State & Local Executive Branches

Fewer drug arrests mean more violent crime, right? Wrong, at least in San Francisco.

That federal offensive against medical marijuana distribution in California is rubbing a lot of people the wrong way, including a growing number of elected officials.

A Florida federal district court judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking Florida's welfare drug testing program.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a hemp bill, calling the federal ban on hemp production "absurd" as he did so. But that didn't mollify industry groups.

The RAND Corporation has been caught in a political buzz saw since it dared to claim that medical marijuana dispensaries didn't cause crime to increase. Now, it has pulled those research results pending further review.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a pair of bills that will expand syringe access and help slow the spread of infectious diseases.

Bowing before federal threats, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee has put plans to open three state-registered and -regulated medical marijuana dispensaries in the deep freeze. Next step for advocates -- the courts.

Montana's entire congressional delegation and its attorney general have stepped to oppose the ATF's contention that medical marijuana patients cannot possess firearms or ammunition.

Federal gun control laws have long barred "addicts" or "illegal drug users" from owning firearms, but a recent restatement of that law with explicit reference to medical marijuana patients is raising eyebrows -- and concerns.