Tennessee Bill Would Clear Way for Expanding Commercial Hemp Market Despite Federal Prohibition

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 6, 2018) – Bills introduced in the Tennessee House and Senate would remove hemp and hemp products from the state’s list of controlled substances. Passage of this legislation would open the door for an expanding commercial hemp market in the state, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. Sen. Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) introduced…

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Hawaii Bill Would Expand Healthcare Freedom

HONOLULU, Hawaii (Feb. 6, 2018) – A bill filed in the Hawaii Senate would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes. Sen. Stanley Chang (D-9) introduced Senate Bill 3021 (SB3021) on January 18. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance, thereby freeing doctors and patients…

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Oklahoma Bill Would Ban Support or Resources for any new Federal Gun Control

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb 6, 2018) –  An bill filed in the Oklahoma Senate would prohibit state cooperation with the enforcement all future federal gun control measures, effectively nullifying them in practice within the state. Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) prefiled Senate Bill 1215 (SB1215) for introduction in February. Titled the Oklahoma Second Amendment Preservation Act, the legislation…

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New Mexico Committee Passes Bill to Give Voters a Chance to Legalize Marijuana, Nullify Federal Prohibition

SANTA FE, N.M. (Feb. 6, 2018) –  Last week, a New Mexico Senate committee narrowly passed a bill that would give voters the opportunity to amend the state constitution and legalize marijuana. Passage would set the foundation to nullify the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in practice. Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) introduced Senate…

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China Cutting Access to Overseas Crypto Trading

“The move comes months after China formally banned investments in initial coin offerings (ICOs), deeming the blockchain use case to constitute a form of illegal financing. Authorities there also shuttered online websites for crypto-trading, with the ‘Big Three’ exchanges closing this past fall. The new reports show that China is now targeting overseas websites catering to local users. According to the translation from SCMP, the actions are begin taken because ‘after the closure of the domestic virtual currency exchanges, many people turned to overseas platforms to continue participating in virtual currency transactions.'”

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California Democrats’ blueprint for the election: ‘Go left’

“The next election season, already well underway here, will showcase a younger generation of Democrats that is more liberal and personally invested in standing up to President Donald Trump’s Washington than those leaving office. That means staking out the most liberal stance on issues such as single-payer health care in California, a highly expensive initiative that failed in the legislature last year. The push is in response to the uncertainty surrounding health-care revisions in Washington, but it is estimated to cost twice the state’s annual budget.”

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