New Jersey Senate Passes Bill to Require Asset Forfeiture Reporting; Federal Equitable Sharing Included

TRENTON, N.J. (July 5, 2018) – Last week, the New Jersey Senate unanimously passed a bill that would impose strict reporting requirements for all asset forfeitures in the state. This legislation would take a first step that could lead to substantive reforms, including closing a federal loophole that allows police to bypass strict state asset forfeiture laws.  Sen.…

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Today in History: Passage of the Lee Resolution for Ties with Great Britain to be “Totally Dissolved”

Today in 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Richard Henry Lee resolution, which called for ties between Great Britain and the American states to be “totally dissolved.” The vote was unanimous amongst the colonies, all of which had one vote regardless of size, with New York abstaining. Initially reluctant to support this measure, South…

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Now In Effect: Iowa and Florida Laws Expand Healthcare Freedom

(July 2, 2018) – Yesterday, laws went into effect in Florida and Iowa that will help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government regulatory schemes. Florida state Rep. Daniel Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) sponsored House Bill 37 (H37) and the Iowa House of Delegates Human Resources Committee sponsored House Bill 2356 (HF2356). These new laws specify that direct primary care agreements (sometimes…

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Vermont Recreational Marijuana Law Now in Effect Despite Federal Prohibition

MONTPELIER, Vt. (July 2, 2018) – Yesterday, a new law allowing the recreational use of marijuana goes into effect in Vermont. Gov. Phil Scott signed the bill despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ threats to ramp up enforcement. This new law represents a stinging rebuke from the state of Vermont against federal marijuana prohibition. House Bill…

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New Laws in Kansas and Virginia Require Strict Asset Forfeiture Reporting; An Important Step Forward

(July 2, 2018) – Yesterdat, laws went into effect in Kansas and Virginia implementing strict reporting requirements for all asset forfeitures, including cases passed off to the federal government. These new laws take a first step that could lead to more substantive reforms.  The Kansas House Committee on Judiciary sponsored House Bill 2459 (HB2459). In Virginia,…

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Wyoming Legal Tender Act Treats Gold and Silver as Money; Foundation to Undermine the Federal Reserve

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 2, 2018) – Yesterday, a law defining gold and silver specie as legal tender and eliminating all taxes levied on it became law. This paves the way for Wyoming residents to use gold and silver in everyday transactions, a foundation step for the people to undermine the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money.…

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The Stamp Act: A Constitutional Crisis

The Stamp Act was a major source of tension between the British and the colonists in the years leading the start of the War of Independence. The act was part of a broader constitutional crisis between the colonies and England. Echoes of that crisis have reverberated all the way through America’s history until today. The…

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California Committee Passes Bill to Allow People to Expunge Some Marijuana Charges

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 28, 2018) – On Tuesday, a California Senate committee passed a bill that would create a process to expunge or reduce the sentences of people charged under the state’s marijuana laws before recreational cannabis was legalized this year. Passage into law would take another step toward nullifying federal marijuana prohibition in effect in…

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