Tom Burns, director of marijuana programs for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, was fired Thursday.

Burns, who oversaw the implementation of the state's medical marijuana dispensary program and has been instrumental in launching efforts to establish a recreational market, confirmed his termination in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive Thursday afternoon.

He declined to comment further, referring questions to Steven Marks, the OLCC's executive director. Marks could not be reached immediately for comment. The liquor control commission's chairman, Rob Patridge, declined to comment on Burns' firing, calling it a "personnel matter."

Will Higlin, the agency's director of licensing, will assume the job's duties until a permanent replacement is named.

Luke Goodman, 22, shot and killed himself after eating a large amount of pot edibles, authorities say. (Courtesy of Kim Goodman)

The last time Kim Goodman saw her son alive, it was at a bus stop in central Colorado, and he flashed that toothy smile that she so loved about him.

The Oklahoma family was on a vacation in the Rockies. Her son, Luke, was about to make off on his own to go snowboarding with some of his cousins. She recalls a contented feeling as she saw him leave. They had just hada really long talk the night before, and he looked so full of life — tan, fit, fresh out of Oral Roberts University. Ready for anything.

The federal government announced Monday that it is prepared to spend tens of millions of dollars on marijuana research through the University of Mississippi, which houses the only federally legal cannabis garden in the United States.

The new contract, worth a maximum of $68.7 million over five years, was awarded by the National Institutes of Health Monday and posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website. The award is a renewal of a contract with the university that the federal government has held for more than 40 years.

While a successful, albeit brief spell in the new media spotlight courtesy of the Ice Bucket Challenge craze in 2014 raised the profile of ALS somewhat, the neurogenerative disorder remains a heart-wrenching and debilitating incurable disease.

With a short life expectancy upon diagnosis and incapacitating symptoms, treatment for ALS is invaluable. A 2014 study by the American Academy of Neurology suggested that Medical Marijuana could be the most effective treatment for the endless list of symptoms associated with the disease.
The study surveyed ALS patients who reported current or prior use of medical marijuana to treat their symptoms. The returned results indicated the following:

Del Rey Oaks >> Next week’s opening of Monterey County’s only medical marijuana dispensary doesn’t seem to worry local marijuana delivery services.

A few of them say the private and convenient nature of their services assures them they will stay in business, despite new competition from the dispensary slated to open April 1 in Del Rey Oaks.

“I don’t see it affecting us because we deliver quality and convenience to your door,” says Luis Solis, part owner of Compassionate Bay Delivery, a 6-month-old company serving the Salinas area.

In fact, more than one delivery business owner welcomed the arrival of the dispensary.

TRENTON — Post-traumatic stress disorder would be added to the list of illnesses that would qualify a person for New Jersey's medical marijuana program, and growers would be permitted to share excess cannabis with their competitors under legislation the state Assembly passed Thursday.

The Assembly also started a process to challenge rules the Christie administration created that dispensary owners say discourage people from participating in the medical marijuana program. Sponsors said the rules were not included in the law that was signed by former Gov. Jon Corzine just before Gov. Chris Christie took office in 2010.

A number of US states have legalized cannabis, and many more are expected to follow. Therefore, the industry's explosive growth, attracts large investors. Berlingske Business Magazine took to speed dating between entrepreneurs and investors in San Francisco.

"Whoever wins on the Internet, is the one who wins in the US." Says Peter Muhlmann, founder of the website Trustpilot. Now the company captures the market for user reviews in the United States.

Like any working mom, Denise Pollicella is busy.

The Howell-area attorney, a mother of two, balances her legal cases with other duties, such as taking her daughter to dance class.

Yet for the past several years, she’s also joined efforts to draft model legislation that would revise laws governing the growth, sale and distribution of medical marijuana in Michigan.

It’s legislation she believes is long overdue.

“Seven years ago, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved the legalization of medical marijuana, and yet the Legislature hasn’t acted,” she said.

Marijuana use is legal in Michigan for patients with a doctor’s prescription and a state certified ID card. Patients can also designate a caregiver, who also must be certified by the state.

When I do a little research into job ads and their pre-employment drug screening policies, it actually blows my mind a bit. I don’t think any job should require drug screenings. I’m a strong supporter of personal freedoms so long as they don’t cause harm.

For my personal experience, I have only had to deal with one pre-hiring drug screening, and I opted out of the job before I ever even had to do it. A few years back I was unexpectedly furloughed from my job at a university for three months and needed to find something on the fly to bring in a little money. I was a chef for about 15 years and always know I can get a job slinging food when I need to.

Late last month, Republicans converged on D.C. to meet for CPAC—the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. Decades old and sponsored by the American Conservative Union, this event is a requirement for top Republican politicians. It is no surprise that the leading Republican presidential contenders made their way to the big stage.

This year, something odd happened on the way to the podium. Speakers were sprayed with an array of questions on a topic that was somewhat new to the conservative agenda: marijuana policy.