Read Michigan medical marijuana laws changing
9/26/16--Medical marijuana laws in Michigan will soon change. Governor Snyder hopes that these new laws give a solid framework from where the prior legislation may have been unclear. The new laws aim to give patients a safe way to buy medical marijuana. Read Medical marijuana program continues to grow
9/26/16--The number of patients in the state of Connecticut receiving medical marijuana treatment keeps growing, now at 13, 440, according to Department of Consumer Protection Deputy Commissioner Michelle Seagull. Read Florida’s medical pot regulations may go up in smoke
9/26/16--Next month, Judge John Van Laningham’s expected ruling in a southwest Florida case regarding medical marijuana regulations could throw the state’s budding cannabis industry into total disarray. Read These 3 states may vote against legalizing marijuana this November
9/24/16--Based on select poll results, three states could wind up rejecting their respective marijuana initiative or amendment: Arizona, North Dakota, and Massachusetts. According to Motley Fool writer Sean Williams, while these three states could be a complete toss-up, the one given is that it's still far too early for investors to consider marijuana as a viable, long-term investment opportunity. Read Nevada medical marijuana card processing moves online
9/21/16--The Nevada Dispensary Association announced that the card application process is now offered online, reducing both the need for a visit to the DMV and a drive to a new Las Vegas-based Division of Public and Behavioral Health office. Read Seniors told medical marijuana ‘isn’t just smoking a joint’
9/21/16--During a medical marijuana session at the Oswego Senior Center, Cat Stewart of Cresco Labs informed attendees that there are a lot of options for treatment. According to Stewart, a big part of the job now "is to educate and break down the fears and barriers people associate with cannabis that is preventing them from exploring other health care options." Read Judge orders medical cannabis for post-op chronic pain
9/21/16--Cook County Judge Neil Cohen has ordered the Illinois Department of Public Health to add Post-Operative Chronic Pain to the list of disorders treatable with medical cannabis. Read Colorado lawmakers call for adding PTSD to medical pot list
9/21/16--Colorado is poised to add post-traumatic stress disorder to its medical marijuana program, joining 18 other states that consider PTSD a condition treatable by pot. A panel of state lawmakers voted 5-0to endorse the addition of PTSD to Colorado’s 2000 medical pot law. Read Medical marijuana dispensary awarded provisional certificate
9/22/16--After two years of effort, Patient Centric of Martha’s Vineyard has been awarded a provisional certificate by state health officials to grow, process and sell medical marijuana on the island. Read Medical cannabis sales soar in German pharmacies
9/16/16--The sale of legally-bought weed has doubled in Germany for chronically ill patients, with politicians hoping to legalize more general medical marijuana usage by 2017. Read Company that didn’t win medical marijuana license sues state commission
9/20/16--Bethesda-based GTI Maryland was bumped out of the running for one of Maryland's lucrative medical marijuana grower licenses. The company is suing the state commission that issues the permits, throwing the already delayed program into further uncertainty. Read Beachwood facility wants to administer medical marijuana
9/20/16-- Menorah Park Center for Senior Living, an assisted living center in Beachwood, is working to become the first facility in the state to administer clinical pot. Read Advocates urge state to speed up medical marijuana card processing
9/20/16--There is a growing demand for medical marijuana cards, but the state's Medical Marijuana Registry office only has a handful of workers who process and verify approximately 1,200 applications a month. Read Conference addresses ‘today’s marijuana’
9/15/16--One of the primary messages at a one-day conference in Glasgow addressing “today's marijuana,” is that the drug is not the same as it was decades ago. It is more potent, and it is definitely not the benign, relatively safe substance many think it is, multiple speakers said. Read State health agency offers overhaul of medical marijuana regulations
9/15/16--Nurse practitioners would be allowed to certify patients for medical marijuana and dispensaries would be allowed to post product prices on their websites, under new regulations proposed by the Department of Public Health. Read Patients warned about legal marijuana, doctor recommendation schemes
9/15/16--Medical marijuana advocates say Ohio patients should be cautious of schemes promising patients a legal way to obtain marijuana before state-licensed dispensaries open in the state. Read Bills to regulate medical marijuana headed to Snyder
9/14/16--The state House today gave final approval to a package of bills to license, tax and regulate the cultivation, processing, transport, testing and sale of various forms of medical marijuana, which state voters legalized in a 2008 referendum. Read Christie legalizes pot for treating PTSD
9/14/16--New Jersey residents suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be legally treated with marijuana under a law signed Wednesday by Governor Christie, the first expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program since it began six years ago. Read Marin hospital could be first in state to allow medical marijuana
9/12/16-- Marin General Hospital might become the first acute-care medical center in California to allow patients to openly consume medical marijuana in the hospital. Read Medical marijuana is a big lie
9/13/16--According to HealthZette writer Jonathan Talcott, medical marijuana is a big lie, and the legalization of marijuana for medical or recreational use is a public health catastrophe across America. Read Medical marijuana use growing fast in Massachusetts
9/9/16--Medical marijuana's popularity is growing rapidly in Massachusetts. The number of purchases has been increasing exponentially, and the number of certified patients is also on the rise. Read Move slowly on marijuana in Ohio
9/12/16--Ohio’s medicinal marijuana law took effect last week, but thus far the rules have not been adopted. In addition, the state Medical Board has not yet issued guidelines to physicians on prescribing marijuana for patients. A variety of issues must be addressed before the active ingredient in marijuana can be sold in Ohio. Read Strongsville takes up medical marijuana issue
9/6/16--Strongsville fell in line with three of Ohio's 82 cities in Cuyahoga County and established a moratorium on medical marijuana. The moratorium will prohibit the growing, processing and selling of marijuana for six months. Read Scottsdale getting $1 million medical-marijuana store
9/7/16--The Harvest of Scottsdale, one of the most deluxe medical-marijuana dispensaries in Arizona, will open in Scottsdale later this month, only weeks before a proposition to legalize the recreational use of the drug goes to voters. Read Medical marijuana grower booted from state fair
9/9/16--Ultra Health, the state’s largest medical marijuana grower, could be in jeopardy of losing its license after it was booted from the New Mexico State Fair. Read What is medical marijuana?
9/9/16--"There's no such thing as medical marijuana, but there's marijuana being used for medical purposes," said Bill Denihan, who runs the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board in Cuyahoga County. It's the process of using the marijuana plant after it's processed and prepared. Read Medical marijuana patients face long drives, high prices
9/4/16--Patients who use medical marijuana in the state of Delaware say they still struggle to gain access to the drug legally since many people must drive hours to buy the drug from a legal dispensary. They will also pay exorbitant prices when they do. Read Ohio establishing rules for medical marijuana distribution
the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy and Department of Commerce are still working on the standards. It is estimated that patients won’t be able to purchase medical marijuana in Ohio until 2018. Read
Pennsylvania’s governor says state can do more to decriminalize marijuana
and remains guarded about the kind of recreational legalization in place in several western states. Read
Illinois marijuana dispensary hosts open house
8/26/16--The Green Solution, Illinois' largest marijuana dispensary, is set to open next month in the Sauget area, but the public is getting a peek inside early. The open house will take place Saturday from noon to 4. Read Problems with Arizona’s licensing process for medical marijuana
there are new questions about the state’s medical marijuana system. 3TV has obtained documents that show problems with some of the 750 dispensary applications being considered. Read