ECONOMY
A federal bill that would impose mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes would increase the workload of the parole system, and the government intends to inject more than $100 million over five years to ease the burden, according to the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada. full story
Once largely underground, activity linked to the cultivation and use of pot is now in full public view in Michigan. full story- This is the definition of insanity. Take money that was intended to help create jobs and use it to drive the prison population higher so tax payers will be forced to pay for housing more non-violent drug offenders. full story
An incremental acceptance of medical marijuana has spurred a cottage industry of business ventures — from iPhone applications to lobbyists — whose expansion shows no sign of slowing despite the recession. Instead, pot is the new growth industry. full story
If you drive a BMW or a Mercedes Benz, or wear Armani jeans or Patagonia shirts, you could be consuming hemp. full story- I had the following letter published in the Anniston Star today. full story
In this desperate economy, some argue that legalizing and taxing marijuana could plug multibillion-dollar holes in federal and state coffers. full story
A medical billing company may be blowing smoke, but could reimbursing patients for medical marijuana lower drug costs for employers? full story
Oakland residents overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to approve a first-of-its kind tax on medical marijuana sold at the city's four cannabis dispensaries. full story
CANNABIS CULTURE - Experts say California could bring in billions by legalizing pot. Drug reform activist Loretta Nall thinks marijuana taxation could help Alabama as well. full story
A bill to tax and regulate marijuana in California like alcohol would generate nearly $1.4 billion in revenue for the cash-strapped state, according to an official analysis released Wednesday by tax officials. full story
Three television stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles have rejected an ad promoting the legalization and taxation of marijuana, set to run on consenting stations and cable networks in the state beginning Wednesday. full story
Marijuana remains illegal even though public attitudes are clearly changing on this topic. It is illegal even though 100 million Americans have smoked it and suffered little if any negative side effects. full story
As California goes, so goes the nation. If that old adage still holds true, then the nation may soon see a gradual backpedaling from the criminal justice policies that have led to wholesale incarceration in recent decades. full story
The savage drug war in Mexico. Crumbling state budgets. Weariness with current drug policy. The election of a president who said, "Yes — I inhaled." full story
Pot entrepreneur Richard Lee envisions a professional marijuana industry much like the one that exists in Amsterdam. full story
When President Obama's drug czar declared an end to the war on drugs, Republicans were apparently listening closely. full story
Sam Mellace sees the day his company is a leader in distributing medical marijuana. But he has to persuade Ottawa to let his business be. full story- City Councilman says half the city's sales outlets might be forced to close to control the growth in number of dispensaries full story
As world leaders scramble for ways to resurrect the dwindling economy, it seems that even marijuana is not being ruled out as a possible economic stimulus. full story
Here's something to think about: How many police officers and sheriff's deputies are involved in investigating and solving crimes involving illegal drugs? And arresting and transporting and interrogating and jailing the suspects? full story
Could marijuana be the answer to the economic misery facing California? Democratic state assemblyman Tom Ammiano thinks so. Ammiano introduced legislation last month that would legalize pot and allow the state to regulate and tax its sale — a move that could mean billions of dollars for the cash-strapped state. full story
Two prominent lawmakers pushing for reform of the state's marijuana laws have a potent new ally: the budget deficit. full story
Hemp refiner expected to provide new income for 200 farmers full story
Students, faculty, media, politicians, activists and interested public across Canada are joining Marc-Boris St-Maurice, Executive Director of NORML Canada as he embarks on a national fact-finding tour to introduce "The National Resolution for the Legalization of Marijuana". full story
