Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 1, 2008 11:09:11 AM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

marijuana legalization

marijuana legalization news stories

13 Stories

 Swiss Legalize 
 Heroin Injections  

But reject marijuana decriminalization

BBC BBC Nov 30, 08 11:00 AM CST
(Newser) - Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a safe-injection program for heroin addicts today, BBC reports. The referendum, backed by 68% of voters, makes permanent a 14-year-old Swiss program that allows doctors to shoot up heroin users while attending to their medical and mental health needs. Switzerland will be the first nation to make such a program official policy. More »

More about:  marijuana • Switzerland • heroin • marijuana legalization

BALLOT INITIATIVES

Prop. 8 Backers Declare Victory; Foes Won't Concede

States shoot down abortion limits, ban gay marriage, back assisted death

Associated Press Associated Press Nov 5, 08 5:08 AM CST
(Newser) - Backers of a gay marriage ban have declared victory after a tight race in California but opponents refuse to concede until all the ballots are counted, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The Prop. 8 measure was one of several divisive social issues put to a vote yesterday. Measures that would have banned almost all abortions failed in Colorado and South Dakota. More »

More about:  Election 2008 • gay marriage • abortion • Proposition 8 • marijuana legalization • euthanasia • propositions

 Report to UN: 
 Dudes, Legalize Weed 

Drug less harmful than alcohol or smoking, report says

Guardian (UK) Guardian (UK) Oct 2, 08 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - Slick-suited diplomats are not the likeliest advocates for lifting worldwide marijuana bans, but a British scientific report targets the UN, saying a regulated marijuana market would remove most of the drug's harm, since it comes from prohibition itself, the Guardian reports. Legalizing it would also allow governments to tax the 160 million users, and set a minimum age and potency limits. More »

More about:  United Nations • marijuana • marijuana legalization • cannabis • weed

Let's Legalize Drug Use: Argentine Prez

In US, Rep. Barney Frank leads lawmakers on marijuana crusade

CNN CNN Aug 3, 08 6:21 PM CDT
(Newser) - Argentina's president is seeking to legalize drug use and a crack down on dealing and trafficking, CNN reports. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's plan follows similar moves by European and Latin American nations, where decriminalization has not increased drug use, one expert said. Mexico proposed such a law several years ago, but backed down when Washington reacted harshly. More »

Group Backs Preflight Toke

Allowing weed at airport would chill 'air rage,' pro-marijuana org in Denver says

CW2 News CW2 News Jun 26, 08 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Denver has a pretty lax marijuana policy (small amounts are legal) and pro-pot advocates are wondering whether, after a recent rash of "air rage" incidents, such permissiveness shouldn’t extend to the city airport’s smoking lounge, CW2 News reports. “This madness has got to stop,” said a proponent. “And we're providing a very viable solution.” More »

More about:  air travel • marijuana • airport • Denver • marijuana legalization • weed • relaxation • air rage

Calif. County
Cracks Down
on Lax Pot Law

'Emerald Triangle' residents have their 25-plant limit cut to 6

San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle Jun 5, 08 10:57 AM CDT
(Newser) - Voters in a northern California county have backed a measure tightening one of America's loosest pot laws, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. State law allows Californians to grow six marijuana plants each for medicinal use, but Mendocino County allowed its residents 25 plants each for any use. The county's residents will now have to make do with the standard six. More »

More about:  California • marijuana • medical marijuana • drug dealing • marijuana legalization

Indoor Pot Farms Sow
Calif. Discord

Boom in grow houses eating up affordable housing stock

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times May 31, 08 12:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Indoor pot farms are sprouting up around California and causing some bad vibes in the Golden State, the Los Angeles Times reports. In one northwest community, authorities estimate that 1,000 of 7,500 homes are devoted to cultivating marijuana, cutting into the housing supply and raising safety concerns. Many residents complain that out-of-staters are flooding in to take advantage of liberal laws about medical marijuana. More »

More about:  California • marijuana • medical marijuana • drug dealing • marijuana legalization

Dude...Where's My Sponsor?

As 4/20 nears holiday status, pot-smokers' festivities curry favor with advertisers

MSNBC MSNBC Apr 17, 08 9:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - Major corporations are trying to see dollar signs through the haze of pot smoke hovering over this year's 4/20 stonerpalooza, as the pseudo-holiday gains national attention with its large, (idly) devoted following on college campuses. This year, festivities will include stoner cinema debuts like "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo" and "Super High Me," MSNBC reports. More »

More about:  drugs • college • movies • marijuana • drug use • marijuana legalization • University of Colorado

 Mass. Rep Vows to Legalize Pot 

Barney Frank says public is ready for change

Politico Politico Mar 23, 08 4:44 PM CDT
(Newser) - Rep. Barney Frank will move to legalize “small amounts” of marijuana, Politico reports, citing Americans who think use of the drug is no big deal. “It's time for the politicians to catch up to the public,” said the Massachusetts Democrat on "Real Time with Bill Maher." But it’ll be tough for him to get a vote on such legislation, the Crypt notes. More »

More about:  Congress • drugs • marijuana • Massachusetts • late night talk show • Barney Frank • medical marijuana • marijuana legalization • Bill Maher

Major US Doctors' Group Backs Medical Marijuana

Medical association calls for law change to reclassify pot

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Feb 15, 08 3:15 AM CST
(Newser) - The second-largest physicians' organization in the nation is taking a stand supporting medical marijuana, declaring that science has proven the drug has therapeutic value. The American College of Physicians is asking federal lawmakers to drop marijuana from a category of drugs considered to have no medicinal value, the Los Angeles Times reports. In a position paper, the association also calls for the protection of doctors and patients in states with laws supporting pot use for health reasons. More »

More about:  drugs • marijuana • medical marijuana • marijuana legalization

Activists Push 'Grass' Roots Campaigns

Pot penalties go up
in smoke in two municipalities

Time Time Nov 10, 07 6:54 PM CST
(Newser) - Two Rocky Mountain municipalities have pared back penalties for cannabis users, joining a growing group of US cities, Time reports. Hailey, Idaho (pop. 8,500) and Denver joined the list this week during elections. Voters in the Mile-High City, whose mayor has admitted past pot use, are letting users get away with having an ounce of grass or less. More »

More about:  Alaska • marijuana • Nevada • Denver • marijuana legalization • rehabilitation

Feds Totally Uncool With Pot-Laced Candy Factory

Raids medical-marijuana supplier Tainted Inc.

Associated Press Associated Press Sep 28, 07 1:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Feds yesterday kicked in the doors of a factory producing marijuana-laced candy, snacks, and drinks for the medical marijuana market, the AP reports. Three were arrested, but the company’s founder is still on the lam. Authorities fear Tainted Inc. is one of many large-scale marijuana-lacing operations capitalizing on legalized medical dispensaries in California and other states. More »

More about:  California • marijuana • medical marijuana • Drug Enforcement Administration • marijuana legalization • Federal law

Farmers Fight
to Legalize
Pot's Cousin

Growing hemp won't harm drug war, say strapped ND growers

New York Times New York Times Jul 21, 07 5:39 PM CDT
(Newser) - The push to legalize hemp—marijuana’s less potent cousin—has some unlikely supporters: North Dakota farmers who couldn't be more conservative in every other respect, the New York Times reports . Hemp, used in clothing, lotions and even snack bars, has become especially attractive to North Dakota because of a fungus that has decimated wheat crops. More »

More about:  marijuana • agriculture • Ron Paul • farming • farmer • crops • medical marijuana • Drug Enforcement Administration • marijuana legalization • wheat • North Dakota

13 Stories

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »