Known as the preeminent cannabis festival, the High Times Cannabis Cup is attended by people from all corners of the globe when it is held each year. Annually in November, the Cannabis Cup takes place in Amsterdam, where famously, smoking cannabis is legal.

There is a petition posted on the White House website (whitehouse.gov) that has garnered quite a bit of attention in a short amount of time. Since it was posted on September 22nd, 2011, there have been well over 50,000 signatures. WhiteHouse.gov petitions require only 5000 signatures to receive a public response from the Obama administration.

This petition calls on lawmakers to 'Legalize and Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol.'

Medical Cannabis is gaining popularity as a treatment for chronic pain and dozens of other conditions. But, how does it really stack up against pain medicine like Vicodin or other opiates? It should be noted that most people who are against the idea of medical marijuana usually do not know enough about it. When they are able to see a comparison about the side effects of medical marijuana vs opiates then they can make a more informed decision. Before taking a stand against passing further legislation around medical marijuana get informed.