John Huffman, 84, created a synthetic version of cannabis - now known as Spice - in his lab.

A DRUG at the centre of an epidemic where addicts are left wandering the streets like ‘zombies’ was innocently invented by an American scientist while examining the effects of cannabis on the brain.

John Huffman, 84, created a synthetic and extremely potent version of the drug – now known as Spice – in his lab at Clemson University in South Carolina in the 1990s.

But years later variations of his compound are blighting the lives of young people across the UK as shocking pictures have shown users slumped on pavements and reduced to trance-like states.

Ohioans who want to start a medical marijuana business here urged regulators on Monday to issue the few lucrative cultivator licenses to Ohio residents only, at least initially.

As it stands now, the Ohio Department of Commerce plans to award up to 12 large grow licenses and 12 small grow licenses statewide, based on criteria including a company's business plan, security measures and industry experience.

Proof that the company is headquartered in Ohio, owned by Ohioans and plans to hire in-state workers factor into the review but are not required.

Kelly Mottola, who owns Hydro Innovations in Hilliard, said out-of-state companies will want to bring out-of-state workers.

The legal cannabis industry has witnessed unprecedented growth over the last three years and this multi-billion-dollar global market is barely in the first inning of a multi-decade growth cycle. The growth of the cannabis industry has also led to the creation of sub-sectors that present attractive investment opportunities.

Earlier this year, we highlighted a company levered to the rapidly growing cannabis industry that provides a product not requiring them to touch the plant. That business was VPR Brands, LP (VPRB) and today, the company further expanded its product line after announcing the launch of The Honey Stick ProBox Kit.

Cronos Group Inc (CVE: MJN) (OTC: PRMCF) is one of the largest licensed cannabis producers in Canada, only trailing a few industry behemoths like CANOPY GROWTH CORP COM NPV (OTC: TWMJF), APHRIA INC COM NPV (OTC: APHQF) and AURORA CANNABIS IN COM NPV (OTCL ACBFF).

For three years, recreational pot has been legal in Colorado, but using it in public is still against the law. That will change this summer when pot clubs are slated to open.

A blinking "open" sign hangs on the outside of an old building in a dark industrial zone just outside the Denver city limits. When the front door opens, smoke billows out.

Inside is one of the state's few pot clubs, called iBake. Recently, members celebrated the anniversary of its opening.

Glassy-eyed patrons bounce off each other in the small space.

People can smoke pot in here because the club is private; you have to be a member. And it's outside city limits, away from city police.

It's not the easiest way to make money, but Steve Nelson Jr. started iBake to fill a need.

This legislative session, a record 11 proposals addressed the use of cannabis. Most of them never got a hearing, but two are still moving through the legislature and could become Indiana’s first medical cannabis laws.

Indiana is one of six states that have not passed any form of medical cannabis legislation, including CBD.

CBD stands for cannabidiol, also known as “hemp oil.” It is a non-psychoactive cannabis, with low tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC – so it can’t get people high.

For the past seven years, senators have sought Dr. Trent Jones’ testimony on the topic. He spoke from California last January, via Skype.

Lawmakers made their first public revenue estimations since marijuana was legalized last fall.

Massachusetts revenue officials are expecting a pretty high return when retail marijuana sales begin next summer.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy held its inaugural hearing on Monday, and officials estimated that taxes on recreational pot could bring in more than $100 million annually, The Boston Globe reported. 

It’s been less than three years since Nevada lawmakers put in place regulations allowing for the legal growth and sale of medical marijuana, and the budding industry has done more than just widely expand its customer base — it’s also become a player in the world of Nevada campaign finance.

Marijuana dispensaries, owners and growers gave $75,000 to legislators during the 2016 election cycle, with nearly half of the donations — $31,550 — going to Democratic Sen. Tick Segerblom, who in 2013 authored a bill establishing regulatory framework for medical marijuana dispensaries and is one of the industry’s biggest advocates.

The marijuana industry has been practically unstoppable for the better part of four years.

Since 2012, eight states (along with Washington, D.C.) have legalized recreational, adult-use pot, including residents in four states who voted in favor of doing so in the November 2016 election. In fact, if not for Arizona, which had its adult-use proposition fail in the November elections, marijuana would have had a clean sweep.

Just as impressive, since 1996 -- which is when California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis for compassionate use in select ailments -- 28 states have legalized medical marijuana. Two states (Ohio and Pennsylvania) did so in 2016 entirely through the legislative process.