Large crowds arrived at Salem’s Alternative Therapies Group last Saturday as it opened its doors to recreational marijuana sales. Increased security and police activity is expected in the area, yet crime incident reports obtained by MuckRock point to a history of minimal criminal activity around current medical marijuana dispensaries and future retailers.

Is taking out a patent on the medical uses of marijuana’s primary drug component an acknowledgement that, yes, marijuana has some health-beneficial effects? Not according to the DEA.