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UPDATE – 6/16/16 @ 10pm The founder of Care By Design, Dennis Hunter, was released from Sonoma County jail tonight on no bond and with no charges. His family thanks all of the medical marijuana patients, caregivers, and industry activists who stepped forward and showed their support. “This fight is not over but it is definitely swaying,” says Mr. Hunter’s son. UPDATE – 6/15/16 @ 9pm One of the organization’s founding patient members was arrested and charged with felony for manufacturing a controlled substance by chemical extraction (a law created for meth labs); and is being …

Governor John Kasich has signed into law a bill that will make Ohio the 25th medical marijuana state, although the new law is not as comprehensive as a now-defunct ballot proposal would have been. Under the new law created by House Bill 523, home cultivation of cannabis and the smoking of medical marijuana remain prohibited — although whole plant cannabis will be available at dispensaries for vaporization purposes, making the “no smoking” limitations a policing quandary. New Bill Fast-Tracked to Avoid MPP’s Neccessary Revisions The bill was fast-tracked through both chambers of the Ohio legislature last month in a …

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed a new law on Monday that will expand the state’s medical marijuana program by allowing patients with additional qualifying conditions, including chronic pain, access to medical cannabis in the Green Mountain State. In a signing statement issued Monday, Shumlin said that by allowing medical marijuana for chronic pain in Vermont, doctors now have an alternative treatment to highly addictive opiate-based pain medication. “At a time when opiate addiction is ravaging our state and drug companies continue to urge our doctors to pass out painkillers like candy, we need to find a more practical …

Colorado Gov John Hickenlooper signed “Jack’s Law“ on Monday which allow students to receive medical marijuana treatments on school property. The new law allows any preschool, primary or secondary student in Colorado, who holds a valid recommendation for medical marijuana, to receive non-smokable cannabis treatments at school, on the bus or at a school sponsored event. A designated caregiver (usually a parent or private caregiver) must bring the medication to the student, administer it without creating a distraction, and then remove all excess medication. Students themselves will continue to be banned from possessing cannabis in any form …

Nearly 90% of Americans support allowing medical marijuana use if prescribed by a doctor, according to the latest findings from a Quinnipiac University National poll released Tuesday. Among those surveyed, 54% also support the full legalization of marijuana use in the United States. Support for medical marijuana crossed party lines and demographic groups. The lowest level of support per demographic surveyed was among Republicans, where 81% of of those surveyed favor allowing medical marijuana. Ninety percent of Democrats support medical marijuana, as do 92% of independents. “Ninety percent of Democrats support medical marijuana, as do 92% of independents.” Voters also …

Lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly gave final approval to a bill that will extend the expiration of the state’s medical cannabis pilot program by two years. The bill, which awaits final approval from Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, also adds post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and terminal illness to the list of conditions that qualify to receive medical marijuana. Senate Bill 10 was co-sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), who was the driving force behind House Bill 1, the act that created the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program in 2013. When the bill was …

More taxes may be soon be imposed on medical marijuana in California under two separate proposals that were approved by lawmakers last week, one in the Senate and one in the Assembly. Both bills will now be considered by members of the opposite chamber. Senate Bill 987 Imposes an Additional 15% Sales Tax Last week, lawmakers in the California Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve imposing a 15% sales tax on medical marijuana, passing the measure by a 27-10 vote on June 1. The bill, Senate Bill 987, now heads to the Assembly for consideration.

Although Eugene Monroe is a three-time Pro-Bowl football player, he isn’t exactly well known, especially outside the NFL – that is until now. In Baltimore, he is known as one of the guys who keeps Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco from being annihilated by defensive ends. Recently, Monroe is getting more attention in the public after becoming the first active NFL player to openly advocate for the use of medical cannabis to treat chronic pain and head injuries. Monroe has donated $80,000 to Realm of Caring, an advocacy group that is working with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, …

A very restrictive medical marijuana bill, known as House Bill 523, is close to becoming law in Ohio. The measure cleared the Ohio Senate by just three votes, and the House followed by approving Senate changes 67-28. In an interview with the Late Show’s Stephen Colbert last November, Gov. Kasich said he would support medical marijuana legislation as long as it was properly written and there was a need for it. “If the experts come back and say, ‘We need this for people who have seizures,’ I’m for that,” Kasich told Colbert. Lawmakers hope the bill is …

Sponsored by the CWCBExpo The East Coast is the next frontier in the development and growth of the medical and legalized cannabis industry. The Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo), held June 15-17 at the Javits Center in New York, is an event designed to promote entrepreneurial, educational and expansion opportunities. “CWCBExpo will help healthcare professionals and business owners navigate these new waters.” All under one roof, in the financial and media capital of the world, attendees will gain unprecedented knowledge, essential tools and establish solid business contacts to grow their existing business …