There are far more concerning drugs than weed.

Homelessness is on the rise in Colorado Springs and anecdotally, we often hear that legal marijuana drives the trend. The implication is twofold. First, that poor people move here to access their drug of choice. Second, that getting high leads to people losing jobs and then houses.

Vermont is on the verge of becoming the ninth state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but, being Vermont, it is taking an earthier, grow-it-yourself approach — one that could become a model for others.

While just a few years ago, it was still taboo to talk about legalising cannabis in Morocco and Tunisia, nowadays, everyone is talking about it.

Thanks to a law that was reformed just recently, but which even now punishes almost any contact with hemp with a 1 to 25-year prison sentence, Tunisia’s jails are still full of cannabis users. These draconian punishments, which were introduced in 1992 under ex-dictator Ben Ali, were amended very slightly at the end of March by the new Tunisian government following massive public criticism. Judges are now allowed to grant a pardon for a first offence.

New appointment elevates leading producer’s commitment to GMP standards

Wana Brands–Colorado’s No. 1 edibles brand–has expanded its ranks with the addition of progressive culinary professional Todd Garston as Operations Director. Wana Brands co-owner Nancy Whiteman made the announcement. Garston is based in Wana Brands’ headquarters in Boulder.

Maryland signed off on its medical marijuana program four years ago, and it has yet to deliver its first dose, but there is evidence that public acceptance of the drug has already had an impact on the state.

In July of 2012, police discovered dozens of marijuana plants in Nick Dominick's backyard, and he admitted he'd grown them so he could self-medicate.

"Back pain issues... I had surgery on my neck for cervical fusion and I can't take medications and pain pills and stuff like that," said Dominick at the time.

But Anne Arundel County police saw it differently---a virtual field of marijuana, concealed by a six foot high fence with lattice and black plastic sheeting all located within a thousand feet of Arundel High School.

Summer is here, and that means tourists are descending on the state in search of mountain viewing, whale sightings and, sometimes, marijuana.

This summer marks the state's first tourist season with marijuana shops up and running. For travelers heading to Alaska, here's what to expect, do and avoid.

What you can do 

Anyone 21 years or older can buy and carry up to an ounce of marijuana. You can give and receive up to an ounce for free.

But the state still has some places where marijuana is not allowed — like national parks and some private property.

The lowdown on retail shops 

Marijuana stores have opened in many Alaska communities, from Fairbanks to Sitka.

Jay Schlauch’s conviction for peddling pot haunted him for nearly a quarter century.

The felony prevented him from landing jobs, gave his wife doubts about tying the knot and cast a shadow over his typically sunny outlook on life.

So when an opportunity arose to reduce his record to a misdemeanor under the voter-approved law that legalized recreational marijuana last year, Schlauch wasted little time getting to court.

“Why should I be lumped in with, you know, murderers and rapists and people who really deserve to get a felony?” he asked.

Adelanto, California, is what’s known as a “drive-through town.” It’s a dusty plot of desert surrounded by Joshua trees and dilapidated factories. Few outsiders stay long.

Now, the sleepy city in San Bernardino County wants to establish itself as a hotbed for large-scale cultivation and innovation in weed.

There are 360 acres zoned for growing medical marijuana in Adelanto (recreational marijuna is newly legal and California has yet to give licenses for growing it). It’s among the first struggling desert cities to turn to weed as a cure for its economic woes, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Illinois is well into its second year of sales for medical marijuana and in that time, the state has decriminalized the drug and there have been serious talks of legalizing recreational weed.

Medical cannabis has been legal in Illinois since 2013, but it hasn't always been and still isn't, perceived in a positive way.

"You know there probably are some uses for it," recovering addict Elizabeth Price said. "I think we could be creating addicts where we don't need to. Marijuana has always been called the gateway drug and now we're going to have doctors dispensing it. That's how the heroin epidemic got so bad, is doctors were dispensing [opioids]."

Signatures are being gathered to try and ask Missourians if medical and recreational marijuana should be legalized, regardless of age. Steve Leck of Springfield wants to get the issue on the November 2018 ballot. It also aims to allow people to drive under the influence of marijuana.

Efforts underway to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in Missouri

“We believe that it should be treated no differently than alcohol in terms of any adult should be able to consume whatever they want as long as they are not affecting anybody else or harming anyone else,” says Leck.