There is a general consensus that cannabis should be treated like any other medicinal plant. However, it is not quite clear what this means, since this standard may be interpreted differently with serious consequences for patients. Cannabis is not a medicinal plant like any other. This causes a dilemma that poses problems to courts confronted with illegal self-medication and lawmakers, who want to balance possible benefits for patients and protection with potential harms.

Why cannabis medicines are not medications like any other

There are two major reasons why cannabis is not a medicinal drug like any other.

Ontario-based Oriol Rhodes has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, but it’s only recently that she has ventured into an uncharted territory: cannabis. “A year ago, I knew very little; particularly about substance use, and absolutely nothing about harm reduction, and how cannabis fits into this equation,” says Rhodes, a registered nurse.

The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices’s (BfArM)so-called Cannabis Agency will choose between 79 bidders from growers by the end of June, the agency said on Monday.

In order to assure a local supply, the agency will be giving out grower contracts for 10,400 kilograms (22,928 pounds) of pot over the next four years. The agency declined to name the bidders, according to Reuters.

There are winners and losers in any industry. You can definitely put Cronos Group (NASDAQ:CRON) and Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE:IIPR) in the former category within the cannabis industry.

The marijuana industry broke through barriers in 2018 that had previously seemed impossible just a decade earlier.

Following years of promises from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and months of debate in the Senate, Canada became the first industrialized country in the world, and only the second overall behind Uruguay, to legalize recreational marijuana. Rolling out the red carpet for cannabis should lead to billions of dollars in added annual sales, but more importantly legitimizes marijuana as a business model that's here to stay.

Aphria (TSX:APHA)(NYSE:APHA) has been on a great run in January. Starting off the year at $8.15, it reached $9.36 by the middle of this week — a 14% gain. This rally comes after a weak late 2018 for the company, which saw its stock fall 60% in the course of four months. During that time, Aphria had been rocked by short attacks, scathing accusations, and even lawsuits. But now, a takeover attempt by Green Growth Brands, based on an offer of 1.5 Green Growth shares per Aphria share, has renewed interest in the stock.

A new rule prohibiting some Metrolinx employees from using cannabis while off-duty is drawing criticism from the union representing those workers, which plans to explore possible legal challenges to the policy.

"This Metrolinx action shows a profound lack of respect for the men and women who work for it and who devote their working lives to the safety of the public," read a statement sent out by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1587.

This week, Metrolinx updated its 'Fit for Duty' policy to ban cannabis use by employees in "safety sensitive positions." The prohibition applies to those workers whether they are on or off-duty, Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said in an email statement. 

The United States is a vast and growing marijuana market, both for illicit vendors and, increasingly, legitimate producers. Ever since 2012, when Colorado and Washington took the plunge, U.S. states have been legalizing cannabis at a rapid pace. Although recreational cannabis is only legal in 10 states right now, medical marijuana is legal in 33, making the legitimate U.S. market a sizable one. And with many more states considering legalization, it’s set to grow larger.

Israel has given final approval to a law permitting the export of medical marijuana, a move the government expects will catapult investment in local industry and agriculture.

The Cabinet’s decision Sunday came a month after the Israeli parliament unanimously approved the decision, making Israel the third country in the world, after the Netherlands and Canada, to allow export of medical cannabis products.

Israel is home to dozens of companies active in the medical marijuana industry, and approved companies will be able to export to countries where it is legal.

The marijuana industry has been growing like a weed for years, but it brought something new to the table in 2018: legitimacy.

Following years of promises from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and months of debate in the Senate, Canada became the first industrialized country to give the green light to adult-use weed in June, with sales officially beginning on Oct. 17, 2018. Rolling out the red carpet for cannabis signifies that this is a valid business model that could potentially make investors very rich over the long run.