Last week, Maryland’s body of cannabis policymakers, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, unanimously decided to place multiple rigid regulations on advertisements for cannabis products and services. While the regulations are called “restrictions” in the official ruling, there are so many that the state has effectively banned all forms of advertising for anything related to medical cannabis consumption.

As the medical cannabis program rolls out in Maryland — more than four years after the state's General Assembly passed a law to legalize it — residents are obtaining medical cards and seeking treatment faster than anyone predicted, writes Diana-Ashley Krach. New Frontier Data predicts that sales will likely hit $100 million by the year’s end. All this movement means more dispensaries and more choices for patients. So before you walk into the next available retail location, look at the top dispensaries to determine what will suit your needs the best.

Medical marijuana sales in Maryland are surpassing a previous forecast and could reach $100 million this year.

The Baltimore Sun reports that medical marijuana sales totaled $67 million for the first nine months of 2018.

A market research firm predicted last year that the state’s sales in 2018 would be about $46 million. New Frontier Data Senior Economist Beau Whitney said sales could now hit $100 million in December.

State lawmakers have expressed concern that the state’s new medical marijuana industry could be dominated by a handful of big companies. Lawmakers approved legislation earlier this year aimed at improving diversity in the industry by increasing the number of grower licenses and licenses to process marijuana.

Seedo, listed as Eroll Grow Tech Ltd, the developer of what it calls the world’s first fully-automated grow device for medical cannabis, announced that it raised $2 million from Cannabics Pharmaceuticals, a US-Israeli company that develops personalized cannabinoid medicine focused on cancer and its side effects.

Seedo says its at-home growing device, which looks similar to a mini-fridge, is managed and controlled by an AI-powered algorithm and monitored via a smartphone application. Seedo holds a medical cannabis R&D license from the Israeli Health Ministry.

Dave hadn’t slept for more than three hours straight after a series of botched surgeries 18 years ago left him with chronic pain so intense it kept him awake at night. Relief was hard to come by — until he made a tray of marijuana-infused brownies. Half of a small fudgy square was enough to put him to sleep for 14 hours.

“It was the first thing I found that worked for the nerve pain,” he said.

Medical marijuana has since become part of the 62-year-old’s pain-management regimen, and he’s one of thousands of patients in Maryland who are ingesting cannabis extracts to treat their conditions.

The grass is getting much greener for the cannabis industry on the East Coast, as Maryland continues to ramp up the licensing of dispensaries.

How does medical marijuana help glaucoma patients? The answer is multi-layered and complex.

One of the many uses of medical marijuana is its use as a treatment for glaucoma.

This optic nerve condition can lead to loss of vision or blindness without medical assistance. Marijuana has long been hailed for its ability to reduce eye pressure, which causes glaucoma. Here we explore the question: How does medical marijuana help glaucoma patients?

What Is Glaucoma?

The threat of dangerous synthetic cannabis has spread to five states, prompting health departments to go full force.

A measure to help improve diversity in Maryland's new medical marijuana industry received final approval by the General Assembly on Monday, as lawmakers worked toward a midnight deadline when the legislative session is scheduled to end.

Maryland lawmakers also will be working on measures designed to improve school safety and fight crime.

The medical marijuana measure increases the number of grower licenses from 15 to as many as 22. Two licenses are set aside for two companies that sued over the licensing process and four more will be up for grabs.