MADISON – A Democratic lawmaker introduced legislation Monday morning that would legalize marijuana in Wisconsin, but the bill will likely go up in smoke.

State Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, held a press conference at the Capitol along with the president of the Wisconsin Cannabis Project. They said the change would reduce crime associated with growing and selling cannabis and create jobs.

State Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison.

Sargent introduced a similar bill last year, but it made no progress through the state Legislature.

MBank, the small Oregon-based financial institution that has serviced the cannabis industry since last year, told Marijuana Business Daily that it will close all of its accounts with marijuana companies in the next two months.

Jef Baker, the CEO and president of MBank, said the cost and time spent on compliance is too much for the Gresham, Oregon-based community bank to handle. The company – which quickly became one of the largest banks serving the marijuana industry – has about 70 to 75 accounts with cannabis businesses, Baker said. Most of them are in Oregon, though a few are in Washington State.

WHITEHALL's former chief drug adviser has called for Scotland to legalise cannabis and ecstasy as medicines.

Professor David Nutt - sacked by the last UK Labour government after saying some drugs were less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco - has long campaigned for decriminalisation.

Now, with other campaigners, Prof Nutt wants to see the SNP use its Westminster influence after next month's general election to push through reform north of the border on cannabis and MDMA, the scientific name of ecstasy.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced changes to the Commonwealth’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary program in a Wednesday press release, including the requirement for all patients to obtain an electronic certification from a physician and register for the Medical Use of Marijuana Program.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced changes to the state’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary program Wednesday, which will license Registered Marijuana Dispensaries similar to the licensing of other healthcare facilities. 

Additionally, the release stated, this new process will grant licenses to registered marijuana dispensaries similarly to the way in which they grant licenses to pharmacies.

EUGENE, Ore. - With just days left to file income taxes, Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden introduced legislation that would allow marijuana businesses to take deductions as long as they are following state laws.

Wyden has also proposed a tax reform plan that would make filing taxes easier and create incentives for local businesses.

“We really have a one page form, just over 30 lines long and if we go to something like that - Oregonians are going to be able to get their April back," Wyden said.

He said these changes would reflect the will of Oregon voters and provide some certainty for small businesses.

He hopes to move forward with these tax changes in the upcoming months.

As 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) continues to voice disdain for the war on drugs, it will be interesting to see whether fellow presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shifts her views on drug reform, especially since she's wavered on the issue for years.

Retired Silicon Valley engineer Angelo Mallol, 56, turned out Sunday for a seminar on how to start a small business – in the pot trade.

He asked questions as instructor Gerry Bedore of the Cannabis Career Institute spoke about emerging opportunities for entrepreneurs wanting to enter California’s medical marijuana market and cash in on a likely 2016 state ballot initiative to legalize recreational pot use.

The Cannabis Career Institute, founded by a Los Angeles marijuana activist and pot deliveryman known as “The Cannabis Warrior,” held a daylong Sacramento program on how to open cannabis businesses, from niche bakeries and organic gardens to marijuana distribution services.

The cannabis round table discussion is being hosted by the Social Development Department this week.

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s first ever conference on the use of cannabis as a medicine on Thursday heard that up to four million people were estimated to be using the drug in southern Africa, and while millions are spent to eradicate it, these efforts yield little results and often disadvantaged the poor.

The cannabis round table discussion was being hosted by the Social Development Department in Benoni this week and brought together doctors, lawyers, religious leaders and NGOs to discuss the viability of partial legalisation.

Now that medical marijuana is legal in Minnesota and disbursement is set to begin July 1, employers should review their policies regarding such workplace procedures as drug testing and the Americans With Disabilities Act to ensure they protect the business, as well as the employee.

Minnesota’s law authorizes the use of medical marijuana for patients suffering from several medical conditions including glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, certain cancers, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease and illnesses causing severe and persistent muscle spasms. Individuals eligible for the medication are required to enroll in a statewide registry.

MADISON (WKOW) – State Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) will unveil a proposal Monday to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin.

Sargent, who introduced a similar bill during the last legislative session, said legalizing pot is about personal liberty.

“This is not an issue for just one party or another. This is an issue that brings the state together,” Sargent said. “It actually energizes a base of people that feel that feel they haven't had a voice at the Capitol – an awful lot of young people who value that personal liberties angle.”

Sargent said legalizing marijuana would also combat racial disparities evident in the current, criminal justice system by cutting back on the incarceration of non-violent, drug offenders.