Washington Post, 25 Mar 2013 – The March 21 editorial “A more fitting punishment,” on Maryland’s bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, correctly pointed out how current laws waste police time and drain precious resources. But merely decriminalizing marijuana possession while leaving sales unregulated ensures that people who use marijuana must purchase it through the black market, often from gangs that use violence to protect their profits and turf. It’s true that federal law prohibits the sale of marijuana. But states such as Colorado and Washington haven’t waited for Congress to change failed and outdated marijuana policies, and Maryland shouldn’t, either. Without pressure from the states, the federal government is unlikely to take on the important task of reviewing its decades-old marijuana laws.

Washington Examiner, 22 Mar 2013 – On Wednesday, after months of deliberation, the Ad Hoc Community Committee on Student Rights and Responsibilities presented 52 substantive changes in student disciplinary policy to a special session of the Fairfax County School Board. If approved in their entirety, these long-overdue recommendations will replace a rigid “zero tolerance” policy with one based on common sense and educational principles. The 40-member ad hoc committee was chaired by Steve Stuban, whose 15-year-old son, Nick, a football player at W.T. Woodson High School, committed suicide in 2011, after being suspended from school for 11 weeks for possession of synthetic marijuana. This was two years after 17-year-old Josh Anderson, another suspended football player from South Lakes High School, killed himself the day before his disciplinary hearing.

Washington Post, 21 Mar 2013 – Maryland Senators Recognize That Possession of a Joint Should Not Ruin One’s Life. THE MARYLAND Senate’s vote to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana would not, as some critics warn, make it okay to use the drug. Such use would still be illegal, but it would be a civil offense, punishable by fines rather than imprisonment. Not only would this save law enforcement valuable resources but also prevent the lives of many young people from being ruined.

Washington Times, 21 Mar 2013 – Narcotics dogs have one less job to do in the state of Washington. Now that marijuana has become legal within the borders, many law enforcement agencies, including the Seattle Police Department and Washington State Patrol, will no longer train their drug-sniffing canines to alert handlers to marijuana. The Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, in fact, advised police that their pooches were not required to smell out the once-illegal stuff; the task has been eliminated already from the doggy performance standards test. But it’s complicated.

Washington Post, 21 Feb 2013 – ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A Maryland lawmaker has introduced a bill to legalize marijuana. Delegate Curt Anderson introduced the measure in the House of Delegates on Thursday. It would make marijuana legal for adults 21 and over and create a system to regulate and tax it like alcohol.

Albuquerque Journal, 24 Jan 2013 – 21 States Allow Medical Pot Use WASHINGTON – Marijuana will continue to be considered a highly dangerous drug under federal law with no accepted medical uses, after a U.S. appeals court Tuesday refused to order a change in the government’s 40-year-old drug classification schedule.

Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan 2013 – DEA Classification of Pot As a Dangerous Drug Will Stand, Appellate Judges Say. WASHINGTON – Marijuana will continue to be considered a highly dangerous drug under federal law with no accepted medical uses, after a U.S. appeals court Tuesday refused to order a change in the government’s 40-year-old drug classification schedule.

Washington Times, 17 Jan 2013 – Judiciary Panel Chief Sees Risk to Civil Liberties From Drones The longest-serving Democrat in the Senate on Wednesday called for scrapping mandatory minimum sentences at both the federal and state levels, and said he wants Congress to take a critical look at the way U.S. law enforcement agencies use drones.

Washington Post, 09 Jan 2013 – For a generation of liberals, legalization of marijuana has become a harmless – if not inevitable – issue. Not for Patrick Kennedy. The former Rhode Island congressman and scion of the famed Democratic dynasty has taken a surprising turn to the right in this debate.

Washington Post, 01 Jan 2013 – Prescription Holders Will Be Served In View Of Capitol A townhouse on North Capitol Street in Northwest, which has unobstructed views of the U.S. Capitol from the sidewalk, was recently painted bright blue.