New research from the Colorado School of Medicine, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlights the dangers of using synthetic marijuana, marketed under such brands as “Spice” or “K2.” The study reports that the CO Department of Public Health and Environment was informed of an exceptionally sizable increase in the number of ER visits related to synthetic pot in the Denver metro area.

Canada is willing to purchase marijuana from Jamaica, a deal that could potentially earn billions of dollars for Jamaica annually, since its cost of production is significantly lower. Estimates show the number of Canadian medical marijuana patients increasing from 50,000 now, up to 400,000 to 500,000 patients over the next four to five years.

Bill Gates told Buzzfeed he voted yes on I-502 to legalize recreational marijuana in his home state of Washington in 2012, but would not answer if he’s used cannabis. “It’s an experiment, and it’s probably good to have a couple states try it out to see before you make that national policy,” he said.

Although a recent poll showed 76 percent of Minnesotans are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, cannabis activists are planning to take their fight to the Minnesota State Capitol again next month after Gov. Mark Dayton said he was not ready to allow patients access to this medicine.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the Las Vegas Sun it’s time to look at medical marijuana, although he’s never tried it: “I think we need to take a real close look at this. I think that there’s some medical reasons for marijuana.” Reid admitted, “If you’d asked me this question a dozen years ago, it would have been easy to answer – I would have said no, because (marijuana) leads to other stuff, but I can’t say that anymore.”

The city council of Italian city of Turin has approved a motion in favor of legalizing cannabis on Tuesday, becoming the first major city in the country to make the proposal to allow marijuana to be prescribed for medical reasons.

Dutch and British scientists say CBD in marijuana could be more effective than leading medications for psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia since, unlike a vast majority of prescription medicines, it appears to have no noticeable side effects and no lethal dose.

Adults, from parents to baby boomers, are lining up to purchase recreational cannabis in Colorado. Many are giving marijuana a try for the first time ever or in many years. Maybe this will help influence cannabis-related initiatives during the 2014 and 2016 elections.

The Wyoming chapter of NORML submitted a proposed initiative to the WY Secretary of State’s Office for voters to decide in the 2016 election, but it must clear hurdles with the state. Wyomingites with debilitating medical conditions would be allowed to grow 12 pot plants and all adults over age 21 could have marijuana for recreational use.

Ladybud profiles The Undergreen Railroad, a new organization forming in response to a need that is becoming more and more common: help in relocating cannabis consumers to a safe and compassionate (at least medically) state. The UR helps these people network, find the right state, research housing and schools and other valuable services.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN he could envision players using medical marijuana in states where it’s legal. “I don’t know what’s going to develop as far as the next opportunity for medicine to evolve and to help either deal with pain or help deal with injuries, but we will continue to support the evolution of medicine,” Goodell said.

France’s ministry of health announced Thursday that it has approved Sativex, a cannabis-based mouth spray produced by GW pharmaceutricals. Sativex will be available in France in 2015 and will bring the nation into line with 17 other European countries, which allow marijuana to be prescribed for medical reasons.

On January 6th, Bill O’Reilly shared with Fox News cohorts Juan Williams and Mary Katharine Ham that apparently the ones getting arrested for cannabis are “only dealers, Juan. There’s no mass arrests of users.” Apparently, the FBI’s information that 87% of the 750,000 arrested last year for marijuana was for simple marijuana possession is wrong… Bill says they aren’t arrested, they “get a ticket.” Reality check please.

Although New Mexico state Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino wants to introduce a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in NM similar to Colorado’s model to address the failed war on drugs, Governor Susana Martinez is vocally opposing Ortiz y Pino’s plan.

A French research team says pregnenolone, a precursor to all steroid hormones that was thought to be otherwise inactive,  appears to reduce THC intoxication, memory loss and increased appetite. The team says a lot more research is required and don’t recommend buying pregnenolone, which is currently sold over the Internet as a way to boost hormones, such as testosterone.   

BBC One documentary filmmakers captured footage for their upcoming Dolphins: Spy in the Pod series showing young dolphins intentionally chewing on puffer fish to get high and enter a trancelike state. They even follow weed, err puffer fish, etiquette and pass it around. Intelligent animals indeed!

When recreational marijuana sales in Colorado become legal next week, Denver’s new marijuana czar will be ready. Ashley Kilroy was appointed Denver’s Executive Director of Marijuana Policy by Mayor Michael Hancock and will oversee all marijuana-related activities of various city agencies, employees, boards and commissions.

Elizabeth Onheiber dives deep into Wisconsin medical marjuana politics, covering politicians such as state Senator Leah Vukmir who blocked MMJ bills in 2009 and 2012, saying “I’ve opposed it in the past and I will oppose it again.” State senator Jon Erpenbach is extremely frustrated given a Fox News poll in May showed 85% of Americans support medical marijuana laws.

January 1st, 2014 is rapidly approaching as the city of Denver gears up for its highly anticipated retail marijuana market. Colorado of course already has an established medical...

Health.com recently used “government data on smoking (and quit) rates, smoking bans and restrictions, cigarette taxes and sales, and deaths attributable to smoking” to identify the top...