[caption id="attachment_6989" align="alignright" width="240"] Ryan Loflin (Image: 303 Magazine)[/caption] This past weekend, volunteers gathered in Colorado’s Baca County to harvest the U.S.'s first commercial hemp crop since 1957. The crop was grown by Ryan Loflin, a Colorado resident. Hemp, a plant similar to marijuana but with only trace amounts of THC, is used to make cloth, rope, paper, oils, wax, and other products.  According to Hemp Industries Association, the U.S. market sold $500 million…

Marijuana prohibitionists have been stirring up controversy since a line of bus advertisements supporting Question 1 in Portland, Maine were revealed on Tuesday.  The advertisements serve to spark interest among voters and pose the question, “Why should adults be punished for making the safer choice to use marijuana over alcohol?“ Opponents, particularly from a group called 21 Reasons, argue that the ads are irresponsible and should be taken down. Here is what the Portland Press Herald had to say: Ultimately,…

Another study pointing to the failures of the war on drugs was published yesterday by a group of U.S. and Canadian researchers. The study was funded by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy and examined the relative price and potency of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from 1990 to 2010. Through analysis of existing data from various UN and governmental databases, the study found that, despite an estimated $1 trillion spent by the U.S. alone, the war on drugs has failed. Lead researcher…

A new marijuana policy went into effect this Monday in Switzerland. The new law, passed by parliament last year, allows adults caught with up to 10 grams of marijuana to pay a $110 fine to avoid legal proceedings. Growing, consuming, and selling marijuana are all still against Swiss law, but the new policy shows signs that Switzerland may go the way of other European countries that are more tolerant of marijuana use. An estimated 500,000 of Switzerland’s eight million residents use marijuana occasionally.…

A new poll jointly commissioned by MPP and the ACLU of Maryland shows that a majority of Marylanders support legalizing marijuana for adults and regulating it similarly to alcohol! If you live in Maryland, please let your legislators know that you are among the 53% of voters who believe adults should be allowed to use a substance that is objectively safer than alcohol. In 2014, representatives in Annapolis will be considering several bills that propose a more sensible approach to marijuana policies.…

On Tuesday, for the first time in since the beginning of marijuana prohibition, applications are being accepted for business owners to open legal, recreational marijuana shops. The Marijuana Enforcement Division in Colorado opened its doors to those applying for a license to legally sell recreational marijuana. Eager business owners were accepted by appointment only, and, until July, only those who already operate a medical marijuana dispensary are eligible to apply. Colorado is clearly taking advantage…

A series of bus advertisements have been launched in Portland, Maine in support of Question 1.  On November 5, Portland voters will decide on a city ordinance that proposes removing penalties for adults possessing up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. The ads feature adults explaining why they prefer marijuana to alcohol and ask, “why should adults be punished for making a safer choice?” You can see all of the ads here.

Last week, MPP's Mason Tvert spoke with Andrew Sullivan at The Dish about several aspects of marijuana policy and where it is headed. In this segment, he discusses where the federal government stands on the implementation of marijuana regulations in Colorado and Washington, and how they will deal with marijuana businesses:

Kentucky advocates for medical marijuana received a pleasant surprise last week when several media outlets reported that House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg) is now “leaning in favor” of passing a medical marijuana law. [caption id="attachment_6952" align="alignright" width="210"] House Speaker Greg Stumbo[/caption] Stumbo, formerly the state’s attorney general, has long been considered an opponent of reforming marijuana laws. When Kentucky was considering a bill to allow industrial hemp earlier…

MPP director of communications Mason Tvert recently sat down with Andrew Sullivan at  The Dish to discuss the state of marijuana policy. In this segment, he talks about the "cannabis closet" and why it is important to come out about support for changing our marijuana laws as well as personal use.