Few issues have garnered more attention from Americans in recent memory than the expansion of marijuana.

Marijuana's tug-of-war

Just a decade ago, based on a poll from Gallup, only around a third of respondents to its survey were in favor of seeing marijuana legalized on a national level. Yet, here were stand in 2015 with three major polls (Gallup, General Social Survey and Pew Research Center) all pointing to a majority of respondents being in favor of marijuana's nationwide legalization, at least by a slim margin. Focus solely on medical marijuana and the responses swing even more strongly into the "favorable" camp.

Senior Sergeant Richard Moore with some of the cannabis taken off Esperance streets.

The Esperance Police Station received a rather unusual telephone call late Friday night when a local woman decided to vent her frustration over of the lack of cannabis around town.

Friday night is typically a busy night for local coppers. But they weren't expecting a complaint from an upset drug user.

Senior Sergeant Richard Moore said the concerned resident was irate and angry when discussing her point of view with the police officer who took the call.

It was believed the woman was intoxicated. In a heated exchange with the officer, she wanted it known to the Esperance police just how hard they had made it to purchase cannabis around town.

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Pardon the horrible pun, but the marijuana industry is budding right before our eyes.

A NSW Greens MP has told a budget estimates hearing he broke the law by eating cannabis this morning, to prove a political point about hemp-based foods.

Jeremy Buckingham made the confession before asking Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair why it was illegal to consume hemp seed in New South Wales, stifling a potentially lucrative industry.

The ABC understands Mr Buckingham had eaten some certified organic hemp seeds before attending the hearing.

According to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, hemp is a source of protein, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.

Low-THC hemp can be grown in NSW under licence, but it is used for its fibres and oil, not for food.

Hunter Valley farmer Bob Doyle and his bumper hemp crop which he says has a huge future. Mr Doyle will make a presentation at the upcoming Byron Bioenergy Conference. Photo by Stuart Scott, The Maitland Mercury

A Hunter Valley grazier and well-known industrial hemp grower will address next week’s Byron Bioenergy Conference, to update northern rivers farmers on the fledgling hemp industry, describing hemp as ‘almost the perfect crop’.

But he says large-scale hemp-fibre processing is still some time off with a lack of large-scale processing plant.

SUPPORTERS have come out in force to back a Carrum Downs couple facing drug charges over the supply of medical cannabis.

Holding flags and banners calling for cannabis to be legalised, they were at Frankston Court today to support Matthew and Elizabeth Pallett in their legal battle.

The Palletts, who ran a “compassion club” that supplied medical cannabis, are facing charges including possessing, supplying and trafficking a drug of dependence (cannabis).

Mr Pallett successfully applied before magistrate Lou Hill for the matter to be adjourned to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 9.

The Palletts ultimately want the matter to go before a jury, where they are confident their pleas of not guilty will be successful.

Australian medical cannabis company MMJ PhytoTech Limited has just sold its first marijuana pills. The bad news: They are only available in Europe.

The capsules were sold in August via a Swiss-based subsidiary, Satipharm. 10 milligrams of the medication will set you back 89 euros (A$139.95).

The pills are registered as a dietary supplement in Germany. Their active ingredient, Cannabidiol (CBD), is made from a special medical cannabis strain and they do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that causes most of marijuana's psychological effects when smoked.

Australian medical cannabis company MMJ PhytoTech Limited has just sold its first marijuana pills. The bad news: They are only available in Europe.

The capsules were sold in August via a Swiss-based subsidiary, Satipharm. 10 milligrams of the medication will set you back 89 euros (A$139.95).

The pills are registered as a dietary supplement in Germany. Their active ingredient, Cannabidiol (CBD), is made from a special medical cannabis strain and they do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical that causes most of marijuana's psychological effects when smoked.

Australian medical marijuana company MMJ PhytoTech has generated its first revenues from sales of its cannabis pill.

The CBD (Cannabidiol) capsules, registered as a dietary supplement in Germany, started retailing in Europe in August for about 3 euros each ($4.70).

The company intends to produce a total 1 million of the Swiss-made capsules in 2015. The pills, only available in Europe, are sold online.

CANNABIS therapy has been a godsend for Jeremy Bester, who has had a devastating brain injury since he was six, says his mum, Lyn Cleaver.

Ms Cleaver has appealed to federal Parliament to approve a proposal to legitimise the growing of cannabis by “hundreds, if not thousands” of Tasmanians for medical use.

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on legalising medical cannabis last week recommended support for the Regulator of Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2014.

Ms Cleaver said a viral illness had left her son, 24, permanently brain damaged and suffering severe and uncontrolled epileptic seizures.