Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.  Happily, this week was less tumultuous than last, but there’s still some news to digest.

Despite the news coming from the Justice Department last week, some states are moving to legalize weed use.

(Reuters) – Vermont’s senate on Wednesday passed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana use, which would make the state the first in the nation to do so through the legislative process rather than a ballot initiative.

The marijuana movement is charging ahead. To date eight states — California, Colorado, Nevada to name a few — have legalized weed for recreational use since 2012. And the trend continues. 

Meanwhile, our friends to the north are taking their marijuana businesses global.

A major Canadian licensed producer has sealed an arrangement with a Dutch pharmaceutical distributor to market and sell its medical marijuana products in 17 countries.

A Toronto company billing itself as the “WebMD of medical cannabis” has acquired Massachusetts-based Canna Care Docs, which certifies MMJ patients in 21 “evaluation centers” across nine states.

Will more states legalize?  Will Canada become the world leader in pot distribution?  Only time will tell…