Regarding Senate Bill 73 (Medical Cannabis Act), the Utah Medical Association recently tweeted that none of their practicing docs "are complaining about (its) stance" against the bill. However, even in the medical community, opinions are as varied as the beautiful landscape of our state. A number of groups have come out against SB73 based on what "could" happen, or about "unintended consequences that may accompany" the bill. The arguments against medical marijuana are largely based on hypotheticals and what-ifs.

Fortunately, Utah isn't the first state to tackle this issue. Nearly half the states in our nation have medical cannabis laws and we can leverage their experience. So what could we expect from passing SB73?

residential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R- FL) came out strongly against the legalization of recreational marijuana at a campaign rally in South Carolina Thursday, and expressed skepticism about the medical usefulness of the plant when asked what he would do about drug use in the United States.

“And I say, well, because this country already pays a terrible price for the abuse of alcohol,” Mr. Rubio said at a campaign event in South Carolina. “We’re not going to outlaw alcohol. We’re not going to ban it. It’s part of our culture. It’s ingrained in our society — that’s not a realistic proposal.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2016

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- February marks the one year anniversary of cannabis legalization in D.C. and 2015 has seen an economic boom in the legal marijuana sales – 5.4 Billion dollars, according to a new report by Arcview Market Research and New Frontier.

On February 20th the Capitol CannaShow is bringing together D.C's marijuana movement's key advocates, lawmakers, and cannabusinesses at the renowned Mayflower Hotel in the first locally-sourced cannabis exposition and conference.

Colorado, which was a trailblazer in marijuana reform legalizing recreational sales in 2012, recorded almost $1 billion in sales at the end of 2015, according to the state’s Department of Revenue.

Sales of legal marijuana soared by 42 percent compared with the previous year, said the Cannabis Business Alliance (CBA). CBA welcomed the boost in sales, saying $135 million in taxes raised from the $996,184,788 in sales would help contribute to building new schools in the state.

Connecticut joins Rhode Island, Vermont and Massachusetts that all have similar measures in the works to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana.

CARSON CITY — The medical marijuana business is growing so fast that the state is having trouble keeping up with applications from patients seeking licenses.

The state is receiving 300 applications a month.Joseph Pollock, deputy administrator of the state Division of Public and Behavioral Health, told the Legislative Interim Finance Committee today there are 14,000 patients with state medical marijuana cards. He expects that number to grow to 60,000.

The committee allowed the program to shift $464,000 in its budget to hire more contract workers.

Under the law, the state has 30 days to process applications. That time had slipped to 60 days, but has since been reduced to 21 days.

The cannabis business industry has seen plenty of development in 2016 – and we expect to see much more in the coming months. Here are some of the top trendsHerbFront has seen so far.

1. Technology is leading the way – and overcoming roadblocks
As industry leaders discussed at a recent Canna Tech Chicago meetup, technology is at the forefront of the cannabis industry. As organizations take to social media to discuss the legal developments surrounding medical cannabis, business leaders face hurdles like having their Facebook pages shut down.

GLENDALE — Colorado’s newest pot shop has some wondering whether strippers and weed are too closely aligned on a busy highway just east of downtown Denver.

The Smokin Gun Apothecary opened on a site formerly occupied by the Denver area’s best known strip club, Shotgun Willie’s. The strip club hasn’t gone away — it’s moved just across the parking lot, testing ethical and potentially legal issues about the state’s growing legal recreational pot industry.

Beyond banning the sale of pot and alcohol in the same shop, Colorado has no regulation regarding marijuana and other adult businesses. Zoning rules require shops to be away from schools or anywhere children congregate.

Db3, a popular cannabis edibles manufacturer in Washington state, is expanding its Zoots brand to Colorado.

Through a partnership with Bronner Corp., based in Denver, Db3 will sell its line of ZootRocks, ZootBlasts, ZootBites and Zootdrops – along with a new medical High Strength line in the Rocky Mountain state.

Get high with no hassle with these headphones that claim to replicate the effects of drugs. 

For example, if you love the enhanced appreciation of music from a spliff but not the paranoia of wondering ‘Oh god, is that my neighbour downstairs calling the police to arrest me?’, this product could be for you.

A company claims it can recreate the experience, just using headphones and a special device that looks like a Walkman.

Nervana works by stimulating the brain with electrical currents, which it claims can make people experience sound ‘in ways never imagined’.

Check out the advert for ‘the world’s first non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator’:

HONOLULU (AP) — Some Hawaii lawmakers and advocates say medical marijuana dispensary applicants could be at a disadvantage because health department rules don't allow greenhouses.

Lawmakers are considering a bill to allow medical marijuana business owners to grow plants in greenhouses, shade houses or outdoors in open air.

Right now, rules posted on the Hawaii Department of Health's website say that isn't allowed, and medical marijuana must be grown in an enclosed structure. Janice Okubo of the Hawaii Department of Health said the department doesn't plan on changing the rules unless there's a change in state law.