Florida Department of Health to Determine Medical Marijuana Rules

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Since Florida voters demanded medical marijuana become available to a larger number of patients, lawmakers have been back and forth about how to handle the regulation of the industry. Unfortunately, the legislature ran out of time to pass a medical marijuana bill to govern the industry before the session ended on May 8th, and they are unlikely to return for an extra session just for medical cannabis. Instead, it seems that for now the Florida Department of Health will be the ones to determine all the rules and regulations surrounding the growing industry.

Medical marijuana could cost big pharma $4 billion a year

(Credit: Reuters/David Mcnew)



Once medical marijuana becomes a legitimate part of the healthcare industry, that is

Once the federal government finally allows medical marijuana to become a legitimate part of the healthcare industry, Big Pharma could suffer the loss of billions of dollars, a new report finds.

RI Superior Court issues medical marijuana decision

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In 2014, the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit against a Westerly fabrics company on behalf of Christine Callaghan, who claimed she was discriminated against by the company for her participation in the state’s medical marijuana program. On Tuesday, Rhode Island Superior Court Justice Richard Licht ruled in favor of Callaghan, a decision which upholds the state law that bars discrimination of medical marijuana card holders in matters of employment, and confirms that the law applies to job applicants such as Callaghan.

DEA Chief Repeats Claim That ‘Marijuana Is Not Medicine’

Chuck Rosenberg, Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), speaks during a hearing of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The sentiment is nothing new from Rosenberg, who’s been at the helm of the DEA since 2015. Under then-President Obama, he famously called medical marijuana “a joke.” But in light of recent anti-cannabis comments from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other members of the Trump administration, it could be yet another cause for concern among cannabis patients.

Older Women and Medical Marijuana: A New Growth Industry

Lyn Kusher sells edible cannabis treats and other items through Ma Kush’s Natural. Credit Ryan Young for The New York Times

Jeanine Moss never expected to get into the cannabis industry. But that was before her hip-replacement surgery.

NEED PERIOD RELIEF? WOMEN COULD SMOKE WEED FOR CRAMPS IF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL PASSES IN NEW YORK

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The pain creeps in slow and unexpectedly. Initially, it’s a subtle discomfort, like the prick of a needle stabbing away at your stomach. As the minutes pass by, the discomfort can develop into a crippling pain, making even simple tasks such as standing up straight seem utterly unbearable.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Calls for the Legalization of Marijuana

Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill recently made news when he called for the legalization and taxation of cannabis in a speech he made in front of the Wayne County, OH Democratic Party. As the lone Democrat holding statewide office in Ohio, and as someone who is considering a run for Governor next year, O’Neill is an important player within the party.

John Morgan ‘prepared to invest $100M’ in medical marijuana: VIDEO

John Morgan

John Morgan spent nearly $7 million pushing two statewide ballot initiatives to expand medical marijuana throughout the state of Florida.

Pairing the Power of Cannabis With Medicinal Plants

Cannabis’s reputation as an herbal medicinal remedy is well established: The list of ailments that cannabis can assist with is extensive and continues to grow as new research emerges. This makes it the perfect base for pairing with other medicinal herbs to target specific wellness goals.

Cannabis' Impact on the Brain in This New Study Should Encourage Marijuana Stock Investors

Cannabinoid-based drug developers could really start turning some heads.

The marijuana industry, and marijuana stocks for that matter, have been expanding by leaps and bounds over the past two decades. What was once a completely taboo industry has become a thriving source of legal growth, at least in some states.

Father says medical marijuana helps daughter, sheriff's words are playing on emotions

Father says medical marijuana helps daughter, sheriff's words are playing on emotions (Photo: KUTV)

A Utah sheriff sparked controversy when he wrote a letter calling medical marijuana a farce and a shame.

Victory: Judge Orders San Diego DA to Return Life Savings to Civil Asset Forfeiture Victims

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In March we brought you the story of the Slatic family, who had their lives ripped apart when local San Diego law enforcement – in conjunction with the DEA – raided James Slatic’s state-legal cannabis extraction company, Mid-West Distributors. Not only did authorities confiscate all the cash they found during the raid, but they also seized the bank accounts of the entire family, wiping out the life savings of James, his wife and even their two teenage daughters.

How Canadian Licensed Producers Are Driving Medical Marijuana Research

This article is sponsored by Tilray, one of the largest and most sophisticated producers of premium medical cannabis in the world. Tilray is dedicated to providing safe, consistent, and reliable products to patients and furthering clinical research.

Colorado medical marijuana patients on edge over potential Trump crackdown

Colorado medical marijuana patients are on edge over a statement made by the Trump administration signaling objections to a prohibition on interfering with state-run medical marijuana programs.

How profitable will medical-marijuana shops be? Very, says confidential pitch for investors

As differences over pot shop restrictions burned a medical marijuana bill to ashes in Tallahassee, one of Florida’s largest legal cannabis operators courted millions of dollars from new investors and touted a lucrative plan to open dozens of storefronts around the state.

Jeff Sessions’s war on drugs has medical marijuana advocates worried: VIDEO

Medical marijuana advocates are concerned the Trump industry could crackdown on the industry. (Richard Vogel/Associated Press)

By John Wagner and Matt Zapotosky

A little-noticed document issued by President Trump has put advocates of medical marijuana on edge, raising questions about the long-term security of programs authorized in 29 states and the District that have broad public backing.

Scientific Researchers Find Cannabis May Potentially Improve Memory in the Elderly

The forgetful, lazy stoner stereotype could be dying a slow yet steady death. Researchers have potentially poked more holes in the notion that cannabis users are forgetful and that the plant causes memory loss.

Who Is Rick Simpson and What Is Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)?

If you’re interested in medical marijuana, you’ll inevitably hear about a form of cannabis known as Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO. RSO is a concentrated form of cannabis oil known to have medical benefits, particularly for cancer, but where did RSO come from? And who is Rick Simpson?

Alzheimer's, autism, anxiety could be treated with marijuana in NJ by 2018

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Waiting for their turn to speak at NJ Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel's hearing on medical ailments in February were Ricardo Rivera (left), founder of Tuffy’s Fight — named for his 10-year-old daughter who is a pediatric medical marijuana patient — and Jim Miller, co-founder of Coalition for Medical Marijuana in N.J. Rivera is holding a collage of his sister, Matilda Candelaria, who died of opioid overdose in 2015 after suffering from chronic pain.

More than 150,000 New Jersey residents who suffer from chronic pain, migraines, Tourette syndrome, or anxiety related to autism or Alzheimer's disease could become eligible to use medical marijuana if the state’s health commissioner adopts the far-reaching recommendations issued by a panel of doctors Thursday.

Vermont Legislature is the First to Pass a Recreational Cannabis Bill

Last week, Vermont lawmakers took a last minute opportunity to pass two different bills that would legalize the use of cannabis for adults 21 and older. It was uncertain whether or not either of these bills would see a vote before next year as the session was supposed to have ended on Friday. However, they met again Wednesday for an extended session to complete a budget bill and the House took this opportunity to vote on and pass the legalization bill just passed by the Senate. With a 79-66 vote in favor of S.22, Vermont has become the first state to pass a recreational marijuana legalization bill through legislature.

After ‘Unheard-Of Momentum,’ Medical Marijuana Bill Declared Dead by Authors

Representative Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville (left), and Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs on the House floor.  SAM DEGRAVE

After gaining the support of most House members last week, a bill legalizing medical marijuana was declared dead Tuesday night by its authors — a Republican and a Democrat who vowed to continue working on the issue.

Failure of MMJ Bill Rips Apart Florida’s Top Cannabis Team

Two of the biggest names to pass the expansion of medical marijuana in Florida—Orlando attorney John Morgan (above, right) and Florida For Care Executive Director Ben Pollara (left)—are going through a very public breakup after the state Legislature killed off a bill to regulate Florida’s medical marijuana industry late Friday evening.

Marijuana And Memory: Cannabis Could Help Elderly, Alzheimer's Patients: VIDEO

Marijuana: John Oliver Explains Why Conflicting Drug Laws Pose Serious Problems

Among the arguments for not legalizing marijuana is fear of the impact it has on the brain. But research at the University of Bonn in Germany indicates it may actually to good for memory, especially on the elderly, reversing brain aging and restoring learning ability.

Cannabis Leaders Gather for First Institute of Cannabis Research Conference

Colorado adds another unique endeavor to its list of innovative and cutting-edge cannabis work with the first annual Institute of Cannabis Research (ICR) conference at Colorado State University in Pueblo. The Institute has partnerships with CSU Pueblo, the state of Colorado, and Pueblo County.

Medical Marijuana Bill Moves Forward After More than Half of the Texas House Signs on

Families hold up photos of their kids who suffer from debilitating ailments, who they say could be helped by legalizing medical marijuana.  SOPHIE NOVACK

A bill to allow severely ill or disabled patients to use medical cannabis has growing, bipartisan support. But time is running out for passage.

UPDATE: After a big bipartisan push on and off the House floor Friday, Public Health Committee Chair Four Price, R-Amarillo, called an impromptu meeting to vote on HB 2107. The bill passed 7-2, with Price and Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, opposing. The measure now advances to the calendars committee, where Chair Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, can schedule the bill for debate on the House floor. The House has until May 11 to consider the legislation.