Marijuana Blog

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- As more states allow for the use of medical marijuana, the University of Vermont is offering a course in the science of the drug - and the professors say they are challenged by a lack of research on what has long been a taboo topic.

Other institutions have offered classes in marijuana law and policy, but the university's medical school is likely the country's first to offer a full course on medical cannabis, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges and Universities. Other medical schools have touched on the topic.

"What we're trying to do with this course is to sort of demystify this whole subject matter, to try to treat this like any other drug, like alcohol or amphetamines or opioids," said Vermont pharmacology professor Wolfgang Dostmann. "Just demystify the whole thing and say what it is, what is going on with it, how does it work."

Twenty three-states, including Vermont, allow the use of medical cannabis for a range of conditions or symptoms from glaucoma to HIV and cancer, although the drug is still illegal under federal law.

Read More:http://www.hightimes.com/read/vermont-medical-school-delves-marijuana-science

As the stigma surrounding cannabis use begins to fade, more culinary professionals are jumping in to the edibles industry. Top Chef winner Hosea Rosenberg is pairing cannabis strains with his farm-to-table fare, locally beloved Seattle cupcake baker Jody Hall wants to become the Starbucks of weed food, and today, James Beard award winner Chef Mindy Segal announced the launch of her high-end edibles line in Illinois. 

A press release from Segal's new partners, Cresco Labs, touts the product launch as "first high profile, award-winning celebrity chef to attach her personal brand to products in the cannabis industry." Owner of Chicago's esteemed Hot Chocolate Restaurant, Segal won the illustrious James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in the Country in 2012.  

Cresco Labs is the largest cannabis cultivator in the newly medical state, and using their concentrate as an ingredient will allow Segal to craft edibles that will "be consistent every time and absolutely enjoyable to eat."

 Read More:http://www.hightimes.com/read/celebrity-pastry-chef-launches-edibles-company

Jack Frost (Hybrid)

Bred by Goldenseed, Jack Frost was developed over 5 years of persistence in order to improve on the potency and aroma of this strain. Initially with a lineage of Jack Herer, White Widow and Northern Lights #5, these strains were bred before then introducing Rainbow Kashmiri (now it its third year of exclusive inbreeding). THC content in this strain has been measured up to 22.6%.

Just because someone is arrested for marijuana, doesn’t mean that he or she has to incur the penalty and/or jail time that the law says goes along with their arrest and conviction. Usually we see this play out in the form of a jury nullification. A jury nullification occurs when the jury in a case refuses to convict someone because they feel the law the defendant is being accused of breaking is ridiculous. But every once in awhile we see a judge step up and do something somewhat similar.

That occurred recently in Canada, where a judge fined a man just $1.30 for growing 30 marijuana plants. Per Civilized.Life:

Mario Larouche, unable to secure a prescription for medical marijuana, resorted to growing 30 plants himself.

Larouche, a resident of the province of Quebec, was charged with possessing the plants, and lawyers for the province requested a sentence of $250 and 90 days in jail. Quebec Judge Pierre Chevalier, however, delivered a more lenient sentence of just a $1 fine plus 30 cent surcharge.

In explaining his sentence, the Judge welcomed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan to legalize and regulate marijuana, remarking on the ubiquitousness of cannabis in Canadian society, as well as the archaic laws governing possession of the plant.

Read More:http://www.theweedblog.com/canada-judge-fines-man-1-30-for-growing-30-marijuana-plants/