by John K. Ross. The march towards good sense and marijuana freedom continues apace. To give a glimpse of what’s in store for 2014, here’s a 50-state guide to legislation and ballot measures that are in the works thus far this year. By my count, 13 states may follow Colorado and Washington State’s lead and legalize recreational use—either at ... MORE
by Christina Sarich. The perils of politically incorrect medicine. Illinois is allowing patients with over 41 medical conditions, including cancer and AIDS to legally smoke pot, but a new plan proposed by state officials Tuesday will require them to give up their Second Amendment rights – the right to own a gun. They will also be ... MORE
by Ashley Bailey. Supporters of legalizing marijuana in California have been given the
green light to start collecting signatures for a November ballot
measure. If passed, the Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act for California
would legalize recreational pot use for adults 21 and over. It would
also strengthen existing ... MORE
L.J. Devon on a new anti-gun brainstorm. Lawmakers from the state of Illinois have proposed new medical marijuana rules that coerce patients to surrender their Second Amendment right in the application process. The new medical marijuana "legalization" bill requires Illinois citizens to undergo a background check, be fingerprinted and ... MORE
by Miranda Green. After years in the political wilderness, marijuana lobbyists find themselves in a strange position as 2014 approaches: Suddenly their power and support are growing, lawmakers are courting them, and the prospects look brighter to build on major progress the movement made in 2012. Last year, voters in Colorado and ... MORE
by Radley Balko. The Denver Westword reports
that a pro-pot group fighting a new proposal to impose a 30 percent tax
on the drug -- which is now legal under Colorado law -- wants Joe
Biden's help. Earlier this month, a group opposed to Proposition AA, the measure to
establish tax rates on recreational marijuana sales in Colorado, staged a
rally at Civic ... MORE
Why the feds had to let legalization happen. Last month, 296 days after voters in Colorado and Washington
decided to legalize marijuana, the U.S. Justice Department responded
with a memo that leans toward accommodation rather than
confrontation. Last week, testifying before the Senate Judiciary
Committee, the author ... MORE
The victims of Obama's low priority. Karen Strand didn't think she'd get in trouble for having a small container of medical marijuana when she went hiking in Olympic National Park this summer. President Barack Obama, she remembered, had said the federal government had "bigger fish to fry" than people who follow state marijuana laws, ... MORE
Whether you use illegal substances or not. Many Americans who do not use illegal "drugs" assume exemption from drug war policies. But regardless of how much marijuana you do or don't smoke, the U.S. war on drugs affects nearly everyone. While some prohibition tactics are more obvious than others, the drug war has slyly pushed its way into ... MORE