While CannaMed's owner insists that he's not doing anything wrong, his company could be greatly impacted by legislation now making its way through the State Capitol, reports Joel Warner at Denver Westworld.

House Bill 1653, which would reduce the penalty for possessing one-quarter ounce or less of cannabis, passed by an overwhelming 214-137 vote. That's almost 61 percent of the House voting in favor of decrim.

Previously, the bill had been recommended "out to pass" in a 16-2 vote by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on February 11.

"This makes three years in a row that the House has passed a bill attempting to reform New Hampshire's archaic marijuana policies," said Matt Simon, executive director for the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy.

"I know for a fact," said the three-time winner, reports The Associated Press.

Mackey said he would abstain for purposes of this year's race. "I'm going to pee in their little cup, and laugh in their face," Mackey said.

The Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health is currently considering a bill that would make Massachusetts the 15th state in the nation to give seriously ill patients safe and legal access to medical marijuana.

Last September, Suffolk University released poll results showing that 81 percent of Massachusetts residents support allowing "seriously ill patients to use, grow, and purchase marijuana for medical purposes if they have the approval of their physicians."

The Senate Committee on Government Operations is scheduled to vote Thursday on a bill which would establish up to five "compassion centers" at which patients could buy medical pot, reports Peter Hirschfield of the Vermont Press Bureau.

The U.N.'s International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB) attempts to meddle in marijuana reform in the United States were denounced by the Marijuana Policy Project on Thursday.

The INCB, which is currently meeting in Vienna, Austria, said in a recent report that they were "deeply concerned" that the 14 U.S. states that have medical marijuana laws are sending the "wrong message to other countries."

And here you were thinking that American states got to decide for themselves what "messages" to send! Silly you, they're supposed to get the permission of the United Nations, first!

"The last thing the INCB should be doing is meddling in our states' affairs," said Aaron Houston, MPP director of government relations.

The Maine Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing on the bill on Thursday, March 11 at 1 p.m., in room 209 in the Cross Building. Any resident of Maine is allowed to testify.

The numbers, from a recent state Board of Equalization report, were prepared for legislation introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) which would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for Californians 21 and older, reports Peter Hecht at The Sacramento Bee.

Ammiano's legislation, AB 2254, would create a regulatory structure for marijuana similar to that used for alcohol. The bill would allow taxed sales to adults, while banning sales to or possession by those under 21.

Other interesting findings included in the report:

• California is America's top marijuana growing state, with 8.6 million pounds of cannabis produced annually, at an estimated value of $13.8 billion. If those numbers are accurate, that represents more than a third of the entire pot crop of the United States. "The fact that California's largest cash crop continues to go untaxed and unregulated is astounding, especially in such tough economic times," said Aaron Smith, California policy director of the Marijuana Policy Project.

"Judge Pomeroy, I plead not guilty to all charges," Hyer said during his arraignment.

Hyer is charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, each a Class C felony, reports Jeremy Pawloski at The Olympian. 

Hyer, 37, was arrested at his home last month by members of the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force after a "confidential informant" wearing a wire bought pot from the councilman twice during "controlled buys" in February, according to court papers.