By ryannphilippe

Ryan Philippe is a molecular biologist and geneticist, currently working on his Ph.D. in Botany at the University of British Columbia. His actual work involves studying plant-insect interactions, but his interests range from natural products diversity to stellar evolution. He eventually wants to contribute to Mars mission planning (so that he can hitch a ride and finally go home).

HALF BAKED SCIENCE: A PRIMER ON MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Cannabis (marijuana) is among the most widely used of all psychoactive drugs. Despite the fact that its possession and use is illegal in most countries, cannabis is used regularly by as many as 25 million people in North America and Europe and by millions more in other parts of the world. There has been renewed interest in the potential medical uses of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) in recent years, with voters in several areas of Canada strongly supporting such a move. Opinion polls suggest similarly strong popular support for the reintroduction of medical cannabis in the USA, the UK, and many…