Hey, man, can't sleep? Psst. C'mere. I got something for ya. Good stuff. Naw, man, this'll make you snooze like a baby. So went the conversation between actress Rachel McAdams and her grocer -- well, I'm making that conversation up, but it must have been pretty close. Because Rachel, for whatever reason, went to her grocer for advice about what to do to cure her insomnia. Maybe she was looking for vitamins or a homeopathic remedy or something. But instead her grocer gave her, well, an herb. A green herb. One with a distinctive skunky bouquet. Call it pot, call it weed, call it marijuana. But don't call it a remedy for insomnia, because the last thing Rachel got when she puffed up this funky bammy was sleep.

I wasn't particularly surprised to learn that the results of a second inquest into the tragic death of Amy Winehouse merely confirmed the original coroner's report: The 27-year-old singer died of alcohol poisoning. I was however, saddened. Again. Because Winehouse was young and talented and it's absolutely tragic that her life was cut short. But also because I can't help but feel that a common misconception contributed to her demise: That alcohol is somehow less dangerous than the other (illegal) substances Winehouse worked so hard to give up: Heroin. Crack cocaine. Marijuana. Yes, these drugs are illegal. Yes, alcohol is perfectly legal. But numbers don't lie: According to the statistics, alcohol is the deadliest substance of all.

Last week, my 10-year-old son walked in and proclaimed, "Well, I learned some pretty inappropriate stuff in class today." Like most fifth graders, my kid rarely complains about hearing something he's not supposed to, but as it turned out, he was right ... or was he?

That day, a drugs and narcotics officer spoke to the class, which was all well and good. I'm sure I signed off on that lesson at some point. Though I don't recall signing off on a discussion that involved club drugs, pill parties, and roofies.

Yep, you heard me. Apparently, this lesson covered everything from the usual substances to why you should never leave your drink unattended in a club. Really?

The cure for cancer may be a ways off, but a young biologist in Madrid identified a plant with quite a bit of promise at slowing the disease. Yes, it's the very same plant that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency considers at the top of its schedule of controlled substances: Marijuana. Cristina Sanchez found that aggressive brain cancer cells died every time they were exposed to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana -- and other "cannabinoids." 

Believe it or not ... This happened back in 1998. And ever since, mounting evidence all over the globe has concurred that marijuana shows major promise for slowing cancer growth -- even going so far as to directly attack tumors -- as well as manage many cancer symptoms (nausea, pain, loss of appetite, fatigue). 

The health news for pot smokers just keeps getting better. Last week, researchers released a study concluding that occasional pot users suffered no long-term effects in terms of memory and mental function -- and in some cases actually scored better on memory tests than people who said they didn't touch the potent weed -- when they hit middle age. This week comes more research that'll tickle those who take an occasional toke -- and bring them even more bragging rights, especially over cigarette smokers: According to a long-term study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, low to moderate marijuana use has no significant negative effect on users' respiratory health, especially not when compared to regular tobacco use. Yep, according to the latest research, smoking two or three joints a month isn't nearly as bad for your lungs as puffing your way through eight or nine cigarettes a day.

Remember the Blair Witch Project? Well, star and filmmaker Heather Donahue is back with a slightly less scary stunt: A memoir about her year growing marijuana titled Grow Girl. Apparently the acting thing didn't work out -- plus that darn PMS kept turning her into a witch month after month. And that's how Heather hooked up with her medical marijuana license to treat her PMS and embarked on the grassy adventure of a lifetime.

Smoke Pot for PMS?!? At first glance that sounds like an EXCELLENT solution. Yes, we should definitely look into that. Sign me up for that medical study! But when I really think it through (while sober), I have to admit that maybe it's not for me.

Most Americans know how ubiquitous pot growing is in Northern California, if only due to Showtime's Weeds. When it comes to growing, there's a fine line between what's legal and what's not. But ever since 1996, there hasn't been a question in California about the use of the drug for medical purposes. For 15 years, medical marijuana has been legal and is typically distributed in legit marijuana dispensaries in the state. You cannot purchase medical pot without a card that you receive from a doctor. The presence of such dispensaries has even reduced the number of street dealers of marijuana, which in turn prevents kids and people without a prescription from buying the drug.

But as we all know, medical marijuana is NOT legal under federal law. The conflict has remained, for the most part, under the radar ... until last week. Federal officials sent warning letters to dozens of California dispensaries telling them to shut down in the next 45 days or risk arrest and property seizure.

If Montel Williams wants to sell me weed, so be it. The famous daytime talk show host isn't interested in talking to people about their problems anymore, but he'd still like to help them if they're in pain. He's opening a medical marijuana dispensary in Sacramento. The Abatin Wellness Cooperative (the name alone just gave me a contact high) is operational and in full compliance with the law.

Williams, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, has used medical marijuana to naturally alleviate his pain. He says that prescription drugs nearly killed his kidneys and found a medicinal joint to be a welcome pain reliever. His facility aims to provide safe access for patients who are prescribed to smoke pot. But what do you get when you eat marijuana?