Poland's lower house of parliament, which is controlled by the conservatives, on Thursday voted to make medicinal marijuana legal under certain circumstances.

The EU member follows in the steps of the Czech Republic, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, as well as 23 US states and Uruguay, which in 2013 became the first country to make cannabis entirely legal.

Four hundred and forty lawmakers voted in favour—with two against and one abstention—of legislation to allow prescription-only cannabis-based medicine to be made at pharmacies using imported ingredients.

The law, which still needs to be approved by the senate and the Polish president to come into force, excludes the recreational use of cannabis.

As Albania gears up for elections, one huge challenge facing the Balkan country has been low on the campaign agendas: the scourge of its cannabis fields, which threatens to hinder EU accession.

Morocco may be the leading source of cannabis resin, but mountainous Albania is the main supplier of herbal cannabis trafficked to the European Union, says the bloc’s law enforcement agency, Europol.

Despite Albania’s attempts to crack down on the illicit but lucrative trade, recent international reports said the scourge is yet to be brought under control – and that the criminal gangs behind it are escaping justice.

“All diseases run into one, old age.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

A recent study in mice sparked eye-catching headlines like, “Memory Loss From Old Age Could Be Reversed By Smoking Marijuana.” The idea is alluring, especially given the toll cognitive decline takes as we age: instead of leaving you dazed and confused, THC might actually help restore cognitive function in older individuals.

For 21 years, The Madrid Global Marihuana March has been filling the streets of the city with pleasant smoke and more tangible and urgent demands. A good atmosphere where people ask and hope for change that is now felt imminent. 

Each year, for the past twenty-one years, the Global Marihuana March (abbreviated to MMM2017 in Spanish) brought thousands of people into the streets of Madrid, mixing celebration and people’s demands. Different currents from the cannabis movement tried to convey unity and demanded legal change, in a moment when many regulation processes are in abundance, and it seems as though no one wants to be left out of the picture.

These pictures show the £2 million-a-year cannabis crop grown behind a disused NUCLEAR BUNKER built to protect civic dignitaries during the Cold War.

The subterranean 20-room compound was fitted with nuclear blast doors, making the site almost completely impenetrable, and cops had to wait outside during a midnight raid to pounce on the ringleaders.

The former Ministry of Defence structure was built in the 1980s to shelter local government officials should there be a nuclear attack, but was commandeered by organised criminals Martin Fillery, 45, Plamen Nguyen, aged 27, and Ross Winter, 30.

(but MDMA use is on the rise)

CANNABIS REMAINS THE most commonly used illegal drug among young adults in Ireland, according to the latest European drugs report.

The 2017 report by the Lisbon-based European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) measures the prevalence of drug use, addiction, treatment and deaths in European countries.

It draws on data from various surveys and reports published in recent years.

The report found that cannabis is the most prevalent drug used among young adults in the country, with 13.8% of 15-34-year-olds saying they have taken the drug in the last year.

This is by far the most commonly used drug among this age group.

Annalise Lujan was in the middle of a gymnastics meet in April when she started vomiting and lost all feeling in her legs. 

As the 12-year-old fell into a crippling seizure, her parents rushed her to the hospital, and she was put into a medically induced coma to save her brain from damage. 

Annalise was then flown to a specialist unit at Phoenix Children's Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a rare epilepsy syndrome, known as febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES).

The condition causes Annalise to have seizures continuously, which can lead to brain injury and even death. It meant doctors couldn't bring her out of the coma until they had an effective method to prevent her seizures.

Nicky Haynes has almost forgotten the pain she used to be in. She has been taking Sativex, a drug derived from cannabis, for about five years and says it has hugely improved her life. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, and her condition progressively worsened to the point where she couldn’t sleep, where reaching for a glass of water would trigger a spasm and she was in constant pain. The first time she took Sativex was during a long car journey, fearful that she wouldn’t be able to walk when she got out. But she was able to walk better than she had for a long time.

Germany is becoming a hotbed for Canadian cannabis producers and we think this trend is just getting started. 

Germany, the largest country in the European Union started 2017 by legalizing medical cannabis creating a major opportunity for cannabis businesses across the world. The legislation also will make cannabis available to people suffering from serious illnesses and available through health insurance plans.

These factors have led to a surge in the number of licensed Canadian medical cannabis producers focused on this market and we want to highlight some of the recent deals.

Aurora Makes Major Acquisition

The Initial Objective of the Collaboration is the Introduction of OWC's Active Cannabinoid-Based Topical Psoriasis Cream to the German Market.

OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp. (OTC: OWCP) and mediq Innovation Partners (mediq) are pleased to announce an agreement for the introduction of OWCP's active cannabinoid-based topical psoriasis cream to the German market.

Frankfurt, Germany-based mediq has extensive experience, knowledge and a successful track record in enabling Israel-based companies to penetrate the European markets. mediq's objectives for OWCP will consist of both scientific collaboration and most importantly the development of a commercial market for OWCP's proprietary, active cannabinoid-based topical psoriasis cream in Germany.