The United States has some of the world's most punitive drug policies and has led the cheering section for tough "war on drugs" policies worldwide, but a new international study suggests that those policies have been a crashing failure. A World Health Organization survey of 17 countries, conducted by some of the world's leading substance abuse researchers, found that we have the highest rates of marijuana and cocaine use. (July 2, 2008)

As California's wildfires overwhelm the resources to fight them, federal and state agents – hundreds of them – have been sweeping through Humboldt County and a sliver of Mendocino County in pursuit of commercial pot growers. ... Does anyone believe that last week's sweep in Humboldt County will have the slightest impact on the price or availability of the stuff? More fundamental still, who other than drug policy bureaucrats can seriously argue that pot is dangerous enough to justify existing policy? ... If pot were decriminalized, its distribution regulated (and limited to adults), its sales taxed, there'd be a very different market and the harm to health and lives significantly reduced. (July 1, 2008)

It is almost certain that the 56 percent of California voters who approved Proposition 215 ... did not intend for employers to discriminate against [medical marijuana patients]. ... [T]he question before the state Supreme Court earlier this year was whether an employer can fire a worker for using medical marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. ... Yes, the court said, a worker can be fired for using medipot with a doctor's permission even if that use has zero effect on his or her job performance. ... It's clear the court majority reacted with a knee-jerk against any kind of pot use. ... The ruling also opens up other problems for patients who use legal narcotics like morphine for pain. ... For if employees can be dumped for using one drug, who's to say they can't also be fired for using another? (June 26, 2008)

Advocates and local residents will speak before the state House this week to encourage a study into the use of medicinal marijuana. Polk County resident Jean Marlowe, Democratic Rep. Earl Jones of Guilford County, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elders and Saluda resident Ray Pague plan to speak Wednesday at the Capitol auditorium. Jones said he will introduce a measure calling for a study to be done on the benefits of medicinal marijuana. ... "Marijuana has been proven in studies to reduce the pain and suffering in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and cancer," he said. (June 23, 2008)

For years various jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies have dragged their feet when it comes to implementing California's Proposition 215 ... Last year three California counties, San Diego, San Bernardino and Merced, announced they would challenge the initiative itself, on the grounds that it is in conflict with federal law ... A provision of the California constitution requires state and local officials to enforce state law rather than federal law when a perceived conflict exists with federal law, unless and until a court rules that federal law supersedes and invalidates state law. That hasn't happened, and it's not going to happen. State and local officials who are still dragging their feet need to do their duty and comply with the law. (June 22, 2008)

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno County Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing on the local implementation of the statewide Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program, July 8, 9 a.m., in the County Board Chambers in the Hall of Records at 2281 Tulare St. To help educate the community about this and other medical marijuana issues facing Fresno, MPP will host a free screening of the award-winning medical marijuana documentary "Waiting to Inhale," followed by a panel discussion, July 7, 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 2672 E. Alluvial Ave., in Clovis. (July 3, 2008)

FRESNO, Calif. - A free screening of the award-winning medical marijuana documentary, "Waiting to Inhale," takes place July 7, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno in Clovis, followed by a panel discussion with local medical marijuana patients, advocates and medical experts. Winner of several awards, including the Worldfest Houston 2005 Goldfest Special Jury Award, Best Documentary 2005 New Jersey International Film Festival and winner of the Eureka! International Film Festival, "Waiting to Inhale" examines the debate over marijuana's use as medicine in the United States. (June 25, 2008)

ALBANY, NEW YORK - The New York Assembly passed a bill today that would protect New Yorkers with life threatening or debilitating conditions from arrest for using medical marijuana when their doctors believe it would be the best treatment option, 79-48. The bill is similar to the medical marijuana bill the Assembly passed last year. The version passed today was modified to address concerns voiced by members of the Senate, who have until June 23 to pass the bill before the legislature recesses. (June 18, 2008)

ALBANY - A newly updated analysis released today, co-authored by Dr. Mitch Earleywine, associate professor of psychology at the Albany campus of the State University of New York, shows that state medical marijuana laws have not increased teen marijuana use, despite fears that have been raised when such measures are considered. Teen marijuana use has consistently declined in states with medical marijuana laws, and generally more markedly than national averages. (June 16, 2008)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Two just-released federal reports indicate that regulation of tobacco continues to produce a steady drop in teen cigarette use and teen access to tobacco, with current cigarette use by high school students dropping markedly faster than use of marijuana. The just-released 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports rates of current cigarette use and current marijuana use among teens in grades nine through 12 in a statistical tie at 20 percent and 19.7 percent, respectively. The cigarette use figure represents a sharp drop from the 2005 survey, when it was 23 percent. Marijuana use, at 20.2 percent in 2005, showed a much smaller decline. (June 4, 2008)