• A new study treated 121 migraine patients with medical marijuana
• 103 of those patients reported a decrease in monthly migraines
• The average monthly migraine frequency dropped from 10.4 to 4.6
• This finding links medical cannabis to headache relief for the first time

Medical marijuana reduces the frequency of migraine headaches, scientists revealed.

A new study treated 121 migraine patients with cannabis – with 103 reporting a decrease in the number of migraines they suffered each month.

The participants’ average frequency dropped from 10.4 to 4.6 migraines each month.

A clinical trial involving a cannabis-based painkiller has gone seriously wrong in France, leaving one man brain-dead and five others seriously injured. The French media is reporting that the trial took place at the Biotrial clinic, in Rennes in Brittany. Health Minister Marisol Touriane is currently speaking at a press conference on the unfolding situation, but has already stated that “a serious accident took place” and that all subsequent tests have been halted. 

52% of Americans, including a majority of adults under 65, support legalizing marijuana

A large study conducted in the United Kingdom failed to find evidence of a robust link between cannabis use and lowered intelligence among teenagers.

The study, published online January 6 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, found a statistical association between cannabis use and decreased intellectual performance. However, this association vanished when the researchers took other variables into account. “The notion that cannabis use itself is causally related to lower IQ and poorer educational performance was not supported in this large teenage sample,” wrote Claire Mokrysz of the University College London and her colleagues.

Could alcohol abstinence campaigns like Dry January may do more harm than good? 

The Dry January campaign estimates that last year over 2 million people cut down their drinking for January, but popular doesn't necessarily mean effective, and the claims lack rigorous evaluation. Like 'don't buy gas on Tuesday', it isn't really changing anything if people engage in the same behavior a little later.

Legalising cannabis for medicinal use is just one policy that any new mayor of London might consider to help tackle inequality, writes one leading educationist 

BOSTON, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GW Pharmaceuticals plc ("GW Pharma" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:  GWPH) has dropped precipitously in early trading.  It was down as much as 10% after a Sunday Times report referred to weakness in the Company's accounting practices.  GW Pharma had stated in its annual report that it "had a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting for the year ended September 30, 2015."

The Company further stated that its:

A Shrewsbury man who was jailed for being part of a conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis in Telford has been ordered to pay back £10,000 – despite making £60,000 from his crimes.

Kreshnik Gecaj, who was said to be part of a wider conspiracy to grow cannabis in the county, had been a “gardener” at a property used to produce cannabis and had rented another house in a false name for the same purpose.

A Proceeds of Crime hearing yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court, heard that he had benefited by £60,000 for his part in the crime. But he was told to pay back £10,000 following a discussion over his assets.

Last December, sources revealed that a character on Coronation Street will turn to medicinal cannabis for pain relief.

In a new storyline airing in February, Erica Hulroyd will recommend to Izzy Armstrong that she tries cannabis to alleviate her pain, when her prescription medication stops working after a bout of illness.

Early reports indicate that show bosses may well adopt a progressive and compassionate attitude to Izzy’s story. Writers have consulted with medical experts to ensure that the subject is represented with accuracy and maturity:

Misha Glenny

The terms may no longer be politically correct but western governments continue to wage both a war on terror and a war on drugs. They now need to recognise what is staring them in the face : that the prosecution of the latter makes it impossible to win the former.