Recreational marijuana is going to be big business in this state. Pot-infused chocolates. “Canna-tourism.” Estimates put annual sales at $1 billion once the industry gets going. And with so much money blowing around, and significant health and safety issues at stake, it is vital that the state get regulation right.

That’s why lawmakers should approve a bill that would expand the size of the commission that will oversee the marijuana trade, broaden its expertise, and make it less susceptible to influence, or “capture,” by the industry.

A Las Vegas Democrat is seeking to start recreational marijuana sales in Nevada at least a few weeks earlier than planned - in case something extends the state’s current timeline, he said at a hearing last Friday.

Sen. Tick Segerblom wants pot sales to begin by mid-June.

State regulators are already working toward a July 1 launch, which would be six months ahead of a voter-mandated deadline.

The state will be ready by then to license medical marijuana dispensaries to ring up the state’s first sales of pot bought for fun - not treatment, Department of Taxation Director Deonne Contine said.

Ganja lobbyist and director of the Cannabis Licensing Authority, Delano Seiveright, has expressed suspicion over the latest data provided by the National Council on Drug Abuse about a 50 per cent increase in children seeking medical treatment after using the weed over the past two years.

"The Ministry of Health has bought into the propaganda data which has gone against data showing global trends which do not support findings in Jamaica.

Government to announce marijuana will be legal by July 1, 2018.

Federal government ministers are keeping mum on the details of the Liberals' marijuana legalization plan, as provinces consider the legislative and regulatory burden that will fall to them when pot is legalized.

As CBC News first reported Sunday night, the Liberal government will announce legislation next month that will legalize marijuana in Canada by July 1, 2018.

Publicly traded medical marijuana companies got a bounce Monday after news reports provided clarity on the federal government’s plan for marijuana, suggesting it will be legal for pot smokers in time to celebrate Canada Day next year.

Ottawa plans to introduce marijuana legalization legislation in mid-April, fulfilling the Liberals’ promise to do so this spring. That will be enough time to enact legalization by Canada Day 2018, CBC reported Sunday night.

From the outside, it looked like a typical upscale cocktail party. Tucked on a Venice walk street just a stone’s throw from Superba, this fête was complete with an outdoor bar, food stylishly served in Chinese takeout containers and, at the middle of the dining room, a buffet. 

Centerpieces constructed from mounds of weed nuggets were displayed in glass jars and surrounded by platters of “adult” brownies and carefully placed displays of cannabis breath mints, macarons and chocolates. At the kitchen counter, a man in a suit jacket and collared shirt taught a meandering group of visitors how to dab. 

If you're looking to follow news and advocacy about an anticipated Vermont legislature vote this week on legalizing marijuana, a search for the latest tweets that use the combined terms "Vermont" and "marijuana" will for many Twitter users yield zero results.

Same goes for searches for tweets using the terms "pot," "weed" or "cannabis."

The latest results for "jackass" and "jerk" – words generally printed without censorship by news outlets – also yield a blank page with the message: "Nothing came up for that search, which is a little weird. Maybe check what you searched for and try again."

Colorado is considering an unusual strategy to protect its nascent marijuana industry from a potential federal crackdown, even at the expense of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax collections.

A bill pending in the Legislature would allow cannabis growers and retailers to reclassify their recreational marijuana as medical marijuana if a change in federal law or enforcement occurs.

It’s the boldest attempt yet by a U.S. marijuana state to avoid federal intervention in its cannabis market.

As momentum to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island builds, the town council held a special town meeting Tuesday to look at what can be expected should marijuana for recreational use become legal in the state. 

Joee Lindbeck, assistant attorney general, visited the town hall to share her insight into zoning for marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes. 

“I will say this,” Lindbeck began, “your town has been a leader in this state about zoning ordinances of medical marijuana.”

The Liberal government will announce legislation next month that will legalize marijuana in Canada by July 1, 2018.

CBC News has learned that the legislation will be announced during the week of April 10 and will broadly follow the recommendation of a federally appointed task force that was chaired by former liberal Justice Minister Anne McLellan.

Bill Blair, the former Toronto police chief who has been stickhandling the marijuana file for the government, briefed the Liberal caucus on the roll-out plan and the legislation during caucus meetings this weekend.

Provinces to control sales

The federal government will be in charge of making sure the country's marijuana supply is safe and secure and Ottawa will license producers.