An internal Department of Justice memo leaked this week reveals that in the days leading up to last year's historic passage of a federal medical marijuana protections measure, the DOJ passed around "informal talking points" to members of Congress that were "intended to discourage passage" of the statute due to concerns about overreach -- concerns that would later turn out to be incorrect.

Supporters of medicinal cannabis have rallied outside Newcastle court this morning, saying not legalising the drug is inhumane.

Malcolm Ronald Lee was today told he will be sentenced on October 16, after pleading guilty to three offences.

Police say he was growing 119 cannabis plants in his Newcastle home, and was supplying local cancer patients.

Last month, the Premier Mike Baird announcedNewcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital will host Australia's first medicinal cannabis trial.

Last year, the Justice Department warned Congress that a medical marijuana provision in an appropriations bill could  "limit or possibly eliminate the Department's ability to enforce federal law in recreational marijuana cases as well." The "informal talking points," according to a Justice Department memoobtained by Tom Angell, a legalization advocate and writer for marijuana.com, were "intended to discourage passage" of the provision, wh

Leaked Document Shows Why Feds Believe They Can Ignore Medical Marijuana Law

Prior to Vote, Officials Argued the Amendment Would Have Broader Implications Than Medical Marijuana

Justice Department officials misinformed members of Congress about the effects of a medical marijuana amendment being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives, according to an internal memo obtained by Marijuana.com.

Kenneth Dale Wakefield, a transient, mentally ill Phoenix man, smoked two different drugs before he went on a late July killing spree that resulted in the decapitation and death of his wife and their two dogs.

Wakefield, 43, who is being held on $2 million bond, told police that an hour before the attacks, he smoked marijuana and Spice — a name for synthetic marijuana, a drug that is now feared to be causing violent outbursts in those who may already be mentally ill or are taking psychiatric medicine. Wakefield told police he was trying "to get the evil out" of the victims, according to Reuters. In the process, he also severed his own arm and gouged out one of his eyes, police said.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told Boston Herald Radio’s “Morning Meeting” show that one of his security concerns over the idea of legalizing marijuana in Massachusetts is the connection he says exists between the drug and home invasions in the state.

“A lot of home invasions seem to revolve around someone smoking marijuana, young college kids tying to supplement their income,” he said. “We get a half-dozen every year where they invite regular city kids over and next thing you know, their door is getting knocked down and they are getting robbed.”

An e-petition to legalise cannabis managed to reach 100,000 signatures at the end of July, the milestone means MPs are forced to consider debate the issue in Parliament.

Outlining benefits of decriminalising the drug, citing financial, policing and employment boons, the call to “Make the production, sale and use of cannabis legal” has now been backed over 190,000 times.

The Petitions Committee will meet in September to decide a date for when the House of Commons will discuss the issue. The body has previously said that petitions with over 100,000 names are “almost always” debated.

The Puerto Rican economy is in trouble, going through a recession and dealing with about $70 billion in total outstanding debt. The commonwealth paid only $628,000toward a $58 million debt bill due Monday to creditors of its Public Finance Corporation. Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla is desperately trying to come up with a restructuring plan to eliminate the debt.

Just how bad is it? People are leaving the island in search of a better life elsewhere. In fact, unemployment in Puerto Rico is more than double the rate in the mainland United States. Three thousand doctors have moved out in the last five years, as have many other professionals headed to the U.S. to earn a better living.

Marijuana businesses remain against the law in Umatilla County.

The county board of commissioners voted 3-0 Wednesday in favor of continuing the moratorium on medicinal marijuana dispensaries and other pot-related businesses. The local law went into effect as soon as the board adopted it.

The vote came during a public hearing and supported the recommendation from the county’s marijuana study committee, which also wanted the county board to adopt new land use regulations. The board also plans to do that.

Commissioner and board chair George Murdock said no one spoke against the moratorium, which the board first implemented in April 2014. That shut down the two medicinal pot dispensaries that were operating in the county’s jurisdiction.

The investigators also took GPS coordinates around the grow area. That can be relayed to authorities, so that when they fly over properties looking for illegally planted fields, they will know Rasmussen's is legal.

Hemp farmers are generally growing the plant for textile products.

They also measured how quickly plants are growing. The tallest was 72 inches and planted six weeks ago.

Hemp, which has a strong resemblance to marijuana, is controversial and highly regulated because of its possibility for THC levels.

THC is the chemical that produces a high in marijuana users.