MPP assistant director of communications Mike Meno talks about marijuana prohibition and the announcement of a bill to allow medical marijuana in the state of Maryland. In this interview, he explains that the current affirmative defense for medical marijuana patients does not go far enough to protect their safety. 01/26/2010

Yesterday, a team of bipartisan Maryland legislators announced the details of two bills that would make medical marijuana legal and accessible for qualified patients in the state. The bill’s main sponsor in the House is Del. Dan Morhaim (D-Baltimore County), who, as an internist and emergency medical physician, has been very effective at explaining why patients and doctors need access to a range of treatment options, including marijuana. As proposed, the bill would allow patients with a “debilitating…

After more than two years of deliberation -- and just plain foot-dragging -- on the issue, the Los Angeles City Council voted 9-3 today to enact an ordinance regulating the operation of medical marijuana facilities in the city. It's certainly a significant milestone that the second largest city in the nation (eighth in the world) has a law on the books allowing marijuana to be sold through locally regulated storefronts. However, upon digging into the details of the ordinance, it doesn't seem to be…

Yet another myth about marijuana takes a beating thanks to some splendid research out of Scandinavia. Although it’s no surprise to MPP’s fans, marijuana use has no link to suicide. A thorough study of Swedish military men confirms that those who use marijuana are no more likely to take their own lives than those who don’t. Prohibitionists often grab results like these and squeal “the sample is too small to mean much,” but this research focused on more than 50,000 people. If you can’t get marijuana…

Ad from Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws asking about the actions of Washoe county's DA Gammick, a staunch opponent of the taxation and regulation of marijuana.

MPP Director of Communications Kurt A. Gardinier appears on Broadband Network 3 to discuss marijuana prohibition and the impending law allowing Washington DC residents to use medical marijuana for serious conditions. Also featured is Wayne Turner, one of the persons responsible for the original ballot initiative to allow medical marijuana in the District of Columbia. 01/20/2010

“Can an employer punish someone for doing something that is constitutionally protected?” That’s the question raised by a pair of articles in Colorado today that lay out the precarious work situation many medical marijuana patients find themselves in. While the constitutional amendment that established medical marijuana in Colorado says that nothing “shall require any employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any work place,” the state also has a “Lawful Off-Duty Activities Statute”…

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s second term ends at the end of the year and because of his state’s term limits he will not be back, so the big question is who will replace Gov. Arnold? How about Zsa Zsa Gabor’s ninth husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt?  Yes, the 80 year old, German-born socialite turned prince (after being adopted by a Prussian princess in 1980), will reportedly announce his intention to run for governor on Monday, and that his campaign platform will likely be titled “Return…

The California Supreme Court affirmed today that the state's voter-approved medical marijuana law (Proposition 215) does not prevent qualified patients and caregivers from possessing more marijuana than is set forth in the personal guidelines established by the legislature in 2004. While the outcome of this case, People v. Kelly, hasn't fundamentally changed California law -- not in our view, at least -- the decision provided necessary direction for law enforcement. Although his status as a legal…

MPP Nevada spokesman Dave Schwartz debates the merits of the ballot initiative proposed for 2012 that would allow Nevadans over the age of 21 to legally purchase and possess marijuana in small quantities. This is part two of an appearance on Jon Ralston's "Face to Face". 01/15/2010