State & Local Legislatures

Gov. Pat Quinn (D) Thursday signed into law the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, making Illinois the 21st medical marijuana state.

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

A dispensary is now open for business in the nation's capital, several dozen are coming to Arizona, dispensary and cultivation battles continue in California, Massachusetts advocates prepare to protest restrictive regulations, and the DEA hits a Michigan dispensary.

New Hampshire becomes the 19th medical marijuana state, some folks in Kentucky would like it to become one, too; and the local tussling continues in California. And in late news, the DEA strikes in Washington State.

Kentucky state Sen. Perry Clark will introduce his medical marijuana bill for the third time in January, but there is a hearing in August, and Clark and supporters are bringing the noise.

Voters in Maine's largest city will decide for themselves whether to legalize the possession of up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana after the city council punted rather than adopt a citizen-initiated ordinance.

A dispensary opens in Arizona as more get shut down in California and more California communities move to shut them down or keep them out. There's more news, too.

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.

Utah is finding there's not much there there when it comes to drug-abusing welfare applicants, and it's paying good money to do so.

The North Carolina legislature is about to pass a welfare drug testing bill. At least they took out the part where county employees had to tell people they wouldn't be tested if they didn't apply for benefits.