I work this issue every day and am well aware of the racist nature of the War on (Certain American Citizens Using Non-Pharmaceutical, Non-Alcoholic, Tobacco-Free) Drugs. But even I wasn’t aware of the outrageous statistics comparing the Drug War to Jim Crow era. Michelle Alexander lays it all out in her new book, The New Jim Crow: How the War on Drugs Gave Birth to a Permanent American Undercaste:

An interesting film from the BBC looking at the problems of obtaining medical marijuana in the UK

One of the best (or worse, it depends on one’s perspective and physical location!) indicators of the total failure of a law, is when it is woefully and subjectively applied.

Smoking Weed in Rehab is Okay, According to Researcher LA Weekly 3/5/2010 | Dennis Romero

Dr. Drew would keel over at the notion, but a study published Friday in the pro-pot Harm Reduction Journal suggests that it's okay smoke weed while trying to ween yourself off other drugs.

GA: Georgia Senator Wants To Make Synthetic Pot Illegal Atlanta Journal-Constitution / March 6, 2010 / Kristi E Swartz

"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded."

Abraham Lincoln (1809-65), U.S. President. Speech, 18 Dec. 1840, to Illinois House of Representatives --

Author’s update: the graphics in the post below have been updated to correct some minor mistakes, such as dated information that left out Rhode Island and Maine’s dispensaries and Oregon’s recent acceptance of Alzheimer’s agitation as a qualifying condition. Also, I have outlined Oregon’s attempt at legalization through the OCTA petition as it could be reasonably said to be as far along or farther along than Washington’s I-1068. I regret my errors.

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a lawsuit today challenging the flawed medical cannabis ordinance recently adopted by the City of Los Angeles. We hope that City Councilmembers will still vote to change some of the most onerous provisions of that ordinance, but we must use every tool at our disposal to protect patients’ access – including litigation.

Marijuana smoking teens prone to schizophrenia The Times of India | 2/28/2010 | TOI Author

Teens who smoke marijuana are at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms in the future, a new study has found.

CA: Medical Marijuana News. Cannabidiol Stops The Spread Of Breast Cancer.

Cannabis Examiner / February 27, 9:15 /Dev Meyers

AU: Marijuana Use Can Up Psychosis Risk businessweek | 2/27/10 |

Long-term use of marijuana can lead to increased risk of developing hallucinations, delusions and psychosis, a new study shows.

Michigan medical marijuana Tri-County Times | 2/27/2010 | Anna Troppens

Patients use it for pain relief, but law creates issues for police.

He needed a liver transplant and was given six months to live. That was a few years ago.