A group of parents of epileptic children called on Commonwealth Court on Thursday to toss out a lawsuit filed by a would-be medical marijuana grower. Calling the suit “speculative, myopic and selfish,” the parents say it threatens their children’s health and could subject caregivers to eventual arrest and criminal charges.

RELATED: Lawsuit to Halt Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Program Could Negatively Impact Patients

Keystone ReLeaf LLC, which counts a former mayor of Bethlehem, Pa., as a principal backer, did not win one of 12 permits to grow cannabis that were awarded in June by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The company claims to have suffered “irreparable harm” as a result. In a suit filed in mid-September, Keystone ReLeaf demands that the state shut down Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program, rescind all issued permits, and start from scratch.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health filed to have the suit dismissed, saying Keystone ReLeaf filed an incomplete application, missed the deadline “through the fault of its counsel,” and received a low score. In addition, the department argued that because the company had not applied for a growing permit in all six zones, it did not have standing to stop the program in all six.

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The Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence (ACRE) has received a $2.5 million grant from the Federal Government's National Health and Medical Research Council to help coordinate research into medicinal cannabis use.

University of Wollongong Professor Nadia Solowij has been appointed co-director of the new centre.

She has been researching the effects of long-term cannabis use on the brain for more than 25 years.

RELATED: International Cannabis News

"It's a world first in terms of the breadth and scope of what we propose for this research centre — we have five years to look at filling the gaps in medicinal cannabis being provided in the community safely," Professor Solowij said.

Her recent research has focused on therapeutic or harmful effects of different cannabinoids.

Professor Solowij said promising affects from cannabidiol (CBD) included reduction in psychiatric symptoms and cognitive improvements.

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Maine has named a new director of its medical marijuana program, a position that had been vacant for a year.

Craig S. Patterson, a former management analyst in the state Department of Health and Human Services, has filled the position that was last held by Marietta D’Agostino, who left the position about a year ago and is now director of compliance for a Massachusetts-based biotech firm that focuses on the cannabis industry.

STATE BY STATE: Maine Cannabis News

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Patterson is now the new director, but has not answered any other questions, like his hire date, salary or relevant job experience. According to state records, Patterson has been a state employee for about two years, most recently as a DHHS management analyst.

Patterson inherits a program that oversees a fast-growing and changing industry. In 2016, Maine medical providers printed 51,324 certificates for patients to use medical marijuana, a 36 percent increase from 2015. The number of individual caregivers increased 44 percent to 3,258 in 2016, and their employees jumped from 163 to 224. Dispensary employees increased from 124 to 196.

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GATINEAU, QC - October 12, 2017 - The Hydropothecary Corporation has announced the official groundbreaking on its 250,000 sq. ft. greenhouse expansion. When completed, the $25 million building will create an additional 100 full-time jobs with benefits at the Hydropothecary’s Gatineau, Quebec facility, bringing the company’s total employment to over 200 people, according to a press release.

The expansion will bring total production capacity to 300,000 sq. ft., allowing Hydropothecary to produce 25,000 kgs of dried cannabis annually. This phase of the company’s expansion has been fully funded by past financings.

“With this expansion of our production capacity, we are boldly signaling our intent to not only expand our well-established  presence in the medical marijuana market, but to become a major player in the legal adult-use recreational market,” said Hydropothecary CEO and Co-Founder Sebastien St-Louis.

Hydropothecary was recently awarded the Coup de Coeur at the Quebec Job Creation Awards Gala held in Quebec City on October 4th. The awards are given annually to honor major job creators in Quebec and its 17 administrative regions.

“As Quebec’s only licensed producer of cannabis, we are proud of our contribution to Quebec’s economy and we look forward to collaborating with government decision-makers on the development of a safe, regulated cannabis industry which responds to the health and security concerns of Québécois,” added Mr. St-Louis.

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, employees and members of the community.