Philly's 1st Medical Marijuana Dispensary opens in Fishtown

May 30, 2018

The first medical marijuana dispensary of Philadelphia opened its doors Wednesday morning in the city’s Fishtown neighborhood.

Restore Integrative Wellness, a spa-like facility on the 900 block of Frankford Avenue, opened its doors to at 11 AM on Wednesday.

Around 20 patients stopped in to Restore to buy medicinal cannabis in Philadelphia, for the first time ever.

According to Vip Patel, co-owner of Restore, the medical marijuana dispensary has 30 people who gave a cost-free 30-minute consultation to the first-time patients to help them find the best medical marijuana strains and administration methods for their conditions.

Restore features simplistic decor and a large foliage backdrop behind the front desk. The dispensary has been made greenery to help the patients to feel comfortable and relaxed.

“We feel fantastic – we made history today,” said Vipul Patel, Restore’s chief operating officer, who attended the opening ceremony of the dispensary. “It’s a great day for us. We hope it’s a great day for Philadelphia,” he added.

Like dozen other medical marijuana dispensaries that have opened since Pennsylvania legalized medicinal cannabis in April 2016, Restore will sell different kinds of supplies like cannabis concentrates, tinctures, capsules, and vape pens and cartridges.

Products range in price between $20 and $90.

To buy medical marijuana, you must suffer from one of 21 serious conditions and obtain a state ID card.

Only those patients suffering from 21 serious health ailments including cancer, autism, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis will be allowed to use medical marijuana products after applying to the state Health Department for a patient registration card and getting a certified recommendation from a state-approved doctor.

Restore will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m and eventually add evening and Sunday hours.

Appointments with pharmacists can be made on the official website of Restore or by calling 215-999-2980.

Restore plans to launch the second dispensary in Elkins Park within three months.

Dayton Citizen demands ‘sanctuary’ for Medical Marijuana Patients

May 30, 2018

In a move to allow patients who have been prescribed medical marijuana to possess the drug without fear of criminal charges, Latasha Rountree, a Dayton resident has asked the city to pass “sanctuary” policies.

Rountree’s demand came following the delay of setting-up of shops by the medical cannabis industry in Ohio.

While attending the city commission meeting this week, Latasha Rountree said the establishment of the state’s marijuana dispensaries in the state has been delayed in the state. This has led to the arrest of some of the patients who were found possessing a drug they need for medical purposes.

Rountree, who described herself as cannabis patient and an entrepreneur, also urged the city neither to arrest the patients who have been prescribed marijuana nor cite them for possession.

Rountree asked the city to define “affirmative defense” for law-abiding marijuana patients. Besides, she suggested that doctors can give Ohioans a statement of affirmative defense to prove they are following state law when they possess marijuana.

Meanwhile, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley thanked Rountree for bringing her concerns forward to the commission clarifying Dayton is one of the few cities in the region that has not banned medical marijuana businesses.

“We are paying very close attention because we want it to be regulated well and monitored but we also want people who are in pain to be able to receive the medical treatment they need,” the Mayor said.

Whaley assured to talk to the city’s law department regarding Rountree’s requests, however, refused to make any kind of commitment.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy, earlier this week, said it was postponing the expected announcement of medical marijuana dispensary license awards saying the information gathering was incomplete.

The medical marijuana was legalized for the cultivation, processing, testing, dispensing, and medical use after the House Bill 523 took effect September 8, 2016.

Man arrested for seeking Medical Marijuana Legalization

May 29, 2018

Cleveland Police in Ohio of U.S. arrested Friday evening a 39-year-old man who was working to get support for the legalization of medical marijuana.

Police arrested Jerome Johnson on charges of under the influence of intoxicants (DUI) after they found marijuana in his car.
According to Cleveland cops, someone called the officers after seeing Johnson's car driving in ditches just west of Cleveland. After reaching the spot a short time later, officers found Johnson in his car at a four-way stop sign continuously flashing his headlights on and off.

During inspection in the car, police say they found different illegal items which included one pound of marijuana, marijuana wax, marijuana oil, hashish, three loaded hand guns, several hundred rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia.

They informed Johnson, refusing to go through an intersection, was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Before his arrest from his car, as police say, Johnson had been at the Cleveland's carnival night where he met several people seeking their support for the legalization of medical marijuana.

Police booked Johnson on several complaints including driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUI), possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and transporting a loaded firearm post his arrest.

The 39-year-old man was lodged in Pawnee County jail. However, he is now out of jail on bond.

District 51 Board ponders Medical Marijuana Policy

May 29, 2018

The members of School District 51 Board of Education are mulling over introducing a new policy that would allow parents to administer medical marijuana to their children on school grounds.

The board members considered the policy for the first time last week. As per the new policy, a child, who has a medical marijuana license, can be given non-smokeable marijuana like oils, tinctures, edible products or lotions on the premises of the school by his/her parents, guardians or caregivers.

"We want to take into account that we've got students who have some medical needs, and so we're trying to accommodate that, but there could be issues with the federal government," said School board member Paul Pitton.

However, the policy may need further revision before its approval.

"It's been hard for all of us to go in that direction, but there's a lot of political pressure to do this," Pitton said. "The bottom line is we're trying to make sure we take care of kids and allow them to have the best education possible. So if (medical marijuana) is something that for the very select few makes a difference and helps them, I guess we have to go along with that," he added.

Permission for medical marijuana on school campus can be revoked if the student or the parent violates the policy "or demonstrates an inability to responsibly follow this policy's parameters."

Additionally, the School District superintendent can suspend the policy "if the federal government indicates that the district's federal funds are jeopardized" by medical marijuana being administered on school grounds.

Like other school districts in Colorado, District 51 is yet to create rules based on a 2015 state law that allows parents to administer medical marijuana to their children at school.

In a move to allow school nurses and qualified staff members to administer medical marijuana to students at school, Colorado lawmakers passed House Bill 1286 this year. However, the bill is yet to get Gov. John Hickenlooper's signature.

If signed by Hickenlooper, HB1286 would not require school nurses or staff to administer medical marijuana, but it gives them the option to do so and regulates the process.

Ohio Pharmacy Board delays licensing to Marijuana Dispensaries

May 24, 2018

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy delayed the expected announcement of medical marijuana dispensary licenses Wednesday.

The Pharmacy Board said it canceled the special meeting two days after it was announced because information gathering was incomplete.

According to Cleveland.com, the Ohio Department of Commerce is awaiting background check information and to verify whether the proposed locations are at least 500 feet from schools and churches, the minimum requirements to get the licenses. Meanwhile, at least four sites failed to meet the 500-foot buffer rule.

Cameron McNamee, a board spokesman, said “Postponing the announcement of the awards is due to some unexpected delays in information required to validate an applicant meets the minimum license qualifications.”

“It does not have to do with the applicant's scores, as those have been finalized since March. The Board fully expects that all outstanding information will be obtained or confirmed in order to move ahead with the issuance of provisional licenses in June,” he added.

While there are 376 applications, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy can award dispensary licenses for as many as 57 sites statewide and the winners will be announced at the board's three-day monthly meeting beginning June 4.

The medical marijuana was legalized for the cultivation, processing, testing, dispensing, and medical use after the House Bill 523 took effect September 8, 2016.

After two years of preparations, Ohio’s medical marijuana program is supposed to launch on September 8 statutory deadlines to be fully operational.

The state has been divided into four regions for the purposes of dispensary licenses while only 10 dispensaries will be initially licensed in northwest Ohio. Those regions were further divided into districts, so Lucas County will only be allowed two licenses when the program opens.

The commerce department - one of three state agencies overseeing Ohio's medical marijuana program - awarded 24 provisional cultivator licenses last year. Twelve went to large growers with up to 25,000 square feet of grow space, and 12 were for small growers with up to 3,000 square feet.

On the other hand, dozens of doctors have received certificates to recommend medical marijuana to their patients to treat nearly two dozen conditions allowed under the law in Ohio. However, the Pharmacy Board has not set up a registry for patients, who must register to receive a patient card necessary to buy medical marijuana.

No immediate arrest for Marijuana Smoking: NYC Mayor

May 24, 2018

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio this weekend told the police officials not to arrest people who are found smoking marijuana in public place.

According to a City hall aide, the Mayor made it clear that ending the arrests of public marijuana smoking is one of the changes he wants to bring.

Currently, a person, if found smoking in public places is being arrested and get summon if spotted possessing even small amounts of marijuana.

After his meeting with Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance on May 15, the Mayor had announced about marijuana enforcement.

While De Blasio publicly called on NYPD to come up with a plan to make changes to its marijuana enforcement policies in the next month, Vance said he would end prosecution of marijuana possession and smoking cases from August 1.

The move seems like another step towards New York legalizing marijuana for recreational

NYDP Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Phil Walzak said that the NYDP, following the Mayor’s request, has already begun a working group to evaluate its marijuana enforcement procedures. Besides, the NYDP will present its recommendations within 30 days, he added.

“The working group is reviewing possession and public smoking of marijuana to ensure enforcement is consistent with the values of fairness and trust, while also promoting public safety and addressing community concerns,” Walzak said.

Police had arrested people for smoking or possessing small amounts of marijuana a little more than 5,500 times in Manhattan last year.

Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under federal law and is illegal. Some states, like New York, have decriminalized marijuana, making it a violation and not a crime to possess small amounts of cannabis.

The New York law allows people for medical marijuana; however, it has put a restriction on smoking the cannabis.

Illinois House votes for Medical Marijuana in School

May 20, 2018

The Illinois Senators this week overwhelmingly voted to allow sick children to bring medical marijuana with them to school

According to Chicago Tribune, the bill was passed in the House 50-2 and has been sent to Governor Bruce Rauner for a decision on its fate. He has now has 60 days to act on the bill.

As per the new bill, the students who qualify for medical marijuana can consume it on school premises, as long as they don’t smoke it.  The school officials would have to ensure marijuana's usage wouldn’t disrupt other students.

If the bill gets Rauner’s nod, will turn the schools into “drug-free zones” and allow parents, guardians or caregivers to administer drops or oils to the sick children at school.

The measure, called Ashley’s Law, has been named after 12-year-old Ashley Surin of Schaumburg.  The bill has been named after her as she takes medical marijuana to treat the epilepsy she developed during chemotherapy treatments for leukemia.

Ashley’s parents, who were in the Senate chambers for the vote Thursday, say the measure will benefit many more children who use medical marijuana to treat serious illnesses like Ashley.

“We feel like we’re watching a miracle happen,” Ashley’s mother, Maureen Surin, said. “She thinks better, she talks better. She used to do one- and two-word sentences. Now she speaks in run-on sentences. Her life has been given back to her.”

After Ashley’s parents sued in federal court for the right to give her medical marijuana at her school, Hanover Highlands Elementary School in Hanover Park, officials from Schaumburg School District 54 and the Illinois Attorney General’s office, had in January, agreed to let Ashley store the drug in the school nurse’s office. Besides she was permitted to put on the lotion at school. However, a change in state law would be needed to let other children do so.

Current Illinois law, effected in 2014, allows children under 18 to take medical marijuana if two doctors certify that they have a medical condition that qualifies. But the new proposal would change current law, which prohibits possessing marijuana on school grounds.

Legal Medical Marijuana Dispensary opens in Grover Beach

May 20, 2018

In the first of its kind, San Luis Obispo County opened its first marijuana dispensary in Grover Beach Saturday since it was legalized effective January 1, 2018.

Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals attended the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new facility at 1053 Highland Way called 805 Beach Breaks along with members of the city council and chamber of commerce.

The 805 Beach Breaks, where lines began forming at 9 AM, features a 1,800-square-foot dispensary with an additional 900-square-foot manufacturing space.

The 805 Beach Breaks, a brightly colored, yet modern feeling store, opened its doors as the first marijuana dispensary in SLO County a year after submitting it's application.

One of the co-owners of the 805 Beach Breaks, who requested to not have his name published, said he got positive feedback from the 20 customers to whom he spoke.

He said the shop currently sells medical marijuana, because adult recreational use has not yet been passed by the city. The owner said he hopes that could come as early as July.

About 15 workers have been employed in the dispensary where live music, food trucks and vendors helped to create a positive vibe around the 805 Beach Breaks.

The owner said, inside the facility, touch screen computers guide patients through information on each product, health facts, and price.

He said the patients cannot enter the store without their medical marijuana card or recommendation from a doctor and a state ID. They are then verified a second time once inside.

Security has been beefed-up in the store. The facility is highly guarded with cameras, restricted access doors, and security guards.  

Also as a part of the security measures, the visuals are being sent to the Grover Beach Police Department.

Also, the owner said, the 805 Beach Breaks will apply for its recreational marijuana license in the coming months as well.  

Speaking on the accession, Shoals said, "It's taken a while to basically get to the point to realize we're talking about legal businesses operating in a legal way."

The Mayor further said that before Saturday's celebration, the Grover Beach City Council established laws on regulation, taxation, and operation with the hope that revenue generation through such medical marijuana dispensaries will help them to pay for core services like police, fire, and streets as well.

Marijuana saving My Daughter's Life: Greater Cincinnati Woman

May 20, 2018

Scarlett Leisure of Greater Cincinnati has claimed that marijuana is saving her daughter's life.

According to Leisure, her 3-year-old daughter, Savannah, was born with a rare disorder that causes what she calls a "catastrophic form of intractable epilepsy."

She claimed that there are only roughly less than 100 girls around the globe with the disorder Savannah has.

“Seizures were the norm during the first eight months of Savannah's life. She was always on Topamax, Keppra and Phenobarbital which had made her lifeless."

However, after knowing about medical marijuana to treat seizures in kids, Leisure started giving Savannah a legal oil derived from marijuana called cannibidiol, or CBD. Leisure also gives her minor daughter small amounts of THC, the ingredient in pot that's been illegal at the federal level for decades.

Speaking about the outcome of medical marijuana Leisure said, "We were told Savannah would never walk in her life. However, after we gave her legal oil derived from marijuana she started walking . It's life-saving medicine. It's why Savannah is here today, why Savannah is functioning, why she's playing, why she laughs. It's, yeah, it's everything, the reason she's living."

Leisure calls her family medical refugees and makes sure Savannah has a steady supply of medical marijuana for her use. But, she's also worried about staying in her Highland County home as members of the medical community in Greater Cincinnati have threatened to remove Savannah from the area since she doesn’t take anti-seizure drugs anymore.

"The fact that they would even threaten that is crazy because I would do anything to make sure Savannah has the best life she can possibly have," Leisure said.

Savannah and her parents, after getting helpful information from an organization called the Flowering Hope Foundation, have now left for Colorado Springs, where people dealing with similar medical issues have formed a community to support one another.

Leisure is hopeful that her daughter would get better in Colorado Springs, even mentally, as she will come across with many people in the community with similar medical issues.

Canadian Marijuana Industry eying Foreign Countries for Growth

May 20, 2018

Canadian cannabis companies are now eying on countries like Spain, Italy and Colombia as the next growth opportunities after a flurry of consolidation at home.

The Aurora Cannabis Inc. has recently agreed to acquire MedReleaf Corp. for $2.9 billion ($2.27 billion U.S.), the largest deal to date in the marijuana industry. This followed Edmonton, Alberta-based Aurora’s agreement to buy CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. in January for roughly $1 billion and several smaller deals.

With 90 publicly listed companies, which have a market value of about $31 billion, Canada has emerged as a global leader in the pot industry as it becomes the first Group of Seven country to legalize the drug for recreational use later this year. On the other hand, a ban at the federal level keeps pure-play U.S. pot companies from major exchanges south of the border.

Dan Daviau, chief executive officer of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., the leading Canadian investment bank in the sector said, “Recent mergers and acquisitions have given the companies the scale to start looking internationally for growth,” adding “Countries like Germany, for example, allow patients to be reimbursed for medical marijuana to treat a variety of symptoms.”

“The Canadian firms have the right cost of capital and industry knowledge to add value because the governments’ realization that the product is good for lots of different indications” he said.

However, the smaller Canadian firms also have plenty of options, he said.

“As the biggest isn’t always the best, the smaller guys and the guys in the middle need to decide what their strategy is,” Daviau said. “There are going to be some more big guys and some smaller niche guys.”

Graham Saunders, Canaccord’s vice chairperson and head of capital markets origination said, “All companies are in a race,” he said. “The faster you can use capital and deploy it properly and accretively, the better off you’re going be.”

Canaccord is hosting a cannabis conference in New York this week and has about 700 attendees enrolled.

Oregon Marijuana Growers turn to Hemp as Prices drop

May 19, 2018

The abundant supply of legal marijuana is driving Oregon pot prices to rock-bottom levels, prompting some nervous growers to start pivoting to another type of cannabis to make ends meet — one that doesn't come with a high.

According to the Associated Press, Oregon cannabis growers are changing with the times, replacing rows of full-THC cannabis with CBD-rich industrial hemp plants.

Oregon is now home to 353 industrial hemp growth licenses, up from only 12 in 2015, making it No. 2 after Colorado among the 19 states with active hemp cultivation.

Cannabis cultivators in Oregon are giving priority to cannabidiol or CBD, the non-psychoactive cannabis compound with near-miraculous medical application, while industrial hemp can be turned into any number of useful products like clothing, rope, ethanol and construction materials.

CBD oils and infused products, which are immensely popular in U.S. states both with or without legal marijuana, have been known to significantly decrease the effects of epilepsy. Besides, they are used for pain and stress relief, anti-inflammation, and general wellness.

Because Oregon’s adult-use legalization program offered licenses to most who applied without a cap on the number of permits, the Beaver State quickly became one of the nation’s most prolific weed producers, with Ganjapreneurs cultivating more than three times the amount of weed that Oregonians actually consume annually. Instead of dropping the price of pot to $20 an ounce, or testing federal authorities by shipping pounds out of state illegally, local growers are simply replacing their full-strength strains with CBD-laden varieties of hemp.

Eric Steenstra, president of advocacy group Vote Hemp said, "Oregon is definitely a hotbed of activity around this."

"There are a lot of growers who already have experience growing cannabis, and when you're growing for CBD, there are a lot of the same techniques that you use for growing marijuana," he added.

The legal cannabis growers of Oregon claim that they can sell off their cannabis overstock to less-green markets across the country if there was an end to federal prohibition. However, marijuana’s Schedule I status makes their claim legally impossible. On the other hand, industrial hemp has a more tenuous federal status, with products like hemp seeds, paper, and clothing sold legally around the country.

As per the DEA, CBD products derived from industrial hemp are still considered Schedule I drugs, but because industrial hemp is legal, hemp-derived CBD oils, edibles and topical are often shipped out of their home state, sold freely in health and wellness stores across the world and over the internet.

Beaver State growers, though there is possibility that their CBD products will be confiscated from the shelves of a Tennessee or Indiana health store, are confident that the hemp-derived wonder drug can change the tune of Oregon’s overstocked cannabis industry.

Trey Willson, a grower who transitioned from legal weed to industrial hemp this year, said, "We're starting to look at drastic means, like destroying product. At some point, there's no more storage for it. Whoever would have thought we'd get to the point of destroying pounds of marijuana?”

Willison further said “The (marijuana) market is stuck within the borders of Oregon — it's locked within the state," adding “But hemp is an international commodity now."

Pennsylvania certifies 8 Colleges for Medical Marijuana Research

May 18, 2018

Pennsylvania’s growing medical marijuana program is already making history just three months since its beginning in February.

The Keystone State, which had made efforts to expand cannabis access and availability within the first 100 days of legal sales, is now giving eight medical schools the green light to conduct clinical research on medical marijuana.

As per the reports of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Governor Tom Wolf named eight first-rate Pennsylvania institutions of higher learning as Certified Academic Clinical Research Centers in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program, signaling the first step towards clinical research to commence in the commonwealth.

Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia; Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia; Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey; Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia; Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh; Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Erie; and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia are the eight colleges which have been awarded the cannabis research permits.

Announcing the decision in a press conference recently, Governor Tom Wolf said, “Today, medical research is so limited by the federal government that only a few doctors can even have access to medical marijuana.”

“Pennsylvania's premiere medical schools will be able to help shape the future of treatment for patients who are in desperate need not just here, but across the country,” he added.

The regulatory and drug enforcement agencies have restricted any attempt to research marijuana’s medicinal efficacy and long-term benefits as the marijuana is still prohibited at the federal level in the United States. For the few researchers that have been approved to legally investigate ganja, the poor quality of government-grown ditch weed — cultivated by farmers at the University of Mississippi — has prevented the finding of usable insights into the controversial plant.

The approved universities will have their research funded and product provided by Pennsylvania’s licensed medical marijuana producers under the first-of-its-kind cannabis research program. Besides, scientists will be working directly with the Keystone State’s certified medical marijuana patients and products as the university studies will be tied directly to the state’s medical program.

Though the specific research initiatives are yet to get a start date, the approved universities will have to begin their cannabis studies within six months of initial licensing as per the state law.

Meanwhile, authorities of the certified colleges expressed their expectation that the groundbreaking research initiative will lead to significant advances in marijuana science.

Officials of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said, “It is important to note that Pennsylvania is the first and only state in the country to institute such a program, and we believe that the research that will be conducted by the School of Medicine in collaboration with [University of Pennsylvania Medical Center] will be of great importance in determining the safety, efficacy and effectiveness of medical cannabis products in treating specific diseases.”

Governor Tom Wolf had signed the Medical Marijuana Program into law on April 17, 2016.

Marijuana Crop Odor causes distraction in California

May 17, 2018

Marijuana has become a new crop of choice for the residents of Carpinteria, in south California, who grow them in their farmlands. However, a thick, skunk-like odor that emanates from the marijuana plants settles over the valley in the evenings and before dawn.

Xave Saragosa, a 73-year-old retired sheriff's deputy who was born and raised in the town and lives near a greenhouse that grows marijuana, said "We don't want a marijuana smell. We want fresh air." He claimed that the skunk smell keeps his wife up at night due to coughing.

The couple, though it is a reluctant choice since it also keeps out the cool ocean breezes, has tried stuffing pillows under doors, lighting incense and shutting windows in a bid to keep out the stench.

Adding to Saragosa, Toni Stuart, an 80-year-old retired Episcopal priest, said, “Though the odor doesn't creep into the area near the beach where I live, however, I am worried about the community changing.

"I would not like Carpinteria to be the 'cannabis capital' of Southern California. I like it the way it is. It's a very quiet, unpretentious beach town," she added.

"If people want to grow cannabis instead of flowers or avocados or macadamia nuts — I suppose that's their right. But they've got to think about their neighbors."

Carpinteria is about 85 miles from Los Angeles and is famous for its beaches, wine and temperate climate.

According to state data compiled by The Associated Press, the county amassed the largest number of marijuana cultivation licenses in California since broad legalization arrived on 1 Jan — about 800.

Two-thirds of them are in Carpinteria and Lompoc, a larger agricultural city about an hour's drive to the northwest.

Virtually all of Carpinteria's licenses are for small, "mixed-light" facilities, which essentially means greenhouses. However, some flower growers have started trying to grow cannabis.

Though Californians voted to legalize marijuana in 2016, countries and cities have a say on whether they allow cannabis production, distribution or sales.

Zimbabwe legalizes Marijuana for Medicinal & Scientific Use

May 08, 2018

Following the footprints of Lesotho, Zimbabwe has made it legal to produce marijuana for medicinal and scientific uses.

Lesotho became the first African country last year to issue a license for medical use of marijuana.

According to a recently issued government notice that was released by the Health Minister of the country, both individuals and companies can apply a license to grow marijuana for medicinal and scientific uses. However, the recreational use of marijuana still remains illegal.  

Zimbabwe has been considering legalizing the dug for the last several months, and will now become one of the few countries able to run it into a source of revenue.

The move is a step away from Zimbabwe’s traditional tough stance on drugs. Earlier, anyone found guilty of either producing or processing the drug was awarded 12 years of imprisonment.

Even the members of parliament in the largely conservative country who had advocated for legalization were often mocked.

While most of the African countries still criminalizes the production and use of marijuana, some countries including Malawi and Ghana are reportedly exploring ways to legalize it.  

A South African court last year had ruled that private use of marijuana was legal but the government appealed against the ruling at the constitutional court.

According to the United Nation’s 2017 World Drug Report, Africa is the second after the Americas in terms of production and consumption of cannabis.

Raccoon smokes Excessive Pot, rushed to Hospital

May 03, 2018

In an unbelievable and first-of-its-kind marijuana emergency, a woman rushed her pet raccoon to Wayne Township fire station in Indianapolis, USA, in the dead of the night to seek treatment for the animal.

The fire officers were shocked to see a raccoon, who had smoked excessive marijuana and was completely “stoned”.

Speaking about the incident to one of the media organizations, Wayne Township Fire Captain Mike Pruitt said, “As many times as the doorbell on the firehouse was pushed, the firefighters were quite certain that something bad was going on outside. However, after opening the door we found there wasn’t a fire and neither was the raccoon unwell. The animal had smoked too much marijuana.”

The pet raccoon appeared very lethargic and showed symptoms typical of when a person is exposed to marijuana, Mike Pruitt added.

Owner of the raccoon was forced to taken the pet to home and make it sleep as the fire officials couldn’t do much about the raccoon's condition except wait.

Although the matter appeared quite serious on that night, the fire department later posted the strange “emergency” situation on Twitter with a hilarious illustration of a raccoon that certainly looked extremely high.

Responding to the post, Twitterati also shared the good humor and started posting a string of funny tweets on their respective micro-blogging site.