The principles of science apply everywhere — on an airplane and in a submarine, on Mars and on Venus, to bugs and plants. What makes an oak grow? Why does a lilac smell sweet?

At the Cannabis Genomic Research Initiative (CGRI), we too study a plant, just like other scientists have studied wheat, sunflowers, tobacco, and thousands more. It’s just that our subject has been taboo for decades, and therefore un-studied. We know very, very little about Cannabis. Now, legalization is opening up research opportunities for those of us who are scientists living in Colorado.

Presidential candidates are talking about marijuana in ways unimaginable not long ago.

White House hopefuls in both parties are taking donations from people in the new marijuana industry, which is investing heavily in political activism as a route to expanded legalization and landed its first major candidate, Rand Paul, at a trade show last month.

Several Republicans, like Democrats, are saying they won’t interfere with states that are legalizing a drug still forbidden under federal law. And at conservative policy gatherings, Republicans are discussing whether drug sentences should be eased.

Two bills aimed at regulating California’s marijuana industry cleared key hurdles in the state Legislature on Wednesday after one North Coast lawmaker hauled a live pot plant into the Capitol to illustrate the value of the lucrative crop.

State Sen. Mike McGuire’s Medical Marijuana Public Safety and Environmental Protection Act, SB 643, advanced from the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday and heads to the Health Committee next week.

The bill would establish a broad regulatory structure for California’s medical marijuana industry, which has been plagued by ineffective and confusing rules despite being legal at the state level since 1996.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On July 8, 2015, special agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), assisted by other federal and state agencies and the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of two large-scale marijuana cultivation facilities located on federally recognized tribal lands at the Alturas Indian Rancheria and the XL Ranch in Modoc County, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

At both sites, law enforcement seized a total of at least 12,000 marijuana plants and over 100 pounds of processed marijuana. Other than contraband marijuana and items of evidentiary value, no tribal property was seized, and no federal charges are pending.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CannabisRadio.com, the premier online radio and podcasting network for cannabis content, announces the launch of “Cannabis Confidential” with Dr. Dina, medical marijuana icon and inspiration for the Nancy Botwin character in Showtime’s “Weeds.” Dr.

Alaska stands to make between $5.1 million and $19.2 million in tax revenue from commercial marijuana in 2016, according to a preliminary estimate by the Alaska Department of Revenue.

An estimate dated Jan. 2 looks at possible revenues that it calls “very uncertain.” The tax division had to estimate both how much marijuana is consumed in Alaska every year and what proportion of consumers will switch to marijuana from the legal retail market, said Ken Alper, Department of Revenue tax division director.

“To a certain extent you’re shooting in the dark here,” Alper said.

As Illinois' fledgling marijuana industry slowly gets underway, some companies have begun hiring in anticipation of opening in the coming months, attracting a diverse set of candidates willing to take a chance on a business with an uncertain future so they can get in on the ground floor.

Take Rick Bower, 58, of downstate Dwight. After working for 31 years at commercial printing giant RR Donnelley, Bower has been hired as the inaugural director of warehousing at PharmaCann, where he will bring his expertise in workflow standardization and quality control to its Dwight and Hillcrest cultivation centers.

Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial published in The Journal of Pain in July 2015 provide supportive evidence that inhaled, aerosolized cannabis may be effective for reducing pain experienced by patients with diabetes experiencing neuropathic pain.

In separate testing sessions, 16 human participants were administered a placebo (i.e. inactive agent) and 3 different THC doses (low/1%, medium/4%, high/7%).

“This adds preliminary evidence to support further research on the efficacy of the cannabinoids in neuropathic pain.”

On Monday, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law authored by Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) that prevents state hospitals from denying organ donations to medical marijuana users strictly because of their marijuana use.