SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - The three remaining defendants in the case of the so-called Kettle Falls Five were sentenced to federal prison on Friday for growing marijuana in a state where both the medical and recreational use of marijuana are legal under Washington laws.

The defendants are known as the Kettle Falls Five because of their original number. They were convicted earlier this year of growing marijuana on their rural property near Kettle Falls, in violation of federal law.

Delegates to the 2015 Congress of Delegates here addressed a number of health policy issues, including making medications affordable for patients and conducting more research on marijuana. Other topics tackled included immunization exemptions and student loan repayment.

Affordable Medication

During the Reference Committee on Advocacy hearing on Sept. 28, family physicians discussed a pair of closely related resolutions that addressed the availability of affordable pharmaceuticals. The conversation was sparked, in part, by the recent news that Turing Pharmaceuticals had acquired the drug pyrimethamine (Daraprim) and immediately increased its price from $13.50 to $750 per tablet -- a jump of more than 5,000 percent.

The state budget office estimates legalized marijuana sales in Ohio could produced nearly $300 million in new tax revenue, most of which would go to townships, cities and counties.

The estimate by the Office of Budget and Management was based on potential marijuana sales of about $2 billion a year. New revenue would come primarily from a special excise tax on marijuana sales.

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Friday was the official grand opening ceremony for western Massachusetts’ first medical marijuana dispensary. Patients were able to walk in and legally buy marijuana. It’s something they say they’ve been waiting for, for a long time.

“This is the best day of my life,” said Mark Ceria of Holyoke. Mark is a local artist who is living with severe nerve pain in his legs. He’s confined to a wheelchair. “A little puff of maybe some pineapple skunk marijuana makes music sound better and my life a lot easier in a wheelchair.”

Ceria and nearly 200 others patients this week have gotten medical marijuana, legally, for the first time at the England Treatment Access Dispensary on Conz Street.

Welcome to Denver's first cannabis-friendly, all-inclusive art class.

 Think "canvas and cocktails", but with a cannabis twist. 

 Join Denver-based painter Heidi Keyes for a casual and creative 2-hour smoking session, while you follow along with her step-by-step instructions to create your own mind-altered masterpiece (or get inspired and completely follow your own whims - up to you!). Classes only hold up to 20 students to allow for individual attention, an easy-going, relaxed atmosphere, and joint-passing ease. 

At noontime, a steady flow of customers perused wares at Cannabis Nation. For those without a medical marijuana license, this was flowers only, as state law does not permit the sale of recreational oils and edibles until Jan. 1. Jars of Mango Haze, Northern Lights and Mr. Nice Guy were on display as customers — none of whom opted to speak on the record — browsed and bought.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A divided Ohio Democratic Party won't take a stance on Issue 3, leaving individual public officials and county parties to decide whether to back the contentious marijuana legalization amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot.

But one county chairman leading the push for his colleagues to endorse Issue 3 stands to profit if the measure passes.

Lorain County Democratic Party Chairman Tony Giardini is an investor in the company that will own one of only 10 marijuana farms allowed to grow and sell the plant under the amendment.

Two Native American tribes — the Menominee and Ho-Chunk — are working to legalise marijuana in Wisconsin.

Gabe Galanda, an attorney in Seattle, told the Guardian that the tribes would need to “make some kind of deal with the devil" as they draft a resolution supporting legal weed in the Badger State. 

“Tribal sovereignty means that state and local government have no say in the regulation of on-reservation affairs. Tribes that seek local and, in turn, federal support must either in letter or in spirit cede sovereignty to state and local government,” he said.

BELLMAWR, N.J. (AP) - Workers are weighing and stuffing cannabis in bags as part of the final preparations before southern New Jersey’s newest medical marijuana dispensary opens its doors Monday.

More than 100 patients have selected Compassionate Sciences Alternative Treatment Center ahead of the Bellmawr facility’s opening next week.

The dispensary is prepared to serve 1,800 patients purchasing an ounce, general manager Michael Nelson said. Eventually, patients will be able to choose from two dozen medical marijuana strains.

CEOs run companies, nominally at least, but if you are an investor, especially one who has cannabis shares on the OTC Markets, it would be wise to remember that the acronym can also mean chief executive optimist.

If you are holding shares of a cannabis company, positive news about the company’s progress and products are always welcome, but don’t confuse optimism for good news. You need relevant information to make investment decisions, not enthusiasm. Even negative news, albeit unwelcome, is still important to an investor so you can make a decision to withdraw or reinvest.