Laboratories Of Democracy

Emboldened Rhode Island, Maine lawmakers seek to legalize pot

"Rhode Island Rep. Edith Ajello, D-Providence, said Thursday that the passage of legalization referendums in the two Western states are the latest indication that American attitudes toward marijuana are softening. She said the regulated sale of marijuana would eliminate the black market while raising an estimated $10 million in revenue for government coffers. Maine Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, said she also will propose legislation to legalize marijuana in her state, and estimated that sales taxes on its purchase there would raise $8 million." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEmboldened Rhode Island, Maine lawmakers seek to legalize pot

Ron Paul and Barney Frank tell Obama: Respect state marijuana laws

"Reps. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Barney Frank (D-MA) on Thursday called for the Obama administration to respect state marijuana laws, as California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) did on Sunday. Voters in Colorado and Washington state both approved referenda legalizing the limited recreational use of marijuana. However, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration still classifies marijuana as a schedule I drug: the most restrictive classification, reserved drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medicinal value." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul and Barney Frank tell Obama: Respect state marijuana laws

Latin American leaders urge review of U.S. pro-marijuana referenda

"The leaders of Mexico and three Central American nations called Monday for a review of anti-drug policies after two US states voted to legalize marijuana. The presidents of Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and Belize called on the United Nations to hold a special session by 2015 to examine the 'successes and limits' of current strategies against drug trafficking. In a joint declaration read by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, the leaders asked the Organization of American States (OAS) to draft a report on the impact of last week’s referenda in the US states of Colorado and Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLatin American leaders urge review of U.S. pro-marijuana referenda

Colorado reps seek state exemption from federal pot prohibition laws

"In the wake of this week’s historic vote to legalize marijuana in Colorado, the state’s three Democratic U.S. House members are drafting legislation aimed at easing the tension between the new state law and longstanding federal prohibition of the drug. Congressional staffers told the Independent that Colorado Reps Diana DeGette (CD1), Ed Perlmutter (CD7) and Jared Polis (CD2) are working independently and together on bills that would exempt states where pot has been legalized from the Controlled Substances Act." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingColorado reps seek state exemption from federal pot prohibition laws

California Gov. Brown tells the Obama administration to back off on marijuana

"California Gov. Jerry Brown said Sunday on CNN that the Obama administration should respect states that choose to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes. 'It’s time for the Justice Department to recognize the sovereignty of the states,' Brown said, noting that a number of states had medical marijuana laws. 'I believe the president and the Department of Justice ought to respect the will of these separate states.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia Gov. Brown tells the Obama administration to back off on marijuana

With Two States Legalizing Marijuana, Are Drug Warriors In Washington Freaking Out?

"Voters in Colorado and Washington made history Tuesday night. The states’ marijuana legalization initiatives, I-502 in Washington and Amendment 64 in Colorado, brought what many marijuana advocates are calling the beginning of the end of marijuana prohibition in America. But the power of the people -- and the states -- have one big hurdle to clear before the ban on pot is lifted: The feds. Only this time, the people may have built more than drug warriors' boots can stomp out." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWith Two States Legalizing Marijuana, Are Drug Warriors In Washington Freaking Out?

Voters in Six States Approve Measures Nullifying Federal Acts

"Of 72 hours of election coverage not one minute was devoted to reporting the results of several ballot initiatives nullifying unconstitutional acts of Congress. None of the highly paid, pancake-powdered pundits spoke a single syllable about the noteworthy and now codified efforts of citizens across the country to stop the encroachment of federal tyranny at the state borders. At The New American, we strive to promote liberty through the publishing of news stories related to the Constitution, and to that end, proceeding from Atlantic to Pacific, we here present a brief rundown of the several nullifying proposals passed by voters." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVoters in Six States Approve Measures Nullifying Federal Acts

California’s Economic Suicide and other News from Yesterday’s Ballot Measures

"Yesterday, the looters and moochers of the Golden State voted for Prop 30, a measure to significantly boost both the state sales tax and also hike income tax rates on investors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. I’m generally reluctant to make predictions, but I feel safe in stating that this measure is going to accelerate California’s economic decline. Some successful taxpayers are going to tunnel under the proverbial Berlin Wall and escape to states with better (or less worse) fiscal policy. And that will mean fewer jobs and lower wages than otherwise would be the case." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia’s Economic Suicide and other News from Yesterday’s Ballot Measures

Marijuana Prohibition Going Up in Smoke? High Hopes for a Drug War Peace Dividend

"As I have written before, drug prohibition is (literally) 'a textbook example of a policy with negative unintended consequences' most visible in the extensive criminal underground and widespread violence associated with prohibition. What can we expect from legalization, and what could we expect from further liberalization of drug laws? 1. Less Crime. 2. Lower Demand for Hard Drugs Like Crack and Crystal Meth. 3. A 'Peace Dividend' From Scaling Back the Drug War. Yesterday’s results are historic because the results in Colorado and Washington show that ending prohibition can win at the ballot box." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarijuana Prohibition Going Up in Smoke? High Hopes for a Drug War Peace Dividend

Former Washington, Colorado cops explain: What’s really going to change now that marijuana is legal?

"Following wins for marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado on Tuesday night, a former Seattle police chief and a former Denver police officer sat down with Raw Story to discuss what the laws will actually do and how they think things will change. The possibility remains that the Obama administration may file suit against Colorado and Washington to prevent them from implementing regulatory schemes or granting permits for retail sales. Meanwhile, the Obama administration’s U.S. Attorneys have been adamant about busting hundreds of medical marijuana outlets." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Washington, Colorado cops explain: What’s really going to change now that marijuana is legal?