According to the American Civil Liberties Union, misdemeanor marijuana possession charges have dropped dramatically since voters passed Initiative-502 in 2012. Court records show that there were only 120 low-level cases brought to the courts in 2013 compared to a whopping 5,531 in 2012. They say that represents a major shift in law enforcement priorities towards real crimes.
But talk to the King County prosecutor’s office and you’ll get a different story: misdemeanor pot charges weren’t a major issue before the laws, and they aren’t really now.

And then there was one. Pretty much. One of two surviving initiatives that would ask voters to legalize recreational marijuana in California has failed to make the ballot, the Secretary of State’s office says. The California Cannabis Hemp Initiative (CCHI) did not turn in enough qualified signatures. Two others have already dropped out of the running, leaving just one viable possibility, the Marijuana Control, Legalization & Revenue Act, it would seem.

Mexican fishing boats, known as pangas, are typically pretty modest in size, with outboard motors and a big, high bow to give the vessel more buoyancy when casting and retrieving large nets. But according to Virginia Kice, spokesperson for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), they have increased steadily in size, speed, range, and navigational capabilities. Bigger boats can float more dope, and it is not uncommon for these pangas to be carrying literally a ton or more of low-grade Mexican marijuana. What is uncommon is where they have been making port lately, once they do get north of the border.

St. Louis city council members will hold a marijuana town-hall forum later this month at Harris-Stowe State University to discuss the possibility of decriminalizing cannabis.
Council members say they are concerned about the disproportionate number of arrests of blacks and Hispanic citizens for marijuana possession compared to arrests of white St. Louisans.
Three city Aldermen will meet discuss the pros and cons of decriminalizing and even taxing and selling cannabis along with a panel of cannabis supporters and opposition.
The meeting is set for March 24.

The Washington D.C. Board of Elections Tuesday approved a ballot measure that would legalize the possession and cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and up. Supporters now have to have to finalize the language on the measure in the next 20 days and will begin collecting signatures after that to get the proposal on the November ballot.
The moves comes despite warnings from the Washington D.C. city attorney general that passing such a bill would force a confrontation with the U.S. Congress which must give final approval to any changes to D.C. law. Congress could block the law with approval from the president.

Washington state’s appropriately-named Sean Green became the first person allowed to sell recreational marijuana in that state yesterday, as his Kouchlock Productions received their business license.
Of course, now he has to wait until at least June to begin selling anything.