Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Marijuana Policy Going on Now
An interesting hearing on federal marijuana policy in the face of medical marijuana in 20 states and legal marijuana in two states was supposed to start a few minutes ago.
Congress
Sen. Patrick Leahy
Leahy Blocks Release of Some Mexican Drug War Aid
Citing the failure of the US and Mexican governments to respond to requests to elaborate a strategic vision for Mexican drug war assistance, Sen. Patrick Leahy has put a hold on $95 million in Plan Merida spending.
Forest Service, National Guard members clean up marijuana grow site (ngcounterdrug.ng.mil)
Federal Bill Would Up Penalties for Marijuana "Trespass Grows"
A new federal bill would heighten penalties for "trespass grows" of marijuana on public or private land if they cause environmental damage. Or, we could just legalize it.
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) saw his hemp amendment pass the House, only to die along with the farm bill. (wikimedia.org)
Good, Bad Drug Measures Die Along with Farm Bill
An amendment to allow limited hemp production passed the House, but the Farm Bill it was attached to was surprisingly defeated. On the upside, that also killed an amendment that would have let states drug test food stamp recipients.
US Capitol, Senate side
Grassley Immigration Bill Amendment Affects Real and Imagined Drug Offenders
[image:1 align:right caption:true]An amendment to the Senate immigration reform bill by Sen.
uscapitol_8.jpg
Action Alerts: Farm Bill Hemp and Drug Testing, Mayors Marijuana Resolution
We sent out two action alerts on our email list yesterday. If you've not a subscriber, you can sign up here.
hemp field at sunrise (votehemp.com)
Hemp Legalization Amendment Introduced for Farm Bill
An amendment to allow industrial hemp planting has been added to the omnibus farm bill. Both Oregon senators and both Kentucky senators support it, and so does Vermont Sen. Pat Leahy.
Orrin Hatch, old-time drug warrior
Hatch Adds Marijuana Grow Amendment to Immigration Bill
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has added an amendment to the immigration reform bill that would create enhanced penalties for marijuana grows on federal public lands -- no matter what your citizenship status.
IRS building, Washington, DC
The IRS War on Medical Marijuana Providers [FEATURE]
The IRS's use of an obscure provision to deny standard exemptions to medical marijuana dispensaries is causing pain to patients and providiers, and inspiring some creative thinking among law professors.