TRENTON, N.J. (Aug 11, 2016) – Last week, the New Jersey Senate gave final approval to a measure that would expand the state’s medical marijuana law, further nullifying federal prohibition in practice. A coalition of representatives introduced Assembly Bill 457 (A457) in January. The legislation would add post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of…
Gun control proponents often paint the fight over gun rights as a battle between “gun sense” advocates and fringe elements who want dangerous people to have access the firearms. In reality, the conflict is a fundamental choice every society must make. Does it want to live in a police state or a free society? That’s…
TOPEKA, Kan. (Aug. 8, 2016) – While there has been much talk of how the so-called “conservative” Kansas state legislature got trounced in the recent primaries, the 2016 legislative session showed that those conservatives weren’t strong constitutionalists in the first place. The legislature soundly rejected the principles of the founding fathers during the 2016 legislative session.…
FERNDALE, Mich. (Aug. 8, 2016) – Bowing to intense pressure by local residents, a Michigan city has yanked a funding for a narcotics task force known for raiding medical marijuana facilities and harassing patients, demonstrating the power of local activism. In May we reported that law enforcement agencies in Michigan actively work to undermine state…
BATON ROUGE, La. (Aug 5, 2016) – On Monday, a Louisiana law specifically exempting medical marijuana patients and caregivers from state prosecution goes into effect. Along with another measure that was signed into law earlier this year, this gives Louisiana a basis for a functional medical marijuana program, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in…
"In April the former Federal Reserve chief warned there was a risk Japan at any time could return to deflation. He noted that helicopter money -- in which the government issues non-marketable perpetual bonds with no maturity date and the Bank of Japan directly buys them -- could work as the strongest tool to overcome deflation, according to Honda. Bernanke noted it was an option, he said. Bernanke joined central bank chief Haruhiko Kuroda over lunch this Monday and on Tuesday he attended a gathering with Abe and key officials, including Koichi Hamada, another influential economic adviser. The central bank didn’t reveal what Kuroda and Bernanke discussed." Continue reading →
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2016) – If you park your car in Newport Beach, police will likely scan your license plate with an automated license plate reader (ALPR). According to police, this automatically makes you the subject of a criminal investigation. In an effort to find out what police do with all of the…
CONCORD, N.H. (Aug. 4, 2016) – On Tuesday, an expansion of the state’s medical marijuana law went into effect, further nullifying federal prohibition in practice. Rep. David Luneau (I) introduced House Bill 1453 (HB1453) earlier this year. The legislation adds ulcerative colitis to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify a patient to access…
"A blistering audit released Wednesday found that untold amounts of American taxpayer dollars are vulnerable to winding up in the pockets of insurgents, and blames both countries for a dysfunctional tracking system. How bad is it? Afghan President Hamid Karzai has barred U.S. government advisers from the Afghan central bank, according to Treasury officials who called the bank a 'hostile' environment. Nobody is writing down the serial numbers of the cash flying through customs at Kabul International Airport. And the U.S. is having trouble identifying financial crimes because Afghan officials are reluctant to prosecute." Continue reading →
"Tens of millions of U.S. dollars in cash were delivered by the CIA in suitcases, backpacks and plastic shopping bags to the office of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai for more than a decade, according to the New York Times, citing current and former advisers to the Afghan leader. The so-called 'ghost money' was meant to buy influence for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) but instead fuelled corruption and empowered warlords, undermining Washington's exit strategy from Afghanistan, the newspaper quoted U.S. officials as saying. 'The biggest source of corruption in Afghanistan', one American official said, 'was the United States.' The CIA declined to comment." Continue reading →