The Liberal government is making a hash of marijuana legalization by embarking on a needless consultation exercise led by a task force of well-meaning volunteers.

Four U.S. states made cannabis legal in 2012 and others are vocally following suit.

Canada, which has had a legal medical scheme for more than 15 years, has had calls for legalization for half a century.

The 1969 Le Dain Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, set up by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's dad, recommended after three years' study that the country decriminalize cannabis.

There have been all kinds of smart people and a broad range of groups - mayors, chiefs of police, former attorneys general, medical officers of health - who have since echoed the message.

Thailand’s Minister of Justice, General Paiboon Koomchaya, recently ignited a heated debate when he proposed re-scheduling methamphetamine as a ‘medicine’ rather than a ‘narcotic’ drug. But given that one of the Minister’s objectives is to avoid punishing people who use drugs, in particular ensuring they do not end up in prison,’ the proposal to reschedule is essentially a ‘red herring’.

Less presidential nominee, more "Mental Organism Designed As America's King"

Marvel has obviously been scouring the news for inspiration regarding the latest instalment of one of its comic book series.

A new issue titled Spider-Gwen Annual #1 appears to reimagine a classic supervillain as presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The U.S. could soon be one step closer to allowing marijuana sales at your local drugstore. But while that might mean good news for patients, it could also overturn 20 years of development in the medical marijuana industry.

As the provincial government prepares for legal marijuana sales, pharmacists say they welcome the opportunity to dispense the drug for medicinal purposes — just don’t get them into the recreational market.

The Canadian Pharmacists Association released its position on medical marijuana in April, stating that, given that there is a growing number of Canadians obtaining medical marijuana licences with minimal oversight by health-care professionals, it’s important pharmacists play a front-line role in patient management and dispensing of medical marijuana.

A Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer recently named to a task force on legalizing and regulating marijuana says one of the biggest hurdles they face is dealing with impairment.

"I do believe it's going to be a big concern," Supt. Marlene Jesso told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show.

"That's something we'll have to look at as a task force, and see if we can come up with certain ways and different ways to be able to do that, because that, I think, may be a major issue in relation to the legalization of marijuana."

 It's known as Mary Jane, ganja, Chronic and even the sticky icky and has been featured in countless movies, including one that warned of its dangers, "Reefer Madness."

Now, marijuana is the subject of a contemporary history and science exhibit.

"Altered State: Marijuana in California," a one-of-its-kind museum exhibition focusing on the topic, is open through the summer at the Oakland Museum of California.

One afternoon earlier this month, Masamitsu Yamamoto showed up at the Tokyo District Court to attend a session of his criminal trial for an alleged violation of the Cannabis Control Law.

The 58-year-old resident of Kanagawa Prefecture, however, does not fit the typical profile of a drug case defendant.

The former restaurant chef has advanced liver cancer and was arrested on suspicion of drug possession last December. He said he had never run into trouble with the law before then, and maintains he used cannabis as a medicine of last resort after exhausting all other options and failing in his attempts to get access to legal cannabis treatment.

“I want to be saved, that’s all,” Yamamoto, dressed in a light blue suit, said after the hearing.

Bolivia Police seized about 1.5 tons of marijuana, one of the biggest this year, that was destined for Chile and held that the drug was valued in international markets at $ 2.2 million, reported the government on Friday.

"Staff of the departmental head of Potosi (southwest) carried out the hijacking of 1,485 kilos 600 grams of marijuana," said Minister of Government (Interior), Carlos Romero, showing hundreds of packages in the form of bricks.

He added, according to the government news agency ABI- that "illegal goods in foreign markets have a cost of $ 2,227,500, taking into account that one kilo outside Bolivia is worth $1,500."

The seizure is one of the biggest this year.

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

While we’ll be the first to admit that it would be pretty legendary to simply lay around for a couple months getting stoned on Uncle Sam’s dime, unfortunately the reports that have been circulating the Internet for the past couple of months suggesting that “NASA Will Pay You $18,000 to Stay in Bed and Smoke Weed for 70 Straight Days” are completely bogus and need to be cleared up once and for all.