An estimated 100,000 people are currently employed in California's marijuana industry, but that number could grow 10-fold within a few years, according to the California Cannabis Industry Association.

There is one big "if," though. That's if California actually gets around to legalizing it next year.

A recent study, announced at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting in Washington DC, indicated that there was a mean reduction of over 50 percent in seizures among some patients with epilepsy who took the main, non-psychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), over a three month period.

The study indicated that a multicenter trial of a liquid 99% CBD, provided seizure relief in children with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) who had been resistant to at least eight existing antiepileptic pharmaceuticals.While the study was focused on patients with Dravet or LGS it also included patients with ten other conditions, some of which were genetically related.

Hello, ladies! Those two iconic words set ablaze the hearts of many female wrestling fans in the late 1990s when Val Venis made his seductive entrance into the arena. As a smooth saxophone played in the background, Venis swayed his hips and many times locked his lips with lucky members of the WWE Universe.

Nowadays, Venis is not as entrenched in the wrestling business. With a busy schedule and personal goals, religiously keeping up with wrestling is not on Venis’ agenda.

As a recent high school graduate, I have seen the short- and long-term effects of marijuana from all aspects of my life. I believe that the opinions and viewpoints of our younger generation are vital when it comes to the decision to legalize marijuana.

Even though this drug has positive medical uses and effects, it is still a mind-altering drug that needs to be legally regulated and used responsibly when utilized for recreational purposes. 

Even if we were inclined to support the legalization of marijuana in Ohio – we aren’t – a companion initiative that would result in the expungement of criminal records stemming from marijuana convictions is a definite deal-breaker for us. We have long opposed the cleansing of court records because we strongly believe there must be consequences to breaking the law.

In the May Democratic primary for mayor of Struthers, The Vindicator chose not to make an endorsement because both the candidates, Danny Thomas Jr. and Ronald A. Carcelli, had their criminal histories wiped clean.

PHOENIX — An independent poll released Wednesday shows a majority of Arizona residents support ending marijuana prohibition.

The Behavior Research Center’s latest Rocky Mountain Poll found 53% of Arizonans support making possession of a small amount of marijuana legal for personal use. Just 39% are opposed. Support outpaced opposition in all three of the geographical areas that were surveyed: 53-38 in Maricopa County; 47-43 in Pima County; and 58-38 in Rural Arizona. The survey of 701 Arizonans was conducted from April 29-May 15 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8%.

An herbal remedy made from the marijuana plant is now being sold legally in South Carolina.

Governor Nikki Haley signed the bill legalizing cannabidiol or CBD oil last June.

Palmetto Harmony, a South Carolina-made CBD product, is now for sale without a prescription at three locations in the state, including Natural Health Pharmacy in Socastee. 

Advocates say the oil shows amazing results for treating things like chronic pain, glaucoma and epileptic seizures.

"We've had a little girl that had 200 seizures a day. She's down to two, which are like twitches now," said Erika Erhenford, co-owner of Natural Health Pharmacy.

The oil contains small amounts of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, but it won't cause anyone to get high.

In 2010, when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, we knew that new opportunities were emerging for drug users who were disconnected from the traditional healthcare system. Long-ignored and marginalized by a fragmented "sick care" system that has historically profited from their episodic, crisis-oriented care, our participants are finally starting to get the attention of reformers.

It’s an industry, they say, that’s too new to have a glass ceiling. And for many women, that’s a good reason to get into the booming legal marijuana business.

“There is no such thing as an old boys’ network in a new industry,” says Wendy Berger Shapiro, co-founder of a group called Illinois Women in Cannabis.

Berger Shapiro started the professional networking group with attorney Dina Rollman last August to “get women at the starting line at the same time as the men,” Rollman says. “So they’re not playing catchup, and they’re leading the industry, shoulder-to-shoulder with the men.”

With Illinois having legalized medical marijuana, seriously ill people who qualify could be able to obtain legal weed as soon as this fall, some predict.

Police say they’ve confiscated more than 70 marijuana plants, packaged pot, cash and a gun from a metro Atlanta home.

Investigators told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik exclusively that they received a tip from the Missouri Highway Patrol that Wesley Johnson, 38, was moving large quantities of marijuana from his Johnson Ferry Road home.

“Prior to them arriving to the front door they could actually smell the marijuana emitting from the location,” said Sgt. Ron Momon. “They knocked on the door, met the individual. He identified himself. They asked him for consent to search the place and he denied the consent to search.”

Sandy Springs seize over 70 marijuana plants from home