Last month, we reported about Denver NORML's plan to introduce a marijuana social use initiative for the 2016 ballot.

And when we chatted with Denver NORML executive director Jordan Person about a marijuana raid in Colorado Springs that she saw as an example of why such an initiative was needed, she suggested that the measure should be ready to go in a matter of weeks.

Person's estimate was spot-on. Denver NORML has now submitted an initiative dubbed the Denver Responsible Use Initiative.

The NFL began testing for marijuana and other substances of abuse in 1982, the same year quarterback Jim McMahon arrived in the league from a Mormon university that frowns on various behaviors far more innocuous than smoking weed. Long retired from football, McMahon relies on marijuana for medicinal purposes. Recently, he suggested that he and other Bears were smoking it while playing — and that the team’s legendary head coach knew it.

Drinking marijuana tea is a lesser-known method of consuming cannabis that elicits a more delayed, prolonged high than smoking the drug and can also be considered a safer alternative as smoking anything can be harmful to the lungs and respiratory system. 

Medical marijuana could be available to an estimated 215,000 Ohioans with qualifying medical conditions by 2018 if voters okay a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

A year after Ohioans soundly defeated ResponsibleOhio’s for-profit plan to legalize marijuana for recreational and medical purposes, a national group with a successful track record in other states is pushing a medical marijuana-only issue for the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A national group seeking to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio has released its proposed language for a constitutional amendment it wants voters to decide in November.

The Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project wants to make Ohio the 24th state along with the District of Columbia with similar laws legalizing medical marijuana.

The proposed ballot language released Tuesday calls for large growers to pay an initial licensing fee of $500,000 to the state. “Patients” deemed eligible to buy and use marijuana products would pay a maximum of $40 a year for an identification card.

Chicago, IL, February 19, 2016 --(PR.com)-- CannaPitch IPO, the legal cannabis industry’s premiere pitch event, will be open to the investing public, bringing true crowdfunding to cannabis companies at the California Cannabis Business Expo, March 4 at the Hilton Union Square, San Francisco.

Last fall, Pennsylvania's medical marijuana bill was put on the House calendar for several months, but a floor vote never took place. That could change on March 14.

House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) has been supportive of the measure, known as SB 3, and has pledged to put it on the calendar again in two weeks. That earned praise from Gov. Tom Wolf.

"As I have said for years, I support the legalization of medical marijuana and I believe it is long past time to provide this important medical relief to patients and families across the commonwealth," Wolf said in a statement. 

Following 14 excruciating months of infighting and delays, Pennsylvania legislators are expected to legalize medical marijuana at their next session’s March 14, 2016 kickoff.

Specifically, Pennsylvania’s State House will vote on “Senate Bill 3” which the Senate overwhelmingly approved in a different form on Jan. 26, 2015.

In the interim, Senate Bill 3 was substantially modified increasing the covered medical conditions, limiting the allowable cannabis forms and imposing a “THC cap,” reducing the number of permitted growers, processors and dispensaries, and vesting legalized marijuana’s oversight and regulation with Pennsylvania’s Department of Health and its’ newly created “Advisory Board.”

Medicine of marijuana and “serious medical conditions”

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –  Puerto Rico's governor has called for the legalization of marijuana during his last public address as leader of the U.S. territory.

Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Monday that taking such action would lower crime and target hypocrisy. He said legislators should at a minimum approve a bill filed in 2013 that would decriminalize marijuana. Puerto Rico's Health Department recently adopted a regulation allowing the cultivation, manufacturing and distribution of medical marijuana.

The biggest day of the primaries is upon us, with more delegates up for grabs on March 1 than any other time in the race. While marijuana reform is not a priority for most primary voters, the candidates' positions on cannabis could have an impact on how voters perceive them – especially in states where marijuana policy is being discussed. 

Only two out of 22 Super Tuesday races are happening in a state or territory where cannabis is completely illegal. Most states have some form of medical marijuana in the books – even if it's just provisions for non-psychoactive CBD oil. Then there are the cannabis-friendly states of Colorado, which is having Democratic and Republican caucuses, and Alaska, where Republicans will be caucusing.