More states are turning to medical marijuana as an alternative to the addictive prescription painkillers that have driven the public health crisis.
Why it matters:Recent studies found that states with legalized medical marijuana laws have seen lower opioid overdose death rates compared to states that ban it.
A top British official has given the U.S. permission to pursue the death penalty against "The Beatles," two British ISIS fighters responsible for the 2014 execution of American journalist James Foley, The Telegraph reports.
Why it matters: The decision by the United Kingdom's home secretary, Sajid Javid, has drawn the ire of human rights groups and politicians for breaking the U.K.'s longstanding policy of opposing extradition of criminals that could face the death penalty. It's one of several capital punishment debates that have sprung up recently in countries all over the world.
The federal government, after several years of debate, is taking an aggressive stance toward the hospital industry and proposing to lower what it pays for routine doctor visits at hospital outpatient departments.
The bottom line: Medicare is tired of paying hospitals higher rates for services that used to be done in cheaper settings, like a doctor's office. Expect hospitals to fight this tooth and nail.
