The New Jersey Assembly is rebuking the Christie administration's handling of the state's medical marijuana program.

Lawmakers voted Thursday to approve a resolution, ACR224, that says Gov. Chris Christie's Health Department has placed "arbitrary and unnecessary" restrictions on the program.

The vote comes a day after Christie criticized the notion of legalizing marijuana in order to gain a tax windfall, calling it "blood money."

The same day Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, paperwork was also submitted to register The First Church of Cannabis Inc. as a non-profit organization.

The church, founded by Bill Levin, promoted the filing with the Secretary of State via Facebook, and pointed out,

“Cannataerians… would seek love, understanding and good health.”

 

The recently enacted controversial law prevents the state (Indiana) government from “substantially burdening” a person’s right to exercise religion only if it can demonstrate that it is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental interest.

Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried, a Democratic sponsor of the medical marijuana legislation, criticized "senseless burdensome restrictions" on the program.

ALBANY — When New York State’s lawmakers were mulling legalizing the medical use of marijuana last summer, some proponents feared that the proposed law was so restrictive that it would prevent many patients from receiving the drug.

Now, with the state’s Health Department close to issuing final regulations about the new program, the law’s supporters say their fears may soon be realized.

How often do people get arrested for marijuana? Who gets arrested? And are they accused of other crimes as well?

Those are some of the things we wondered as Wichitans prepare to vote April 7 on a proposal that would lessen first-time penalties for adults caught with an ounce or less of marijuana.

The future of the proposal is unclear, even if voters pass it. State officials have already said they will challenge it in court since it conflicts with state law.

But we can learn some things from what is happening with marijuana in Wichita now, based on data from the Wichita Police Department, Wichita Municipal Court and Sedgwick County District Court.

Paul Birch, the co-founder of Bebo and chairman of the recently established single-issue political party Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol (CISTA), was in Glasgow on Tuesday to launch his party’s campaign in Scotland, ahead of the General Election in May. CISTA campaigns for the reform of laws which prohibit the sale and possession of cannabis in the UK. After meeting CISTA candidates standing in Scottish constituencies, he spoke to the Glasgow Guardian.

Guardian: To have launched a single-issue party, you must be passionate about that issue, in this case, legalising cannabis. How did that come about?

Last week’s Vienna meeting of the UN’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs was an important stepping stone on the road to 2016, when world leaders will come together in New York to discuss drug policy in a special session of the UN General Assembly, also known as the UNGASS.

As dry as these diplomatic gatherings appear, they play a key role in our effort to end the war on drugs; try new approaches to drug policy that reduce harm; end the criminalisation of drug users and keep non-violent drug offenders out of prison; and treat drugs overall as a health issue. 

Walid Jumblatt’s call for the legalization of cannabis cultivation fits into a global trend, from the USA to Uruguay

One of the rare bills that cruised through both chambers of the state Legislature this session would allow the state to grow hemp for research purposes. 

An Indonesian town was high on more than just life when police set fire to more than three tons of confiscated cannabis.    

Residents of Tangerang, 15.5 miles west of the capital Jakarta, reported suffering from headaches and dizziness after inhaling the tangy smoke given off by the bonfire. 

The 3.3 tons of marijuana were burned by Palmerah police at their subprecinct office in West Jakarta earlier this month.

A police officer throws packages of confiscated marijuana onto a fire in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in August last year. That fire destroyed two tons of the drug while the latest one in Tangareng burned 3.3