As the Democratic National Convention opens in Philadelphia today, concerned cannabis consumers can’t help but wonder if Hillary Clinton has our best interests in mind.

For the sake of the future of drug policy in America, we’ve decided to critically examine her past statements on cannabis, as well as major votes for drug policy reform, in an effort to find out where she stands — at least officially — and what a Hillary Clinton administration might mean for cannabis in the United States.

States that legalized marijuana as a medical alternative saw a drop in prescription drug use, according to a new study published in July in Health Affairs — suggesting that medical marijuana may be one way to combat the United States’ deadly opioid epidemic.

The researchers, a father-daughter team at the University of Georgia, combed through three years of prescription data filled under Medicare Part D between 2010 to 2013. Then they looked specifically at nine conditions for which marijuana can be used as an alternative treatment: anxiety, depression, glaucoma, nausea, pain, psychosis, seizures, sleep disorders, and spasticity.

An effort is forming to oppose ballot initiatives that would legalize medial marijuana, saying it would lead to increased use of the drug and, eventually, full legalization.

The Coalition for Safer Arkansas Communities held an informational meeting Friday that included a message from Terry Benham of Impact Management, who is managing the group’s campaign, Keep Arkansas Safe. The main speaker was Little Rock native and Colorado resident Henny Laster of Smart Colorado, a group that opposes marijuana legalization in that state.

Thursday afternoon, officials in the small town of Hugo, Colorado, told residents they’d found THC—yup, that would be the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana—in local wells. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment discouraged residents from drinking, cooking with, or bathing in the water, but subsequent tests revealed that there was not, in fact, THC in the water supply. Experts are still investigating, but it sounds like this is a case of false positives. 

Four doctors are suing after their medical licenses were suspended for allegedly prescribing too much marijuana to patients. Courthouse News reported that doctors Gentry Dunlop,  Robert Maiocco, Deborah Kaye Parr, and William Tyler Stone filed complaints against the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment saying that there were no limits on the books for how much of the substance doctors can prescribe their patients, and that the Board used a “secret policy” to make their decision.

Not long ago, whenever professional athletes dabbled with marijuana, it was bad news: multigame suspensions, ruined careers, endless stoner jokes. Not anymore. Just take a look at this week’s Sports Illustrated, which dedicated its cover story to former NFL running back Ricky Williams’ relationship with cannabis. Williams’ 11 NFL seasons were marked by repeated suspensions for positive marijuana tests, hand-wringing, and forced contrition; now the big story is that Williams has become an outspoken marijuana advocate and co-founder of the world’s first cannabis-friendly gym, Power Plant Fitness and Wellness.

A new study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides an in-depth examination of marijuana use in the United States, as well as data regarding the public’s perception of the risks associated with the drug.

Using data collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2012 to 2014, SAMHSA analyzed various regions around the country and within states to determine the rates of marijuana use and “perceptions of risks of harm” associated with the drug’s use in different parts of the U.S.

Paraguay and Brazil authorities say they destroyed nearly 67 metric tons of marijuana in a joint operation, but the figure pales in comparison to Paraguay's estimated pot production.

Authorities of the neighboring countries found and destroyed 57.8 metric tons of loose marijuana and a further 9.1 metric tons of pressed marijuana over 12 days of aerial and ground operations, Paraguay's Anti-Narcotics Secretariat (Secretaría Nacional Antidrogas - SENAD) reported.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has come under intense fire in recent days over internal emails released by WikiLeaks that appear to show the party favoring Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign over that of Sen. Bernie Sanders. Wasserman Schultz will no longer have a major speaking role at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week, and some veteran Dems are now calling for her resignation for the sake of party unity.

Minister Costa says legislation doesn't have enough support.

A bill on legalising cannabis will not be voted on until after parliament's summer recess in September, Walter Verini, an MP for Premier Matteo Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD), said on Monday.

Some 2,000 amendments have been presented to the bill, which is set to be debated on the floor of the Lower House on Monday, mostly by lawmakers opposed to it.

"Today we will start the debate (on the bill) without any hypocrisy, but the the examination of the bill will be postponed until September and then the parties will have to decide what approach to take," said Verini, the PD leader in the Lower House's justice committee.