CANNABIS

Democrat Charlie Crist, a candidate for governor of Florida, said Thursday he supports full marijuana legalization in the state and wants the expungement of all existing charges and sentences for misdemeanors and third-degree felonies for marijuana possession.

The use of cannabis, though safer than many other drugs, is not entirely without risk. AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file CC BY-ND In stark contrast to the overblown fears portrayed during decades past, these days, most people think cannabis is relatively harmless. While weed is indeed less dangerous than some other drugs, it is not without risks. In a study published Jan. 5, my colleagues and I found that 59% percent of people using medical cannabis for chronic pain experienced moderate to severe

Cannabis users are up to five times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than non-smokers, a new study shows. The class B drug has long been anecdotally linked with mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. But a study of more than a quarter of a million young adults in the US, run by the National Institutes of Health, assessed the strength of the connection. It revealed that around 3 per cent of the population who do not smoke cannabis and do not suffer from depressive episodes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Growing cannabis indoors is racking up energy production, resulting in large amounts of damaging gases that warm Earth. Electric usage is the highest across the southeast leading to increased CO2 emissions from indoor cannabis cultivation. In Jacksonville, the need for dehumidifiers and air conditioning adds about 1,500 kilograms of emissions to every kilogram of product. The island relies primarily on burning oil for electricity, boosting emissions to over 5,000 kilograms per kilogram of product. As it turns out, Southern California’s moderate climate and renewable power makes it a prime location for the lowest emissions.

On Thursday, Aubrey Drake Graham, best known as hip-hop artist Drake, partnered with Canadian cannabis giant Canopy Growth to launch the More Life Growth Company cannabis producer in Graham's hometown of Toronto. Drake joins a surging wave of celebrities who have aligned themselves with the cannabis industry by selling products, joining corporate boards, or, in this case, creating a joint venture business. It made perfect sense that Snoop Dogg, actor Seth Rogen and even Snoop's pal Martha Stewart were venturing into the cannabis industry. Drake's arrangement with Canopy Growth does stand apart from most of the celebrity cannabis deals, which are mostly endorsements, minority investments or advisory roles. "Canadian cannabis brand development is difficult with restrictions specifically prohibiting utilizing celebrity names, and we believe Canopy is ceding a cash flow positive asset."