Laboratories Of Democracy

Texas votes to abolish taxation of gold

"The Texas Senate on Wednesday night passed H.B. 78, a bill that eliminates the sales tax on precious metal coins and bullion. It now goes to Governor Rick Perry’s desk for his signature into law. Existing Texas statute applies the 6.25% sales tax to purchases of gold and silver under $1,000. 'This sends a powerful message to other states that taxing gold makes no sense because gold is money,' said Rich Danker. 'What is particularly right about this bill is that it removes a tax that affected middle and lower income people who wanted to acquire gold. These are the people losing the most from the long-term erosion in the dollar’s value and need this sound money option.'" Continue reading →

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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner Urges ‘Jury Nullification’ In Medical Pot Dispensary Case

"San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has injected himself into a federal criminal case against the operator of a medical marijuana dispensary, intensifying his standoff with federal prosecutors on cannabis enforcement issues. Filner's urging jurors who'll be chosen for the trial to reject federal law in favor of state statutes under a centuries-old legal concept known as 'jury nullification'-- whereby jurors can refuse to convict people under laws they believe should not be applied." Continue reading →

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The Blank Slate State

"It is easy to take one look at Honduras and write it off as an irredeemable mess. But a few dreamers see hope for an experiment that may upend our notions of what a state can accomplish. For the last few years, libertarians and other futurists have gazed upon this misgoverned mess of mountainous jungle and imagined a clean slate for innovations in political and economic growth. Honduras, they believe, can become a laboratory for creating wealth-producing institutions that can then be replicated worldwide. The only catch: To become a 21st-century trailblazer, Honduras—or at least a small territory within it—must become, well, not Honduras." Continue reading →

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Google CEO wants to ‘set aside a part of the world’ for unregulated experimentation

"'There are many exciting things you could do that are illegal or not allowed by regulation,' Page said. 'And that's good, we don't want to change the world. But maybe we can set aside a part of the world.' He likened this potential free-experimentation zone to Burning Man and said that we need 'some safe places where we can try things and not have to deploy to the entire world.' Google is already well-known for coming up with some pretty interesting ideas — the idea of seeing what Page could come up with in this lawless beta-test country is simultaneously exciting and a bit terrifying." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle CEO wants to ‘set aside a part of the world’ for unregulated experimentation

‘Monsanto Protection Act 2.0′ Would Ban GMO-Labeling Laws At State Level

"An amendment inserted into the 2013 Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives' Agriculture Committee Wednesday would revoke the ability of individual states' lawmakers to pass GMO-labeling laws, food advocates warn. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Steve King, a California Republican, is the newest salvo in an ongoing battle between food advocates and companies like Monsanto that create and sell genetically modified and genetically engineered seeds, which grow into GMO crops and find their way into an estimated 70 percent of processed foods in American grocery stores." Continue reading →

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LinkedIn’s anti-prostitution policy angers legal Nevada brothel owner

"The recent decision by professional networking site LinkedIn to bar sex workers from posting profiles has led to a disagreement between brothel owners in Nevada, where escorts can legally ply their trade, the Huffington Post reported on Wednesday. 'Are you then going to shut down Steve Wynn’s casino in Vegas, where gambling is legal?' asked Dennis Hof, owner of the Moonlight Bunny Ranch. 'Don’t paint me the same as the people who are doing things illegally.' LinkedIn, which informed users of the new policy on Monday, now forbids escorts from using the site to look for business." Continue reading →

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The IRS War on Medical Marijuana Providers

"The IRS employs Section 280E, a 1982 addition to the tax code that was a response to a drug dealer's successful effort to claim his yacht, weapons purchases, and even illicit bribes as business expenses. Under 280E, individuals involved in the illicit sale of controlled substances -- including marijuana, even medical marijuana in states where it is legal -- cannot claim standard business expenses on their federal taxes. Oakland's Harborside Health Center was hit with a $2 million IRS assessment in 2011 after the tax agency employed Section 280E against it. Similarly, when the feds raided Oaksterdam University, it wasn't just DEA, but also IRS agents." Continue reading →

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First major hemp crop in 60 years is planted in southeast Colorado

"Springfield, Colo., farmer Ryan Loflin on Monday planted the nation's first industrial hemp crop in almost 60 years. Loflin's plans to grow hemp already have been chronicled, and Monday's planting attracted the attention of more media in southeastern Colorado and a documentary film crew. Its cultivation in small test plots became legal last year under a Colorado law. The passage of Amendment 64 in November allowed commercial growing, even though hemp, like marijuana, is illegal under federal law." Continue reading →

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Vermont Becomes the 17th State to Decriminalize Marijuana

"State lawmakers gave final approval Monday to a measure that will decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana in Vermont. The bill will now be transmitted to Gov. Peter Shumlin, who is expected to sign it into law in coming weeks, at which time Vermont will become the 17th state in the nation to decriminalize or legalize marijuana. House Bill 200, introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) with a tripartisan group of 38 co-sponsors, will remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket." Continue reading →

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Medbox: Dawn of the Marijuana Vending Machine

"'We are in the right place at the right time,' says Bruce Bedrick, a 44-year-old chiropractor, occasional pot user, and chief executive officer of Medbox (MDBX), maker of one of the world’s first marijuana vending machines. 'We are planning to literally dominate the industry.' Medbox’s core product resembles a Redbox DVD dispenser, only it’s black, refrigerated, and armored. Bedrick avoids the term vending machine because you can’t just saunter up to a Medbox, put in a few bills, and walk away with a stash of weed. The devices sit behind sales counters at state-licensed marijuana dispensaries." Continue reading →

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