On our Facebook page tonight, a commenter derided libertarians for making “Pot their banner issue,” saying that doing so is a sure path to failure. I would argue, however, that marijuana legalization in modern times represents the most successful state rejection of federal power in the history of this country. There are 28 states that…
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 3, 2017) – A bill filed in the Indiana Senate would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds. Sen. Phil Boots…
SALEM, Ore. (Jan. 3, 2017) – On Sunday, an Oregon law went into effect that bans the use of weaponized drones and takes the first step toward limiting data collected by drone surveillance under the current law. The legislation not only establishes important privacy protections at the state level, it will also help thwart the…
One would think not, judging from the fund-raising e-mails I recently received from the Heritage Foundation. Here is language from one of the e-mails: Reversing Obamacare is not easy. The law itself must be repealed in its entirety. Thousands upon thousands of pages of regulations must be canceled and rewritten. New policies need to be…
AUSTIN, Texas (Jan. 3, 2016) – A bill filed for the 2017 legislative session would expand the Texas “Right to Try” law, setting the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by patients with severe chronic diseases. Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) filed House…
HELENA, Mont. (Jan. 2, 2017) – A introduced in the Montana House would strictly limit the use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the state, and place significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track the location of millions of everyday people through pictures of their license plates.…
BOSTON, Mass (Jan. 2, 2017) – On Dec. 15, Massachusetts become the first state on the East Coast to legalize marijuana production and possession for adults. The act is a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition. In November, Massachusetts voters passed Question 4 by a 53 percent majority. The vote sets up a state…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan 2, 2017) – Yesterday, a California law went into effect that sets the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules denying access to experimental treatments by terminally-ill patients. A massive bipartisan coalition of 29 Assembly members introduced Assembly Bill 1668 (AB1668). The legislation gives terminally-ill patients access to medicines…
PROVIDENCE R.I. (Jan 1, 2017) – Today, a law went into effect legalizing the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes in Rhode Island, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. A coalition of five Democrats introduced House Bill 8232 (H8232) on May 19. As introduced, the legislation would have only allowed…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Jan. 1, 2017) – Today, an Illinois law went into effect banning the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations. The new law will not only protect privacy in Illinois, but will also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance…