In Brief: Minnesota to set up medical marijuana program

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota joined the ranks of 21 other states Thursday where marijuana is a legal medicine.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton signed legislation that sets up a medical marijuana program with tight controls over qualifying conditions and the way it is administered. People won’t be able to smoke marijuana legally or access it in leaf form.

Medical conditions eligible for the treatment include cancer, glaucoma and AIDS.

If all goes as planned, the drug will be available in pill, oil and vapor form in mid-2015. Two manufacturing facilities and eight dispensaries will be permitted statewide.

‘Jeopardy!’ champ increases winnings

LOS ANGELES – “Jeopardy!” champion Julia Collins is keeping her winning streak alive.

The TV game show says Collins scored her 19th consecutive victory on Thursday’s contest. That puts her in a second-place tie for most consecutive non-tournament wins.

She shares the No. 2 spot with season 22 contestant David Madden. The top “Jeopardy!” player is Ken Jennings, who won 74 straight games in season 21 for a total of $2.5 million.

The 31-year-old Collins’ latest victory pushed her cash prize total to $410,000.