Wine, cheese and weed? Enjoying all three at once is nothing new, but the movement that officially recognizes the similarities between these tasting parallels is only just starting to gain momentum.

The days of illegal marijuana were a far simpler time, without the complexities of flavors among so many different varieties of indica, sativa and hybrid strains. Today, there are 1,356 strain results on weed site Leafly — and while not all of those are legitimately unique, this new-found variety is opening an entirely new subculture of cannabis connoisseurs and an industry that could one day resemble the long-accepted world of wine.

Howard Wooldridge, a Washington lobbyist, is a former detective and forever Texan on an important mission — trying to persuade the 535 members of Congress to end the federal war on marijuana.

Liberals tend to be an easier sell than conservatives. With liberals, Wooldridge dwells on the grossly racist way the war on drugs has been prosecuted.

Conservatives hear a different argument, but one that Wooldridge holds every bit as dear: “Give it back to the states.”“The war on drugs,” he tells them, “has been the most immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crow.”

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A demonstrator smokes a marijuana cigarette during a protest outside the Capitol building in San Juan April 20, 2015. People gathered outside the Capitol building as legislators are debating to decriminalize small amounts of medical marihuana and its cultivation, according to local media. REUTERS/Alvin Baez

Hundreds of people marched in San Antonio in support of reforming the Lone Star State's strict marijuana laws. 

Starting at Maverick Park and ending at the Friendly Spot Ice House, 300 people snaked through downtown Sunday to raise awareness about pot reform efforts at the Capitol. 

Marisa Laufer, an organizer with the Alamo City chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said a strong presence in San Antonio is vital for weed reform in Texas.

She believes the legalization of marijuana is long overdue and the government is “wasting money criminalizing marijuana.” 

Jamie Balagia, executive director of SA NORML, challenges the Texas government's draconian marijuana laws.

MEDICAL cannabis was "unquestionably" the big issue at this year's MardiGrass festival.

Festival organiser Michael Balderstone said the issue helped attract large numbers to the event despite the terrible weather.

"Our online ticket sales were up a lot, about a third up," he said.

Nimbin celebrates cannabis at MardiGrass "protestival"

"Quite a few people didn't come (on Friday) because the roads got blocked. But it was lovely to wake up to the sun on Saturday and all the roads opened and people started turning up."

Marijuana consumers installed posts made with the substance in the Plaza de Mayo where they smoked in public and marched to the Congress in favor of self-cultivation products.

The demonstration, which involved thousands of people, is part of the global claims that are made in different countries and in all major cities of Argentina that held afternoon marches to ask lawmakers to address the issue.

In this context, the elected legislator of the Left Front, Patricio del Corro, called for "the repeal of the current drug law" considering that it seeks to "criminalize youth."

SAN ANTONIO - SA Norml, a chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, held its first rally and march in San Antonio on Sunday.

Dozens of showed up to Maverick Park for the rally before hitting the streets of San Antonio.

"There are a lot of people who are being arrested who are causing no other problem than the mere possession of marijuana,” Jamie Balagia, SA Norml interim executive director, said.

Balagia is one of the dozens here who want Texas lawmakers to legalize marijuana.

"If I smoke marijuana and someone says that's a problem. How is the solution locking me up in a jail or a prison? That is not a solution. That's a problem,” Balagia said.

Sixteen months after Colorado launched legal recreational marijuana sales, the center of the burgeoning industry in Denver is asking to extend shops' evening closing hours and revisit the outright ban on public consumption.

And many City Council candidates in Tuesday's election are receptive — including several with a good shot of winning or proceeding to a runoff.

Industry concerns center on competing with pot shops in neighboring cities that have closing hours later than Denver's 7 p.m. cutoff for both recreational and medical stores. Some in the industry also want to provide tourists with safe, legal places to smoke or consume their purchases, since hotels typically don't allow it in rooms.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The California Legislature is considering multiple -- and conflicting -- plans to impose the first major statewide restrictions on medical marijuana dispensaries and growers.

The debate over the billion-dollar industry now regulated largely by local government and has pitted cities and law enforcement agencies against marijuana growers and sellers.