Health Headlines for Friday, January 8

First Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in New York Open

New York Times

New York joined the ranks of nearly half the states on Thursday in allowing the use of medical marijuana with the opening of eight dispensaries statewide, serving a variety of tinctures, concentrates, vapors and other forms of the drug.

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Why a Mild Winter Is a Win for Health Insurers

Bloomberg Business

A warm winter is helping create the slowest start to the U.S. flu season in five years, during what is typically a dangerous time of year for the elderly and a costly one for health insurers.

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More than 11.3 million Americans signed up for Obamacare, HHS says

Washington Post

More than 11.3 million people have signed up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to data released Thursday that provides the first national snapshot of enrollment for 2016.

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Meat industry wins round in war over federal nutrition advice

Politico

The Obama administration released new advice Thursday about what Americans should eat to stay healthy, walking a tightrope between health and food industry groups pitted in a bitter fight over what foods the government should encourage or vilify.

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Walgreens Boots Defends Valeant Deal and Might Look to Make More

Wall Street Journal

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. is defending its recent agreement with drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., saying the arrangement will result in lower costs for customers and could even be used as a model for future deals.

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