JACKSON, Miss. (May 20, 2016) – A financial transparency bill signed into law by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant will shine the spotlight on state funding used to help enforce federal laws or implement federal programs. It could ultimately set the stage to end state involvement in such federal actions. Sen. Eugene Clarke (R-Hollandale) sponsored Senate…
SALEM, Ore. (May 20, 2016) – Two years after voters approved legalizing recreational marijuana, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has approved the first marijuana licenses under the state’s recreational marijuana system. This represents one more step toward nullifying federal marijuana in practice in the state. In 2014 the state voters approved Measure 91, legalizing recreational…
CHARLESTON, W. Va. (May 20, 2016) – A law legalizing limited raw milk consumption in West Virginia is now in effect. This represents a first step towards nullifying a federal prohibition scheme in practice. Sen. Robert Karnes (R – Upshur) introduced Senate Bill 387 (SB387) in January. The legislation allows West Virginians to enter into agreements to share…
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 20, 2016) – A bill working its way through the New York legislature would allow customers to opt out of installing “smart meter” technology on their homes and businesses. Passage of this bill would allow New Yorkers to protect their own privacy, and it would take a step towards block a federal…
HARRISBURG, Pa. (May 19, 2016) – A new Pennsylvania law legalizing medical marijuana went into effect this week, but it will likely take up to a year before the system is up and running. Pennsylvania is the 24th state to reject the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in practice. The bill took a long, tough road to final…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 19, 2016) – Yesterday, the Illinois House unanimously passed a bill that would ban the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations. It now goes to the governor’s desk.The proposed legislation would not only protect privacy in Illinois, but…
Is the NSA Constitutional? Learn how it was created in total secrecy - and decide for yourself.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (May 18, 2016) – Yesterday, a Pennsylvania House committee unanimously passed a bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), along with a coalition of 21 bipartisan co-sponsors, introduced House…
State laws legalizing marijuana take a first step toward nullifying federal prohibition, but they don’t do the job alone. Effective marijuana reform policy requires everyday people to take action and remain vigilant. Federal marijuana prohibition relies on state and local enforcement. FBI statistics show that police make approximately 99 of 100 marijuana arrests under state,…
BATON ROUGE, La. (May 18, 2016) – Yesterday, the Louisiana Senate unanimously passed a bill that would require a court order for the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in the state, but would also hinder one aspect…