MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — A group has taken steps to become the first officially recognized marijuana-growing club in Uruguay, where lawmakers have made their country the world's first national marketplace for legal pot.

The Association of Cannabis Studies of Uruguay began the process by registering with the Education and Culture Ministry, Drug Control Chief Julio Calzada said Tuesday.

The club will have 40 members and will be headed by Laura Blanco. She told the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais that members will pay $300 each to join, and a monthly fee of up to $65. Some of the members will use the marijuana to treat medical conditions.

• Peter Williams says he can make $1billion in three years growing the drug
• Drug baron is trying to make his business into 'McDonald's of marijuana'
• Since January 1, more than 200 dispensaries have been set up in Denver

By Tom Leonard

Published: 16:52 EST, 19 June 2014 | Updated: 03:13 EST, 20 June 2014

Peter Williams waves a hand regally over a sea of dazzling green that seems to stretch off into infinity. These are the marijuana plants — room after brightly lit room of them — that have suddenly made him a very rich man.

Jamaica broke rank with CARICOM on ganja issue — St Lucia group

Complex Post Traumatic Disorder (C-PTSD) is a psychological scarring distinct from but similar to PTSD and borderline personality disorder.

The condition can spawn from prolonged captivity or entrapment in a social or interpersonal context, causing permanent trauma to the mind. The far-reaching symptoms include loss of control, helplessness, and deformations of identity and sense of self.

One man, who chose to remain anonymous, bravely agreed to share his story with us, providing an emotional and moving insight into his condition which so many others share. He then goes on to explain how the alleviating effect of cannabis use has brightened up his life forever.

Dr Henry Lowe, the founder and chief scientist with a local medicinal ganja research company, is optimistic that the Government will soon consider laws to govern the cultivation of the weed.

Yesterday, the Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding announced that the Government would be changing the law so that it is no longer a criminal offence to possess ganja weighing two ounces or less.

Instead offenders would be issued with a ticket payable outside of the courts.

The minister said the laws against the cultivation of the weed would remain in place.

However, Lowe says the matter of the cultivation of ganja for medicinal purposes has to be reconsidered.

New cannabis-related apps can help users locate a dispensary, check store/product reviews and place orders for pickup. With recreational weed going for approximately $15 per gram, mobile accessibility for the best products will be in increasing demand.

Whether you are a Colorado resident or future tourist there, check out these great, mobile cannabis resources:

1. CannaBuild

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Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer

KINGSTON, Jamaica:

The Portia Simpson Miller Cabinet has approved proposed amendments to the law that will decriminalise the possession of small amounts of ganja.

At the same time Justice Minister Mark Golding, who made the announcement today, says the government will soon table a bill in Parliament that will seek to expunge the criminal records of persons convicted for possession of small amounts of ganja.

Speaking at a Jamaica House press conference a short while ago, Golding said Cabinet has approved proposed changes to the Dangerous Drugs Act to make possession of 0.057 kilogram or less a non-arrestable offence.

Ministry of Health to launch electronic system to monitor prescription and use of medicines containing narcotics

• By Noorhan Barakat, Staff Reporter

Last week, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd brought attention to the dearth of regulation in edibles labeling when she wrote about eating too much of a THC-infused candy bar and spending eight hours in the fetal position. Readers laughed – a lot.

Cannabis extract treatment for severe childhood epilepsy to be fast-tracked in US

GW Pharmaceuticals' cannabis-extract treatment for severe childhood epilepsy is to be fast-tracked through the US drug approval system.

The Aim-listed company is currently testing its treatment, known as Epidiolex, on children with a rare but debilitating form of childhood epilepsy, known as Dravet Syndrome. Children with this condition do not respond to any existing epilepsy drugs.

US regulator the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants fast-track status to drugs thought to meet a previously unmet medical need. Drugs with this designation are given greater access to the regulator to help speed up the process of clinical testing, review and potential approval.