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  New Hampshire: Senate Passes Amended Medical Marijuana Measure

  by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director

  Members of the New Hampshire Senate voted 18 to 6 today in favor of an amended version of House Bill 573, which allows for the physician-authorized use and state-licensed dispensing of cannabis to qualified patients. The Senate version of the bill now goes back to the House, whose members will either sign off on or, more likely, reject the Senate’s amendments. The latter action would create the need for a “committee of conference,” at which time a special committee of House representatives and senators will compromise on a final version of the bill. That language will then be forwarded to the governor’s desk.

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  Michigan: Medical Marijuana Act Trumps Per Se Driving Law

  by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director

  A Michigan traffic safety law that prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle by persons who possess any presence of THC in their blood, regardless of whether or not they are behaviorally impaired by the substance, may not be strictly applied to state-qualified medical cannabis patients.

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  Is Your Mayor in the Marijuana Majority?

  by Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director

  Join NORML and our friends at the Marijuana Majority in our efforts to build support for marijuana law reform at the local level by contacting your mayor and urging their support for rational marijuana policies. Mayors are on the front lines of the war on cannabis and can see the devastation it is causing at the local level. It is time our local politicans take a stand and say enough is enough, it is time to stop wasting precious law enforcement resources, stop allowing the revenue from marijuana sales to [...]

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  Study Substantiates Benefits Of Cannabinoids For Post Traumatic Stress

  by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director

  Brian imaging research published this month in the journal Molecular Psychiatry provides physiological evidence as to why cannabis may mitigate certain symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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  Maine: Let the People Decide on Marijuana Legalization!

  by Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director

  Residents of Maine may get the opportunity to vote on ending their state’s marijuana prohibition this fall, if lawmakers approve of an amended version of LD 1229: An Act to Tax and Regulate Marijuana in the coming weeks. LD 1229 was introduced earlier in the session by Representative Diane Russell (D-Portland) and 35 co-sponsors. Despite the unprecedented legislative support, the measure faced a challenging work session last week, which initially looked as if it would scuttle the bill entirely. Fortunately for supporters of ending prohibition, the fight continues on despite [...]

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  New York: The Hempire State?

  by Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director

  Marijuana law reform is gaining some serious momentum in New York as we approach the end of this year’s legislative session. Recent polling data released by Siena Research Institute revealed that 82% of New Yorkers support the medical use of marijuana. Fortunately for New York lawmakers, they can take action to address this issue that’s supported by an overwhelming majority of their constituents. Medical marijuana legislation is currently pending in both Houses of the New York Legislature and these measures have been gaining substantial political support. This legislation is expected [...]

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  Illinois Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Measure, Goes to the Governor’s Desk

  by Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director

  This afternoon, the Illinois State Senate voted 35 to 21 in favor of House Bill 1, which would establish a medical marijuana pilot program in the state. The measure had previously been approved by the House of Representatives and moves to the Governor Pat Quinn’s desk for his signature. While Governor Quinn hasn’t taken a firm stance on HB 1, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon has been open in regards to her support for this legislation. You can read the full text of the measure here. NORML will keep you updated [...]

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  POLL: Essentially No One Believes Marijuana Users Should Go to Jail

  by Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director

  Reason-Rupe has just released new polling data that revealed only a minuscule percentage of Americans believe that marijuana use and possession should result in jail time. When asked which approach they thought the government and law enforcement should take toward someone found smoking marijuana or in possession of a small amount of marijuana, only 6% responded that they should be sent to jail. 35% of respondents said that these individuals shouldn’t be punished at all, 32% responded they should pay a fine, and 20% said they should have to attended [...]

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  Study: Student Drug Testing Programs Linked To Spikes In ‘Hard’ Drug Use

  by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director

  Schools that institute student drug testing programs are likely to experience a rise in students' consumption of 'hard' drugs like, according to observational trial data published this week in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Commenting on the findings, the study's lead author affirmed, “It is clear that drug testing is not providing the solution for substance-use prevention that its advocates claim.”

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  Study: Regular Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes

  by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director

  Subjects who regularly consume cannabis possess favorable indices related to diabetic control as compared to occasional consumers or non-users, according to trial data published today online in the American Journal of Medicine. Commenting on the study, Editor-in-Chief Joseph S. Alpert, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, said: "These are indeed remarkable observations that are supported, as the authors note, by basic science experiments that came to similar conclusions."