Washington’s Liquor Control Board held a public marijuana forum in Spokane on Tuesday, to get input on regulating the production and sale of marijuana in the state. Washington residents weighed in on what they’d like to see, such as a system not bogged down by too much bureaucracy.

The results are in: The HPS weighed in heavier, potency was identical, but color and flavor were better from the RhinoGrow. In part 1 of our series comparing the...

Gil Kerlikowske, the U.S. drug czar, told a Canadian magazine that federal prosecutors will target recreational marijuana suppliers and growers, even in states that have legalized marijuana. This could mean a situation much like the one that has plagued California’s MMJ industry, with the largest retailers being targeted as criminals.

The Colorado House of Representatives has passed HB 1061, a bill that will create training programs for medical marijuana employees. Any dispensary with all employees trained would receive a Responsible Medical Marijuana Vendor certification.

An Arizona Senate panel voted to allow police to destroy all marijuana seized in investigations, even if it was legal medical marijuana. The state ignored threats of lawsuits over destroyed MMJ, arguing that giving the marijuana back to patients would violate federal law.

Billygoatgreen MMJ, the Colorado Springs delivery service that offered free marijuana in exchange for a delivery charge, has been raided by police. The owners now face serious criminal charges; if the case is brought to trial and lost, they could face life in prison.

Bob Erb, a marijuana activist from British Columbia, Canada, has pledged $500,000 to match donations to Sensible BC. Sensible BC is trying to decriminalize possession of marijuana in the province by preventing police from wasting resources on simple possession charges.

Nuvilex, Inc. has established a new subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, Inc. The goal is to ‘strengthen their portfolio of natural source products’, to further study the health effects of cannabinoids and develop disease treatments, targeting serious diseases such as cancer.

In response to all the progress being made in marijuana reform around the country, there were bound to be some nay-sayers popping up. In Idaho, the Senate’s State Affairs Committee unanimously approved a marijuana ban resolution, and urged President Obama to crack down on I-502.

Lawmakers that used to avoid marijuana lobbyists are now seeking them out. Now that many members of Congress are working to reform federal marijuana laws, groups like NORML and MPP are stepping up fundraising efforts to push for legalization on the state and federal levels.

Senator Bobby A. Zirkin is promoting SB-297, a bill which would reduce penalties for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana in Maryland. The bill would make possession punishable by a fine of up to $100. The bill also has the support of LEAP, and a former Baltimore police officer.

Despite the moronic opposition from police stating that hemp should be illegal because police may have trouble distinguishing it from marijuana, the Kentucky hemp bill has been approved by the state’s Senate Agricultural Committee. The bill would legalize industrial hemp production in Kentucky, creating jobs and a renewable resource.

Washington toxicologist Fiona Couper claims there has been no increase in marijuana DUI’s since the passage of I-502. This is great news for all those that were so scared of a traffic witch-hunt that they actually voted against the legalization of marijuana in Washington.

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that dispensaries, even those that facilitate patient-to-patient sales, are illegal in Michigan. Rep. Mike Callton has introduced a bill to legalize dispensaries in the state, rightly claiming that Michigan’s 125,000 MMJ patients need safe access to medication.

New Mexico State Senator Ortiz y Pino requested that the Economic Development Department conduct a study on the financial implications (of both revenue and cost savings) of taxing and regulating marijuana.

“Evergreen: The Road to Legalization in Washington” is an upcoming documentary looking into all aspects of the passage of I-502. The trailer for the film has been...

In a report written with an obvious “Reefer Madness” mentality, there are actually some very refreshing statistics. From 2002 to 2011, the percentage of adolescents that perceive danger from heavy drinking rose from 38.2% to 40.7%, accompanied by a binge drinking rate drop from 10.7% to 7.4%. Perceived danger from marijuana use dropped from 54.6% to 44.8%, and use rose from 6.7% to 7.9%.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado is the latest of many CO cities adopting ’emergency’ ordinances to prevent the formation of private marijuana clubs. Most CO cities banning marijuana clubs are only doing so until Amendment 64 has a clear regulatory system.

Thanks to the popularity of Washington’s public marijuana forums discussing I-502, state officials have added new forums and changed the remaining scheduled forums to larger venues. “Clearly there is passion about what Washington’s system of legal marijuana will look like when fully implemented,” said LCB Chair Sharon Foster.

Unfortunately, the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force recommended a marijuana DUI regulation that is similar to Washington’s. On the plus side, the task force recommends giving warnings to juveniles for possession, rather than burdening them with a criminal charge.