"Trump is not only trying to usurp the congressional power to decide how taxpayers' money will be spent; he is threatening to interfere with the autonomy that states are supposed to have under the 10th Amendment. He is also contradicting his own position both before and after his election." Continue reading →
"In 2016, United Van Lines reported, New Jersey was the state with the most 'outbound' movers, followed by Illinois, New York and Connecticut. The top ten 'inbound states' included some with a higher tax burden, like #5 Vermont, but also Nevada and South Carolina, which rank #43 and #44, respectively." Continue reading →
"The Federal Reserve is now in the business of enforcing the US government’s drug laws, even if that means making a mockery of both state governments’ right to set their own drug policies and the Fed’s own governing statutes. The Fed’s involvement in drug prohibition became official last month, when the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City informed Denver’s Fourth Corner Credit Union — a non-profit cooperative formed by Colorado’s state-licensed cannabis manufacturers — of its decision to deny its application for a master account. The Fourth Corner Credit Union isn’t taking this sitting down. On the contrary: it is suing the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City." Continue reading →
"A bill taking a step towards gold and silver as commonly-used legal tender in Texas passed in the state Senate today by an overwhelming 29-2 vote. What the bill essentially does is create a means for transactions to occur in precious metals. It allows people to open an account and deposit their precious metals in the state depository. They could then use the electronic system to make payments to any other business or person who also holds an account. This opening of the market is considered by many insiders to be the most important first step towards bringing sound money to mainstream acceptance." Continue reading →
"Alaska and Oregon may become the next states to legalize marijuana for recreational use, as early as next year some proponents say. But the big battle over marijuana prohibition will come in 2016 with the next presidential election. Although a slim majority of Americans support legalization, younger voters may vote for change in higher numbers than older generations, Mason Tvert, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, says. That group, and others, plan to target state legislators in five states, including Rhode Island and Hawaii, to legalize the drug by 2017. UN drug control officials remain alarmed by challenges to marijuana prohibition in America, Germany, and Uruguay." Continue reading →
A new poll conducted by Sooner Poll in Oklahoma reveals near-overwhelming support for both decriminalization of marijuana and legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Continue reading →
"Twenty states have now legalized the medical use of marijuana for the treatment of things like glaucoma, the effects of chemotherapy, and chronic pain; defying federal laws that still consider marijuana more dangerous than cocaine and methamphetamine. In Denver, if you want to find a medical marijuana dispensary, just look for the green cross. You won't have to go far. There are 204 of them in the Mile High City -- that's roughly three times the number of Starbucks and McDonald's combined. They come in all sizes and shapes. There is the health food store motif and '70s style head shops. There are storefronts pitching low cost weed, and boutiques offering gourmet ganja." Continue reading →
"Oregon is one of seven states with laws that permit the production of industrial hemp, a non-intoxicating relative of marijuana grown for its sturdy fiber and seeds. Elsewhere in the country, hemp advocates have reacted to the federal government's new position on cannabis by moving ahead with legal hemp production. Kentucky's top agriculture official said the Cole memo is all he needs to move forward. India is the largest market for Canadian hemp by weight, though the United States buys more hemp seed than any other country, generally for food and beauty products. China, also a major international exporter of hemp, tends to produce hemp that's used for textiles." Continue reading →
"It’s always a good thing for society, but bad for our rulers, when at least one of them decides it’s a good idea to compete by lowering taxes. (Maryland state government recently imposed a 'rain tax' based on the size of the roof on one’s business establishment under the crackpot theory that rain running off your roof will pollute the Chesapeake Bay.). Cory A. writes that he moved to Austin, Texas last year to take a great new job with Paypal/Ebay which he says is 'expanding dramatically.' As is a new Apple facility in Austin, along with Visa, with 800 new jobs. These are all well-paying jobs, he says. In addition, Austin has become 'the' place to go if you want a career in the music industry." Continue reading →
"Texas Gov. Rick Perry took a swipe at Gov. Martin O'Malley and Maryland's business climate in radio ads aimed at luring companies and residents to the Lone Star state. 'When you grow tired of Maryland taxes squeezing every dime out of your business, think Texas,' Perry said in the radio advertisement, set to air in the Baltimore-D.C. market this week and provided to the The Baltimore Sun by WTOP. Perry has launched similar advertisements in Missouri, California, Chicago and New York since April. Earlier this year, Perry invited Beretta and other Maryland gun manufacturers to move to Texas after the General Assembly passed new gun laws here." Continue reading →