The prestigious Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) published a statewide survey this month showing that 38% of likely 2010 voters in California consider legalizing marijuana a "very important" issue. Another 24% consider the issue "somewhat important." This includes voters who are passionate about ending prohibition and voters who strongly support continuing the war on marijuana. While the 38% figure is lower than other issues expected to be on next year's California ballots, it's worth…

A pair of Washington State legislators has submitted a bill to end the state’s prohibition on marijuana, similar to the one introduced by California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) back in February.  The primary sponsor of the bill, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle) says she’s happy to start the conversation about ending marijuana prohibition to get the attention of Congress. A bill more likely to pass is the decriminalization bill introduced earlier this year, which was recently endorsed…

The president signed the omnibus spending bill into law yesterday, lifting the ban on medical marijuana in Washington, D.C. It is now 100% official, and the nation's capital can begin to implement the original medical marijuana initiative from 1998.

Last week, we brought you the story of John Wilson, a 37-year-old New Jersey man who stands accused of operating a drug manufacturing facility, even though he says the marijuana he grew on his property was for personal use only to treat his multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, Wilson is facing 20 years in prison and—most outrageously—had been prevented from mentioning his disease or anything about the effectiveness of medical marijuana to the jury, even though New Jersey might soon become the 14th state…

We told readers a few weeks ago that MPP would update them on how the government was responding to the American Medical Association’s new policy on marijuana. To refresh everyone’s memory, the AMA’s new policy is: Our AMA urges that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods. This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based…

A new survey showing, among other things, a slight uptick in teen marijuana use, got considerable press yesterday and today. A widely-circulated Associated Press story, along with many other reports, included this claim: “The increase of teens smoking pot is partly because the national debate over medical use of marijuana can make the drugs seem safer to teenagers, researchers said.” Baloney. Medical marijuana burst onto the national scene in 1996, when California passed the first effective medical…

A measure seeking to make personal marijuana possession and cultivation legal for adults appears to be headed to California’s November 2010 ballot. Proponents of the initiative -- led by Oaksterdam University founder Richard Lee -- say they have more than enough signatures to qualify for the ballot next year. The initiative, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, would allow adults over 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and cultivate a garden of up to 25 square feet. It would give local…

MPP spokesman Mike Meno discusses implementation of a medical marijuana program in Washington D.C. and the benefits it will have for seriously ill patients in the District. 12/14/2009

Tobacco kills at least 5 million people every year and the number could rise to 8 million by 2030, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization.  By contrast, there is not a single record of someone dying from using marijuana.  So, why is the extremely dangerous and lethal substance legal and the safer substance, sometimes used as medicine, illegal?

MPP spokesman Aaron Houston appears on ABC 7 Washington D.C. to discuss the Congressional approval of a budget that will allow medical marijuana in the District of Columbia. D.C. voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative to allow medical access to marijuana in 1998, but were prevented from implementing it until now by the Barr amendment. 12/14/2009