State & Local Legislatures

A trio of Democratic Party state legislators filed a Washington state marijuana decriminalization bill Wednesday.

The Michigan bureaucrats charged with drafting rules and regulations for the state's new, voter-approved medical marijuana program need to go back to the drawing board, patients and advocates demanded at a Monday hearing.

With Mexico's prohibition-related violence within earshot, the El Paso City Council Tuesday passed a resolution calling for a national debate on drug legalization. But then, the mayor vetoed it. An override vote is set for next week.

Ohio becomes the latest state to criminalize salvia divinorum (and its users). The ban goes into effect in 90 days.

It's been a little more than six months since social pot dealer Rachel Hoffman was intimidated into becoming a snitch and sent off to buy cocaine and guns from men who killed her. Now, her family is suing the Tallahassee Police Department and seeking legislation to protect other young victims of predatory policing.

The Buckeye State is on the verge of becoming the latest to ban salvia divinorum.

A New Jersey Senate committee Monday approved a medical marijuana bill, sending it to the Senate for a floor vote.

South Dakota has the dubious distinction of being the only state to defeat an initiative that would legalize medical marijuana, but that's not stopping advocates there. They have a bill ready for the legislature; now all they need are some sponsors.

Texas is the latest state to see an effort to ban salvia divinorum with a bill introduced this week. Another bill would limit its sales to adults, but it's not the one getting attention.

Right now, all eyes are on November 4, but leading drug reform groups are already looking down the road to 2010 and beyond.