A half-dozen proposed law changes are gaining steam, upping the potential for the biggest slate of ballot questions in 15 years next November and a possible deluge of advertisements on everything from marijuana legalization to farm animals.

The six petitions still eligible to go before voters next year each cleared a key 64,750-signature hurdle this month, and now sit before the Legislature, with a more modest 10,792-signature requirement awaiting — if lawmakers don’t act on them — to make it to the ballot.

Should they all survive, it would mark the most questions to appear on a statewide ballot since 2000, when voters weighed eight proposals.

CHICAGO, Dec. 24, 2015/ Weed Wire/– MJIC Media is raising its voice for cannabis with the launch of MJIC Radio. The most recent offering from the MJIC Media family, MJIC Radio offers thoughtful discussions about the benefits and drawbacks of investing in legal marijuana, as well as building and growing a brand in this nascent industry and interviews with top company owner and lobbyists.

The federal government quietly ended its prohibition of medical marijuana last Friday as President Obama signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill passed earlier in the day by Congress.
Section 538 of 1,603-page document states that none of the funds made available for the Department of Justice may be used to prevent states from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana.

New York's state Department of Health is now allowing New York-based Americans to gain access to its recently approved medical marijuana program which is set to be launched at the start of next year.

To facilitate and ease the process of registration for eligible enrollees, the local health agency also set up a corresponding online system.

The program came about after the state legislature legalized the establishment of such program but included some important pre-requisites for would-be enrollees such as getting a health department certification from a duly-registered physician before applying for state registry identification card.

When President Obama signed a huge tax and spending law to keep the government running and avoid a year-end budget showdown, there were a few things tucked into the $1.1 trillion law that directly impact people in chronic pain – namely medical marijuana, veterans who need opioids, and tax breaks for medical device manufacturers.

DOJ to Back-Off on Medical Marijuana Criminal Action

The bill blocks the Department of Justice from taking criminal action against individuals and organizations that are licensed in states that have passed medical marijuana laws.

MANSFIELD, Ohio— Authorities in north-central Ohio have been looking into synthetic marijuana abuse after a rash of overdoses.

Investigators in the Mansfield area say they saw a dramatic spike in overdoses in November and are trying to determine if it’s connected to the death of a 14-year-old boy.

Two teens found unresponsive in a vehicle this past week told deputies that they had been smoking synthetic marijuana. Both were charged with possession of drugs and drug abuse instruments.

Authorities in Mansfield say they had 25 overdoses last month and that many of could be attributed to synthetic marijuana use.

What’s on our teenagers’ minds? In its 59th year, the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum is intended to answer just that question. The annual gathering, which this year attracted about 1,000 students, provided an opportunity for public high school juniors and seniors to discuss issues of the day in groups of 40 or so students and was moderated by a community leader. Each group selected one of its participants to reflect on the experience. This column is written by Rosemary Laurito, a senior at Silverado High School. Publisher and Editor Brian Greenspun is turning over his “Where I Stand” column to these young adults, who have something to say.

In November 2015, Cuomo approved speeding up the process to allow for the program to start providing patients access to medical marijuana in January 2016.

The New York State Department of Health has launched its online Medical Marijuana Patient Certification and Registration System.

But there is doubt among some patients and their caregivers that the state will be able to handle the demand for the drug and that the dispensaries will open on time.

Another important element is falling into place for Illinoisans to begin using medical marijuana: A University of IL at Chicago lab has obtained state approval to do safety and potency testing.

NY State Department of Health launches online medical marijuana registration

Qualified New Yorkers can now enroll in the state's upcoming medical marijuana program online.

Registration is now open for patients looking to buy medical marijuana in New York State.

Concerns have recently been raised about the state giving patients enough time to get certified to get medical marijuana, which will be available in non-smokeable forms for patients with specific illnesses.

The five manufacturing facilities are in Queens; Rochester; Fulton County, near Amsterdam; Warren County, in the North Country; and Orange County, in the Hudson Valley.

Issues such as marijuana legalization and raising the minimum wage may end up on Ohio ballots in November 2016, impacting presidential election turnout.

Political operators in swing state Ohio are eyeing hot-button ballot issues that could drive voter turnout for their candidates, similar to a tactic used successfully in 2004 when a gay marriage ban propelled conservative voters to the polls and helped Republican George W. Bush win Ohio and the White House.

The race in Ohio was one of the closest in the nation in 2004, where George W. Bush defeated John Kerry, 51-49 percent.