Marijuana/Medical Marijuana: More States, More Bills, More Hearings
The statehouses are humming and marijuana-related bills are coming fast and furious. Here's a glance at a few introduced in recent days.
News Brief
Southeast Asia: Human Rights Watch Charges Torture, Rape, Illegal Detentions at Cambodian Drug "Rehab" Centers, Demands Shutdown
Cambodia's "drug treatment" centers are the scene of torture, rape, and abuse, said Human Rights Watch in a scathing report Monday calling for them to be shut down. Oh, and they don't do much drug treatment, either.
Marijuana: Washington State Decriminalization and Legalization Bills Killed in Committee
The Washington state marijuana decrim and legalization bills were killed in committee this week. That means it will be up to the voters to legalize pot in November through an initiative -- if organizers can come up with enough signatures in time.
Medical Marijuana: Corzine Signs Bill, Making New Jersey the 14th State
And now there are 14 -- medical marijuana states, that is. The Garden State joined the list this week, although under the restrictive terms of the new law, the only pot gardens there will be in a handful of dispensaries.
Public Opinion: ABC News/Washington Post Poll Shows Four Out of Five Support Medical Marijuana, Nearly Half Support Legalization
Motherhood, apple pie, and... medical marijuana? A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that acceptance of medical marijuana is approaching near unanimity -- and support for legalization is rising, too. Politicians, take heed!
Marijuana: No More Possession Prosecutions in Seattle, New City Attorney Says
Seven years ago, Seattle residents voted to make marijuana offenses the lowest law enforcement priority. Now, the newly elected city prosecutor agrees with them. He says he will not prosecute simple pot possession cases.
Europe: Copenhagen City Council Wants Cannabis Stores, But Proposal Faces Bumpy Ride in Parliament
Given rising gang problems surrounding the hash trade in Copenhagen, Danes can be forgiven for yearning for the good old days of Pusher Street, where hash was slung relatively peacefully. Now, the Copenhagen city council wants to experiment with cannabis stores, but that seems unlikely to fly with the Conservative national government.
Latin America: Mexico Drug War Update
It was a relatively quiet week in Mexico's drug wars this week. Only about 15 people a day were killed.
Marijuana: Washington State House Committee Holds Hearing on Decrim, Legalization Bills -- Public Support Strong, Initiative Coming
It's been a wild week for weed in Washington. Hearings and initiatives and polls, oh, my!
Medical Marijuana: Oregon Group on Track to Put Dispensary Measure on Ballot
With the Obama administration having removed the threat of federal prosecutions, the door is swinging open for an expansion of medical marijuana dispensaries. Activists in Oregon are walking through that door, and they are carrying a whole bunch of gathered signatures with them. Look for a dispensary initiative on the ballot there this fall.