ASA in the News

Obama resists using his power to ease marijuana laws

Paul Marini | February 09, 2014

Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle When it comes to the regulation of marijuana, President Obama has had a hard time squaring his words with his actions - most notably, his campaign promise to defer to state medical marijuana laws, followed...

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“There’s no known dose of cannabis that could kill a human,” Dr. Alan Shackelford said

Paul Marini | February 04, 2014

Katie Rucke, MintPress News Controversy has once again ensued over whether a person can die from consuming too much marijuana, after British pathologist Dr. Kudair Hussein ruled that 31-year-old Gemma Moss died this past October from “cannabis poisoning” after smoking...

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Obama Urged to Use Executive Powers to Reclassify Marijuana

Paul Marini | February 03, 2014

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! Drug reform advocates are calling on President Obama to use his executive authority to reclassify marijuana in line with his own recently stated views. In an interview with The New Yorker magazine last month, Obama said...

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Conference speakers emphasize need for prospective shop owners to be good neighbors

Paul Marini | February 01, 2014

John Darling, The Mail Tribune Marijuana advocates say attempts by local governments to derail cannabis-related businesses could gain traction if business owners fail to be good neighbors.

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Marijuana reformers say the president should promptly reclassify pot, not wait for Congress.

Paul Marini | January 31, 2014

Steven Nelson, U.S. News & World Report President Barack Obama said Thursday it's not his administration's job to reschedule marijuana, but supporters of rescinding the drug's federal classification as one of the most dangerous narcotics say the president is confused...

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Medical marijuana in Oregon: Be a good neighbor, California marijuana advocate tells prospective dispensary owners

Paul Marini | January 31, 2014

Noelle Crombie, The Oregonian Medical marijuana retailers in Oregon need to shift their focus from staying out of jail to being stand-up business owners who sweep their sidewalks each morning and donate to local charities, a California marijuana advocate told...

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State Supreme Court OKs ballot language after well-paid canvassers submit 1.1 million signatures

Paul Marini | January 27, 2014

Steven Nelson, U.S. News & World Report Florida residents will vote on whether to allow medical marijuana Nov. 4, thanks to an investment of close to $4 million from trial lawyer John Morgan.

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Pot Politics on the Rise in Congress, Administration

Paul Marini | January 27, 2014

Humberto Sanchez and Matt Fuller, Roll Call While Congress appears to be a way off from legalizing marijuana, surging public opinion and recent favorable comments from top Democratic lawmakers could inch the federal government in that direction.

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Federal housing in Colorado remains off-limits to marjuana — for now

Paul Marini | January 25, 2014

Nancy Lofholm, The Denver Post Coloradans who live in the nearly 300 federally subsidized housing projects in the state are blocked by federal regulations from using marijuana in their homes in spite of state legalization — but that could be...

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Push for legalization of medical marijuana gaining support

Paul Marini | January 24, 2014

Brenda Camp Yarbrough, CrossRoadsNews The family of 12-year-old Victoria Elizabeth Williams and others across Georgia are pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana to treat severe seizure disorders and other illnesses in children.

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