The first numbers are in, and they point to a resounding success: the state of Colorado’s Department of Revenue announced that legal marijuana pulled in some $70 million in taxes last year- nearly double the amount made from alcohol taxes ($42 million)!

On Wednesday, September 16, the state celebrated its new, “higher” source of income by suspending marijuana taxes for one day.

The marijuana legalization experiments underway in Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington have attracted a lot of attention around the country as test sites for the effects of legalization and exploring pot’s potential as a source of tax revenue.

Real, life-changing medical advances are being blocked for fear of ‘designer babies’; humane laws are stymied because of things they do not propose

Well, of course the Assisted Dying Bill failed. It mattered not a jot that an overwhelming majority of public opinion urged its success; it was always going to fail and the only surprising thing is that anybody is surprised. I’ll bet my teeth on a few more certainties, too. Last week the required 200,000 people put down their spliffs long enough to sign a petition in favour of decriminalising cannabis and thus, in October, the matter will be debated by MPs. Proponents, however, really should not bother — they will lose, regardless.

MADISON (WKOW) -- The Ho-Chunk Nation has voted to change the rules on using marijuana on its tribal lands. 

Ho-Chunk announced Saturday that its General Council voted to reverse a policy that made the use and sale of marijuana on tribal lands illegal. 63 percent of members voted in favor, 34 percent voted against and three percent abstained from the vote.

This comes about a month after the Menominee Indian Tribe voted to legalize medicinal and recreational use of marijuana on its reservation.

Officials tell 27 News that this ruling does not make the use and sale of marijuana legal yet on their tribal lands, and that officials and attorneys will be researching the implications of changing the ban.

After UFC champion Ronda Rousey criticized the 5-year suspension of fellow fighter Nick Diaz (#FreeNickDiaz) for testing positive for marijuana, controversial ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith took exception and gave his take on the issue.

How did rock star Melissa Etheridge become the keynote speaker for the leading cannabis business event?

Melissa Etheridge is a woman of many identities. She’s a rock star who has made music for more than 30 years, bringing home two Grammys and an Academy Award in the process. She’s an LGBTQ activist, frequently speaking out in favor of gay rights and marrying her partner just last year. And she’s a cannabis advocate and entrepreneur, having recently launched a line of cannabis-infused “wine tinctures.”

Story by Seshata

It is the middle of September, and the annual cannabis harvest in Morocco is about to commence. While some fields here and there have already been harvested, as is evident from the bare, vaguely oblong patches scattered here and there on the otherwise verdant hillsides, the vast majority are yet to be cut. PROHBTD has come to the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco, where the bulk of the country’s cannabis crop is cultivated, to observe the typical routine of an average day during harvest time.

Despite sweeping legalization, American teens are smoking less pot than they did 15 years ago. The surprising finding comes from a Johns Hopkins-led study of high school students, published today in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Opponents of marijuana legalization argue that normalizing marijuana use will cause the number of pot smokers to skyrocket.

“People have been very quick to say that marijuana use is going up and up and up in this country, particularly now that marijuana has become more normalized,” said study leader Renee M. Johnson, in a press statement.

Several people are using online classifieds websites to sell marijuana and gardai are aware of the increasing trend

Brazen Irish drug dealers are advertising their stashes for sale online.

A number of people are using websites such as Craiglist, an online classifieds website, to sell marijuana.

They are blatantly stating the type of weed, and its strength as well as prices online.

One advertisement reads: “Beautiful bud royal cheese. Message if interested. Meet in north Dublin.”

While relatively low level drug dealers are online, gardai are aware of the trend and it is starting to increase.

"For the past eight years I have relied on pot to relieve my depression. It makes me feel worse."

"I don't miss the fact that now when my lips move it is more than likely I am actually telling the truth."

Jane S

"I don't miss the fear that arose when I'm driving my car every time a police car hovers into view."

Steven

"My lowest point was when I realised I was stealing money from my daughters Christmas presents to fund my habit."

P. Gomez

"That's what made me think of stopping my drug habits - My Blood pressure spiked at 200/110 last week during a Panic Attack."

Maria

"Anyone being faced with the reality that their addiction needs to be conquered and their life will change is going to be scared."

Fatima

A YACHT was so laden down with it's illegal cargo that it was on the verge of sinking when Spanish customs officers intercepted it.

The yacht was 27 miles south west of Almeria, when it was discovered by the customs officers, struggling to stay afloat.

As the officers boarded the vessel they found that the entire living area was jam packed with packages, which turned out to contain cannabis.

The boat, which was flying under the Dutch flag had three crew members, two men and one woman, who were promptly arrested and charged with smuggling and endangering public health.

A ministry spokesperson said “the drugs took up all the available space on the yacht, the hull was packed full with the packages and you could not see the cabin beds or floor.”