Of the 473 adult cannabis users surveyed by the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia, more than 86 percent of respondents reported giving up one or more of the substances for pot, with the majority (80.6 percent) forgoing pharmaceuticals for the non-toxic alternative. Those under 40 were also more likely to substitute all three for cannabis, demonstrating its dynamic appeal for both recreational and medical purposes. People suffering from chronic pain might be particularly inclined to use cannabis instead of prescription medication in light of recent studies that establish its effectiveness at treating pain, improving the quality of patients' lives, and posing no risk of serious adverse side effects. But there are numerous studies that support the idea of marijuana as a safer, more effective alternative to dangerous, addictive pills for a range of illnesses. [Full article]

Almost 5,000 children  - including babies - have disappeared from council care in the past two years, new figures have revealed. Nineteen babies have vanished for months at a time, and one infant - just a few months old - has still not been found two years later. The figures have been unveiled under a freedom of information request. They show that 4,852 looked-after children were reported missing between January 2012 and December 2013, the Sunday Times reports. There were 24,320 cases logged - as many disappeared more than once. The large majority were teenagers but dozens of those who disappeared were between four and nine years old. The number includes a one-year-old girl missing since July 2013. [Full article]