Welfare

The Michigan Senate wound up its 2013 session by a passing a welfare drug testing bill. The House already passed one. Both will be alive when the legislative session starts up next year.

Uruguay's president defends marijuana legalization there and finds an ally, marijuana bills are popping up in some surprising countries, the Justice Department says we have a federal prison crisis, and much more.

It looks like Washington state medical marijuana patients will continue to be able to grow their own, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes wants to welcome pot tourists, the Michigan Senate takes aim at welfare drug users, Indian Maoists are profiting from prohibition, and more.

Movement toward legal marijuana commerce continues in Washington, movement toward dispensaries continues in Massachusetts, medical marijuana polls very well in Florida, and more.

Headlines about the "cocaine congressman voting to drug test food stamp recipients" are at best only technically accurate, and miss the support Rep. Radel has shown for compassionate sentencing reform.

North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature has overriden the Republican governor's veto of a welfare drug testing bill.

North Carolina's governor has vetoed a welfare drug testing bill passed by his Republican colleagues in the legislature. It's "not a smart way to combat drug abuse," the Republican elected earlier this year said.

A "for cause" welfare drug testing bill has passed the North Carolina legislature and now awaits the governor's signature.

The Michigan House has passed a suspicion-based welfare drug testing bill that would set up a pilot program in three counties. The measure now moves to the state Senate.