State & Local Legislatures

California's medical marijuana dispensary numbers are shrinking under a two-pronged local and federal attack, leaving patients in the lurch. Advocates want more of a fightback.

It's been a good week for medical marijuana in state legislatures, with New Hampshire now poised to become the 19th medical marijuana state, and that's just for starters. Meanwhile, the war of attrition against California dispensaries continues.

An Oregon bill that would create a state-registered system of medical marijuana outlets has passed the House and now moves to the state Senate.

Well, at least the DEA didn't raid any dispensaries in the last week. In California, the battle continues at the local level, while progress is being made in several states.

New Hampshire is poised to become the next medical marijuana state after House and Senate negotiators reached a compromise on the legislation that satisfies the concerns of Gov. Maggie Hassan. That means no patient grows.

Texas will start requiring some applicants for unemployment benefits to pass a drug test after Gov. Perry signed a bill into law last Friday.

Nevada took steps on two drug refom fronts Wednesday, as Gov. Sandoval signed bills creating a medical marijuana dispensary system and decriminalizing syringe possession.

California dispensaries continue their vanishing act, thanks to feds and local officials, but Arizona fends off a challenge, Oregon adds PTSD to its list of approved conditions, and frustrated New Jersey patients rally.

In New Jersey, the Senate Judiciary Committee is where marijuana decriminalization bills get stalled. A new poll may help prod legislators to move on them.

A Maine marijuana legalization bill morphed into a bill to allow a popular vote on legalization, but even that couldn't pass the House. If solons don't act, activists are looking at a citizen initiative in 2016.