Few members of the medical community that have done their research will be able to deny pot’s ability to treat, and even prevent the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, the issue on the table is how to administer it. The medical establishment continuously delays the acceptance of cannabinoid drugs, without batting an eye when powerfully addictive opiates reach the market time and time again.

As the cannabis industry grows, so does corporate and government interest. From publicly traded companies with long standing histories, to the pharmaceutical industry and beyond, these larger player’s involvement is unavoidable.

GMO marijuana is not a question of if but rather when. The rumor (which most likely isn’t a rumor) that Monsanto has been cooking up its only genetically modified cannabis in some secret lab has been mentioned in blogs and internationally recognized publications alike.

This is only one example of nasty corporate intervention that will most definitely plague the industry’s future. But one thing the blogosphere seems to be leaving out is the buying power of the everyday consumer.

Williamsburg techie Michael Christopher wants to merge the cannabis industry with the herbal wellness movement and “tea renaissance.” With a name inspired by the Brooklyn loft culture, Loft Teais a line of “natural remedy” teas infused with CBD — a non-psychotropic cannabinoid, or chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Christopher publicly launched Loft Tea in June.

JEFFERSON CITY - A Missouri marijuana campaign committee recently hired a top political consultant with hopes of getting the medical marijuana initiative petition on the 2016 ballot.

Jack Cardetti will now be working with New Approach Missouri, the political action committee for Show-Me Cannabis.

Dan Viets, chairman for Show-Me Cannabis, said Cardetti's hiring may be the necessary tool for finally getting the initiative for medical marijuana on the ballot. Viets said Cardetti brings much more than just his name.

"We hope of course not only that he'll increase the credibility of our campaign, but that in turn will lead to substantial contribution," Viets said. "Money is the mother's milk of politics after all."

California lawmakers quietly passed Friday the state’s most significant medical-marijuana legislation in almost two decades, but some leaders in the space worry that the law’s good intentions could get lost in the weeds. Paving the way for what supporters say is a much-needed regulatory framework for the state’s multibillion-dollar medical-cannabis industry, the California Senate and Assembly voted to approve the historic Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which will require licenses for cannabis dispensaries and create a new state agency to oversee the industry.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- National nonprofit organization 'Grow for Vets' is raising money and support for veterans suffering from PTSD and other medical conditions, as well as handing out free marijuana. 

The organization hosted a free cannabis giveaway and rally at Refuge PDX in Portland on Saturday. Both Veterans and non-veterans received gift bags containing information about Grow for Vets and free pot-related products. 

The rally aimed to raise veterans' awareness about alternative treatment options, and to highlight the frequency of prescription drug abuse and suicide. 

In the early Spring of 2015, a historic federal medical marijuana bill was introduced into Congress. The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act of 2015 or the CARERS Act of 2015, was introduced in March of 2015. The bill was introduced by Senator Cory Booker, and as of today, carries 15 co-sponsors. Below is the summary of the bill, via Congress’ website:

More than a thousand of California’s elite cannabis growers and aficionados gather in rural Northern California this weekend for the second annual Golden Tarp Awards — celebrating one likely future for the plant’s farming.

September 11, 2015 – U.S. Cannabis Spot Index up fractionally to $2,133.  The national price may be at—or close to—its seasonal high.