CHARLESTON, W.V. – March 8, 2014.The West Virginia Senate backed down on a bill that would legalize hemp production in the state, instead passing an amended version of the bill allowing only research as permitted by the federal government The Senate unanimously passed the amended version of HB3011. The House had a chance to reject…
"Gold and silver coins issued by the United States government are legal tender in the State of Oklahoma. No person may compel another person to tender or accept gold or silver coins that are issued by the United States government, except as agreed upon by contract."
Practically speaking, the bill would block roadblocks set up as part of a multimillion dollar federal study run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation based in Maryland operates the checkpoints, run by uniformed officers. Officers offer motorists cash for DNA samples, generally $10 for a cheek-swab and $50 for blood. Officers reportedly up the ante for motorists who refuse, offering $100.
H.4795 would bar South Carolina or its political subdivision from providing material support for, assisting with, or in any way participating in the collection of a person's electronic data or metadata by a federal agency or pursuant to any federal law, rule, regulation, or order.
"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 →
"Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould said he has no intention of releasing names and addresses of pistol permit holders as required under the NY SAFE Act legislation. The gun control law states that the name and address of a pistol permit holder 'shall be a public record' unless the holder files an opt-out form with the county sheriff's office. But Gould said the requirement intruded on law-abiding gun owners' privacy while helping the bad guys. His comments came a week after Oswego County Sheriff Reuel Todd joined a lawsuitto declare the SAFE Act unconstitutional, citing its bans on certain guns classified as assault weapons and ammunition magazines with too many rounds." Continue reading →
"The White House has pledged to continue to jail those who traffick in marijuana or sell it to minors — even in two US states where its recreational use is now legal. Deputy Attorney General James Cole defended the federal decision not to challenge new laws legalizing marijuana in Colorado and Washington states. Cole pledged that in addition to blocking cannabis cultivation and distribution, US authorities would work to prevent the export of marijuana to places where the substance is still illegal, 'whether the state has legalized it or not.' And he added that Justice Department officials 'reserve the right… to challenge the state laws at a later time.'" Continue reading →
"The former Sheriff of Graham County, Arizona rose to fame when he sued the Clinton Administration over the Brady Act, requiring sheriffs departments to issue background checks on anyone looking to purchase a handgun. 'It said the sheriff will work for us whether he likes it or not, and do so at his own expense and if he doesn't do it, we can arrest him for failure to comply. That's how stupid Congress in our country has gotten,' said Mack. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the act was ruled unconstitutional. Now, Mack is an advocate for telling the federal government to back off." Continue reading →
"Attorney General Eric Holder told the governors of Colorado and Washington Thursday that the Justice Department would not -- at least for now -- block their states from implementing regimes to tax, regulate, and sell marijuana. The memo listed a number of activities that could draw federal prosecutorial attention or result in a Justice Department reassessment, including sales to minors, profits going to criminal actors, diversion to pot prohibition states, marijuana sales as a cover for other drug sales, violence and the use of firearms, drugged driving and other 'adverse public health consequences,' and growing marijuana on public lands. That leaves some wiggle room for federal prosecutors." Continue reading →
"This week the California State Senate unanimously shot down the federal government's indefinite detention powers in a 37-0 vote. Lawmakers are refusing to provide material support for the National Defense Authorization Act, and if the measure becomes law it will be difficult for the government to enforce indefinite detention in the state. Tangerine Bolen, founder and director for RevolutionTruth, has more on the NDAA." Continue reading →