Dana Larsen poses for a photo at the launch of his book Cannabis in Canada: The Illustrated History.

Liberal MPs will soon be getting some interesting and fragrant mail.

Pot activist and former B.C. NDP leadership candidate Dana Larsen is sending a special package to the 184 politicians. The manila envelope contains his and illustrator Patrick Dowers’ new book Cannabis in Canada, the Illustrated History — as well as a gram (approx. $12-$15 worth) of medical-grade marijuana.

“It’s not legal to mail people weed ... but most of Canada’s marijuana laws are made to be broken, so that’s just another one,” said Larsen who added he is not worried about any legal backlash for the 6.5 ounces that will be sent out.

A bill seeking to soften penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use could have its first reading in Parliament on Thursday.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015 is listed under private members’ business on the Order Paper.

APNU+AFC MP Michael Carrington is to move a motion seeking approval of the National Assembly for the introduction and first reading of the bill in accordance with Standing Order No. 52 (1).

Touted as a wonder drug for the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain, medical marijuana use is exploding among Canada’s battle-scarred, fully insured, veterans and companies are rushing into the untapped market.

He has served in one capacity or another in seven conflicts, killed and captured countless enemy fighters and was a founding member of Canada’s top-secret counterterrorism unit, Joint Task Force 2.

But Kevin Whitenect, 48, is coming out of the shadows for his newest mission: that of “brand ambassador” for a Toronto-based medical marijuana company, CannaConnect.

It's been called "marijuana on steroids."

And it comes with a THC concentration far beyond anything a run-of-the-mill joint would offer.

With that potency, along with the dangers from its production, shatter is offering police and policy makers a new set of challenges, perhaps particularly as the federal government moves toward legalizing marijuana.

"It's the highly variable [tetrahydrocannabinol] concentration that you see where a lot of people get into dangers," says Matthew Young, a senior research and policy analyst at the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

The Marijuana Business is Not Yet Free in Colorado

When Barack Obama was originally campaigning for the presidency in 2008, he indicated that he would take a more hands-off approach in terms of states legalizing marijuana (medical or otherwise).

For a long while, it looked as though the Drug Enforcement Agency hadn’t received the memo from Obama. Like so many other campaign promises, Obama was breaking this one as well, with federal agents continuing to raid marijuana dispensaries, even where it had been legalized by state law.

Since Colorado essentially legalized marijuana in 2012 – which included recreational use – the federal government has surprisingly been less active raiding dispensaries, although they have not completely stopped.

Cowetan Stacey Wilson hopes to see in-state growing of medical cannabis that can treat her seizure disorder. She has a card that allows her to possess low-THC cannabidiol oil, but the oil is prohibitively expensive.

The Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis has voted against recommending in-state cultivation of marijuana to produce the low-THC that is now legal to possess in Georgia by those with certain medical conditions. 

And Gov. Nathan Deal, who has expressed skepticism about in-state growing of medical marijuana throughout the entire discussion, has come out against it again.

A ‘drafting error’ in California’s revision to its medicinal marijuana law could leave established growers like the “Sisters of the Valley” without a crop and out of business.

Sister Kate and Sister Darcey from Merced in California have been producing salves and tonics made with cannabis.

According to their website sistersofcbd.com, the sisters are not members of a religious order but they say they are on a spiritual quest to heal the sick with their medicinal cannabis cures.

They have produced a variety of products made from the cannabinoids or CBD’s found in the marijuana. Their plants do not contain THC, the substance that creates the marijuana high

According to an analysis by NORML, about 44 percent of federal marijuana inmates had no or very minimal criminal histories prior to their conviction, and over a third are over the age of 40.

AUSTIN, Texas — Two men serving life sentences for marijuana-related convictions were among the dozens of nonviolent drug offenders who recently had their sentences commuted by President Barack Obama.

While advocates for reform of the three-decade war on drugs applaud Obama’s efforts to free hundreds from unfair sentences, some also fear the president hasn’t gone far enough to change federal laws that leave thousands more imprisoned, with some still facing life in prison.

With marijuana now legal in some form throughout 23 states, the number of Americans who fatally overdosed on the drug last year was significant: 

I don't often use superlatives, but it's easy to say that 2016 will be the most significant year yet in the battle to repeal marijuana prohibition in the United States.

Up until now, the two biggest years were 1996, when California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, and 2012, when Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older.

2016 will likely comprise a cornucopia of cannabis policy advances, which I'll enumerate in the form of predictions.

Federal Policies