North Carolina revives the possibility of legalizing medical marijuana

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina senators are pushing to legalize medical marijuana again, but it’s unclear if the state House will approve it. A Senate bill that was originally intended to add state regulations to hemp products experienced a major facelift on Wednesday when...

With pardons in Maryland, 2.5 million Americans will have marijuana convictions cleared or forgiven

Maryland this week became the latest state to announce mass pardons for people convicted of marijuana-related crimes as the nation wrestles with how to make amends for the lives disrupted in the decadeslong war on drugs. Under Gov. Wes Moore's plan, more than 175,000 convictions for...

For years, crumbs of cannabis impacted a Maryland man's life. Now he sees a clearer future

BALTIMORE (AP) — For years, a few crumbs of cannabis played an outsized role in shaping Shiloh Jordan’s life. With a stroke of a pen by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Jordan looks forward to that being in the past for him — as well as tens of thousands of other Marylanders who have...

Florida medical marijuana patients get an unexpected email praising DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has more than 700,000 medical marijuana patients and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis — who is battling a proposal to allow recreational use of marijuana — wants them all to know what a great job he's doing. The Department of Health last week sent a...

Editorial Roundup: Ohio

Toledo Blade. June 12, 2024. Editorial: Ohio economy falling It is helpful to see the comma between Toledo and Ohio as a plus sign. The link between city and state is a key factor in the success of each. Right now Ohio is falling into serious decline and that hurts...

Tens of thousands of Marylanders receive pardons for marijuana convictions

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore ordered more than 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions on Monday, saying the “most sweeping state-level pardon in any state” will help reverse harms from the past caused by the war on drugs. During a news conference, Moore said...

Running out of marijuana, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket get approval to ship pot to the islands

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) — Martha's Vineyard was running out of pot, just as thousands of summer vacationers were starting to arrive. But on Thursday, Massachusetts regulators averted a cannabis drought by issuing an administrative order that will allow pot to be transported to Martha's...

New Hampshire remains New England's lone holdout against legalizing recreational marijuana

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in New Hampshire died on the House floor Thursday after advancing further than ever in New England’s only holdout state. The House has passed multiple legalization bills over the years only to have them blocked...

Massachusetts cannabis regulators issue an order allowing pot to be transported to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

Highly potent opioids are showing up in drug users in Africa for the first time, report says

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Traces of highly potent opioids known as nitazenes have for the first time been found to be consumed by people who use drugs in Africa, according to a report released Wednesday by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, a nonprofit organization. ...