State & Local Executive Branches

Florida Gov. Rick Scott's drug testing crusade has just cost state taxpayers $190,000 after a federal judge ordered the state to pay attorneys' fees in an employee drug testing lawsuit bought by state employee unions. His other drug testing schemes aren't faring well, either.

It's been fairly quiet over the holidays, but medical marijuana is legal in Massachusetts now!

Dispensary wars continue in California, a package of restrictive bills passes in Michigan, and DC's long-awaited dispensaries are a step closer to opening.

Detroit voted to legalize possession of up to an ounce by adults on private property, but local law enforcement is either ignoring the vote or still trying to figure out how to respond.

Lots of action -- good, bad, and ugly -- in California this week, plus a Washington appeals court ruling that appears to clear the way for dispensaries.

And then there were two. It is now legal to possess up to an ounce of marijuana or grow six plants in Colorado. The Rocky Mountain State now joins Washington state, where it went legal last week.

Yes, it's true: Medical marijuana dispensaries really are coming in Arizona and New Jersey, and clinics to Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Harborside wins in state court, and Mendocino County ponders a federal subpoena. There's more news, too.

25 to life for drug possession? Not anymore, not under California's now amended Three Strikes law. The first drug prisoner to be released after voters approved Prop 36 last month is now a free man.

A brilliant documentary by filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen tells the story of Montana's medical marijuana wars. Code of the West is definitely worth watching.

Everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop after last week's marijuana legalization votes in Colorado and Washington. Here's what we could see happen.