"With all of the talk about 'Stand Your Ground' laws and self-defense in the 'media' lately, I thought that it would be a good idea to take a look at which U.S. states have those laws in place and the definition of what the law is, without all of the media hype." Continue reading →
"New Hampshire on Tuesday became the 19th state to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. 'This legislation is long overdue and comes as a relief to the many seriously ill patients throughout New Hampshire who will benefit from safe access to medical marijuana,' said Matt Simon, a New Hampshire-based legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. The Republican-led New Hampshire legislature approved a similar medical marijuana bill last year, but it was vetoed by Democratic Gov. John Lynch. The governor claimed the proposed law would be abused by those who didn’t really need the drug." Continue reading →
"Officials in Colorado’s second-largest city voted on Tuesday to ban recreational marijuana shops, becoming the largest community in the state to utilize an opt-out provision of a law that legalized the non-medical use of pot. Colorado Springs has a population of about 420,000 with a large military and evangelical Christian presence and is one of the most conservative and Republican areas in a state which in recent election cycles has turned leftward. The federal government lists cannabis as a dangerous narcotic and considers it illegal for any purpose, a point underscored by Colorado Springs residents who spoke on Tuesday in favor of the ban." Continue reading →
"The California Democratic Party approved a resolution over the weekend that called on President Barack Obama to halt federal raids on marijuana dispensaries. The resolution, sponsored by the Brownie Marie Democratic Club of Riverside County, noted that 18 states and the District of Columbia had legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, while Colorado and Washington state had legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Citing the disproportionate number of ethnic minorities jailed over marijuana, the resolution urged Obama to order the federal government to abide by state laws regarding the drug." Continue reading →
"The map’s author, Travis H. Brown, tracked the millions of people in the U.S. who moved from state to state, taking with them more than $2 trillion in adjusted gross income. Brown says Americans are fleeing high-tax states and moving to states that offer lower taxes. The big losers? New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Ohio. The big gainers? Florida won the most, with $86 billion coming its way. Other gainers were Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and Nevada." Continue reading →
"Hope resident Jennie Stormes advocated for the change in the law on behalf of Jackson Stormes, a 14 year old who has used marijuana to reduce the symptoms of Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. She said the substance has reduced the intensity and duration of her son’s seizures, after years of unsuccessful approaches such as brain surgery. 'The additional doctor appointments for a child who has failed so many medications, brain surgery, and other treatments are cruel and the cost is burdensome for a single mother who is working more than one job without any child support,' said Stormes, a pediatric nurse." Continue reading →
"The state Supreme Court ruled today that law enforcement agencies must get warrants if they want to track crime suspects by tracing the signals from their cell phones. 'Cell phones are not meant to serve as tracking devices to locate their owners wherever they may be,' Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote in the 7-0 decision. The state’s high court is the first in the country to impose such a ruling, and former state justices and legal experts said the decision could ripple throughout the states and in federal courts wrestling with the same questions on the collection and use of electronic data." Continue reading →
"A six-page petition circulated by a resident says that the threat of surveillance from drones — regardless of who is piloting them — is a threat to 'traditional American ideas of Liberty and Freedom'. According to the proposed ordinance, which will be considered by the town council at its next meeting on Aug. 6, prospective bounty hunters can get a one-year drone-hunting license for $25. Proposed bounties will be $25 for those turning in the wings or fuselage of downed aircraft and $100 for mostly intact vehicles. To collect the bounty, the wreckage must have 'markings, and configuration … consistent with those used by the United States federal government.'" Continue reading →
"Citing 'strong public support' yesterday in a letter to the bill's sponsors, LePage officially indicated that he intends - eventually - to sign LD 718. 'But he is proceeding with caution because the legal effort required to defend this law will be complex and very costly,' says his press secretary, Adrienne Bennett. LePage says he agrees that 'consumers should have the right to know what is in their food.' But he also alludes to concerns over the constitutionality of labeling requirements, and according to Bennet, the Governor expects that other states that pass labeling laws now will be on the front lines for legal attack." Continue reading →
"There has been hope throughout the Oregon cannabis community that the passage of House Bill 3460 would end the wasteful and harmful prosecutions of medical cannabis providers that have plagued certain parts of Oregon. Unfortunately, according to The Oregonian, two prosecutors have already stated that they will continue to move forward with these costly and harmful prosecutions. If these cases go to trial, hopefully jury members will know that House Bill 3460 passed, providing the rules and regulations necessary for medical cannabis dispensaries to clearly operate within the law. These cases scream for 'jury nullification' to me." Continue reading →