Nanaimo-based producer Tilray got a licence to produce cannabis oils from Health Canada in August. The federal regulator is letting licensed producers make – and eventually sell – fresh marijuana and cannabis oil as well as dried marijuana in light of a Supreme Court decision that patients have a right to these forms of the drug.

No rules require disclosure when they toke up during a trial

The B.C. Supreme Courthouse was abuzz — jurors getting high? Lawyers grabbing a toke? Judges mellowing out?

Vancouver’s downtown glass ziggurat of justice might look like an oversized greenhouse, but pot friendly?

Now that medical marijuana is the talk of the town, with dispensaries as popular as coffee shops and two mainstream political parties willing to let people spark up their bongs, the potential side-effects are becoming more obvious.

What do you do with a juror who has a medical prescription for dope and insists on using his or her medication during deliberations?

A Kamloops doctor could become the proprietor of the city’s first medical marijuana grow operation.Neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Brownlee sees the grow op as both a business and research opportunity.Brownlee opened the Welcome Back MRI and Pain Management Centre in 2008 and while he operates on things like brain tumours, the vast majority of his business is dedicated to managing chronic pain — specifically back pain.Back pain is one of the most difficult things to treat as it’s not always apparent where the pain originates and not always solved with surgery, he says.Brownlee would like to open a medical clinic dedicated to studying the effectiveness of marijuana in pain management in conjunction to the grow op.“As a physician...

KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 29, 2015 / Laguna Blends Inc. (the "Company" or "Laguna") (CNSX: LAG) is pleased to announce that it has received approval from Health Canada for three additional powdered flavours: PRO369 Chocolate Banana, Mixed Berry and Vanilla Caramel. On Sept. 22nd, 2015 Laguna announced that it had received approval for Pro369 Tropical Powder.

The Minister of Health has granted Laguna a product license along with a Natural Product Number ("NPN") for all four of the Pro369 Flavours. They are all listed under the same NPN.

Laguna intends to market the listed four powdered flavours of its unique hemp proteins through its planned affiliate network.

A new study by researchers at the University of Victoria and UBC suggests pot is getting a bad rap as a gateway drug.

The study indicates cannabis can actually be a safer substitute for potentially more dangerous drugs like prescription opiates, alcohol and illicit substances.

"While cannabis is not benign, most research suggests that it's safer and less addictive than many substances, particularly prescription opiates," said lead author Philippe Lucas in a written statement.

"So research suggesting that cannabis substitution could reduce harms and lessen the public health and safety impact of alcohol and other drugs has significant policy implications."

Lucas says for some people, it might even be an "exit drug" to addiction.

In August, researchers announced they had genetically engineered yeast to produce the powerful painkiller hydrocodone. Now comes the perhaps inevitable sequel: Scientists have created yeasts that can make important constituents of marijuana, including the main psychoactive compound, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

Synthetic versions of THC are available in pill form under brand names like Marinol and Cesamet; they are generally used to treat nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite caused by HIV infection or cancer chemotherapy.

Genetically modified yeast could make THC in a cheaper and more streamlined way than traditional chemical synthesis.

VANCOUVER -- Local governments in British Columbia have declared they have the authority to licence medical marijuana dispensaries, defying the federal government's opposition to regulation of the illegal stores.

Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention voted in favour of a resolution endorsing the position that they have the power to regulate pot dispensaries.

The resolution states that an ongoing court challenge of Ottawa's medical marijuana laws has created uncertainty while pot shops proliferate and cause problems in B.C.

Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal said the vote sends a strong message to the federal government, which has not provided reasonable legal access to medical marijuana despite court rulings requiring them to do so.

A Vancouver marijuana dispensary is offering some unusual perks in an effort to get voters to cast a ballot for the Oct. 19 federal election — a chance to see American rapper Snoop Dogg perform, and a shot at winning free pot.

Danny Kresnyak said he's spearheading Eden Medicinal Society's get-out-the-vote campaign because he believes marijuana policy is a federal election issue.

"We're going to have people hitting the street with hand bills; there's going to be posters up," said  Kresnyak.

Eden Medicinal Society is offering two prizes as a voting incentive:

When marijuana dispensaries started popping up with greater frequency around Vancouver a few years ago, some sections of the city began to resemble Amsterdam. On Broadway, West 4th Avenue, and Granville Street, for example, three or more storefronts have established themselves on single blocks.

A worker walks on the site of greenhouses under construction in Maple Ridge, B.C. Owners of the greenhouse have applied to Health Canada to grow medical marijuana at the facility.
(DARRYL DYCK For The Globe and Mail)

When Craig Speirs was first elected as a councillor in the quasi-rural community of Maple Ridge five terms ago, marijuana was a minor issue the police dealt with.

Now, Mr. Speirs and his fellow councillors have nine well-capitalized businesses applying to start marijuana-production facilities in their city. Two are already in operation, even though they do not have Health Canada permits and are technically illegal.