Joshua James Waldron told the court he grew cannabis for research and medicinal purposes and never made a profit from his endeavour. A Queensland man caught growing copious amounts of cannabis in his family home has told a court he wants to be “valued in this country” for his work on the drug. Joshua James Waldron’s sentencing took a turn on Thursday after the Caboolture man said he didn’t agree with the prosecution’s claim he grew the drug for commercial purposes. The medici

Terpenes are what give different weed strains their own distinct scent. Olena Ruban/Getty Images Terpenes are compounds found in plants that give them their distinctive smells. Terpenes may influence how cannabis affects the brain, but research is still emerging. Common terpenes include pinene, which reduces anxiety, and linalool, which regulates mood and pain. Visit Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice. Terpenes are aromatic, naturally occurring compounds found

The number of medicinal cannabis prescriptions has surged 300 per cent nation-wide in the past year. More than a third of chronic pain sufferers have asked a GP about medical cannabis as a treatment option but many say they've faced reluctance, survey results show. Doctors typically cite cost and a lack of knowledge about how to access the treatment, as the main reasons for their negativity, according to a nationwide poll conducted by Chronic Pain Australia. The not-for-profi

Psoriatic arthritis is one of the most common forms of autoimmune arthritis. Because it produces often debilitating symptoms and there is no cure, it’s understandable why patients continue to seek complementary and alternative treatment options such as medical cannabis, especially given the unwanted side effects of prescription opioids for pain relief. Individuals with psoriatic arthritis hope cannabis will provide relief for both pain and inflammation, but what does the scie

A shift on cannabis policy is unlikely in the foreseeable future despite evidence presented to the inquiry. CREDIT: REUTERS The inquiry considered evidence on both the decriminalisation and legalisation of the drug before the axed recommendations of the inquiry were drafted. Decriminalisation removes criminal penalties for the possession or use of the drug, while legalisation removes further barriers and can open it up to regulation. The majority of evidence from Australian

A major UK trial of cannabis-based drug Sativex in treating the most aggressive form of brain tumour is to launch at 15 NHS hospitals, following promising results from a phase I study in 27 patients. The new phase II trial, led by the University of Leeds, will assess whether adding Sativex – an oral spray containing cannabinoids THC and CBD – to chemotherapy, could extend life for thousands diagnosed with a recurrent glioblastoma. Currently, it has an average survival of less

For more than five years, Ben Oakley unapologetically broke the law to beat a rare disease so terrifying it almost killed him — more than once. The 25-year-old, who suffers from Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), credits medicinal marijuana with not only saving his life but giving him his life back. Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder characterised by progressive muscle stiffness and repeated episodes of painful muscle spasms. Source: Facebook/Roll on Ben Oa