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Marijuana Majority? State and Local Laws Ease Access

CitizenSugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0800

The number of annual marijuana arrests have been setting all-time records lately. Sales and trafficking aside, there are more possession charges nationally than violent crimes combined. Maybe there are a lot more smokers than violent people, or it could be prosecuted disproportionately.

The latter explanation is the logic behind several state and local decisions to ease restrictions. On Tuesday, Michigan joined 12 other states that have legalized medical marijuana. Licensed dispensaries are not part of the law, so Michiganders will have to get themselves a good dealer.

Over in Massachusetts, marijuana is still illegal. But thanks to voters, possession of up to one ounce is no longer punishable by jail time. Instead, marijuana possession will be punishable with a citation, $100 fine, and confiscation of the drug — almost like getting a speeding ticket minus the license points! In both Massachusetts and Michigan, voters rejected widespread campaigns that argued easing marijuana laws would increase adolescent drug abuse, permit large-scale trafficking, endanger workplace safety, and sharply increase traffic fatalities.

To find out what local laws passed,

Pregnancy-Pact City to Vote on Contraception Pact

LibertySugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:17 -0700

The school board in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the city of pregnancy-pact fame, is set to vote on a plan to distribute contraceptives to students. If passed, the schools and the students could enter a secret-contraception pact without parents knowing — in other words the schools would distribute condoms and such to students without parental consent.

Despite well-publicized rumors that 17 high school girls in the city decided to have children and raise them together, the mayor favors distributing contraceptives only with parental consent.

Most of you think that states should not require a teen to notify her parents before she obtains an abortion. Well, what about preventing pregnancy altogether — should public high schools distribute contraceptives without parents knowing?

Massachusetts Senate Expands Gay Marriage Rights To Out-Of-State Couples

CitizenSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:40:25 -0700

Massachusetts Senate Expands Gay Marriage Rights to Out-of-State Couples: The Massachusetts Senate voted Tuesday to repeal a 1913 law used to bar out-of-state gay couples from marrying in the state, a law that critics say was originally aimed at interracial marriages. The law prohibits couples from obtaining marriage licenses if they can't legally wed in their home states. After Massachusetts became the first state to allow gay marriages in 2004, then-Gov. Mitt Romney ordered town clerks to enforce the then-little-known 1913 law and deny licenses to out-of-state couples.

MA Mayor Says No Proof Girls Had Pregnancy Pact

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:25:09 -0700

MA Mayor Says No Proof Girls Had Pregnancy Pact The city's mayor said Monday there is no evidence a group of young girls made a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together, seeking to dispel an explosive theory put forth by the high school principal. "Any planned blood-oath bond to become pregnant — there is absolutely no evidence of," Mayor Carolyn Kirk said Monday after a closed-door meeting with city, school, and health leaders.

Punishment vs. Human Rights — Are Prisons Going Soft?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:00:08 -0700

Though I don't know of many prisons guarded by the likes of the two pictured below, with the changes happening to crime and punishment in the US, it might not be long. With one out of every 100 Americans behind bars, and prisons turning criminals out to meet their budgets, the debate between what's a human right, and what liberties need be taken away as punishment is a tricky one. Several states have just come to some conclusions — on the side of rights.

In New York's juvenile detention centers, transgender youth are now allowed to wear whatever gendered-uniform they associate with and be called by whatever name they request, as well as receive access to special housing under a new anti-discrimination policy. The enhanced rights are drawing praise from advocacy groups. A spokesman for Governor Paterson said the policy reflects the state's intent to be "tolerant, responsive and respectful" of gender identity and gender expression issues.

Hawaii and California join New York among the small list of states that have taken steps to afford specific civil rights protection to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth in juvenile detention. This comes after a 2001 report found that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth routinely experienced discrimination, harassment and violence in New York's juvenile justice system.

Got Milk? To find out what happens if you're a vegan behind bars,

Front Page: Pregnancy Pact Investigated, Israel Shows Iran Attack, 22,000 Protest in Thailand

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:00:04 -0700

Pregnancy Pact Investigated: Officials in Massachusetts are investigating why 17 teenage girls from the same high school have become pregnant, a number four times higher than the year before. Reports claim the girls, all under the age of 16, entered into a pact to have their babies together. No comment has been forthcoming from the girls or their families. Officials are investigating the ages of the fathers, as some are believed to be in their twenties — facing the possibility of being charged with having sex with minors. Birth rates for girls aged 15 to 17 rose by 3 percent in 2006, the first increase in the rate since 1991.

Israel Shows Iran Attack: Israel has performed what appears to be a rehearsal for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. More than 100 Israeli fighter jets conducted manuvers over the Mediterranean and Greece this month. Though Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Israel sees Iran's development of the technology a threatening problem. The UN has demanded that Iran stop the enrichment of uranium, and approved a third round of sanctions against Iran over the issue in March 2008. A Pentagon official says of Israel's show of force, "they wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know."
22,000 Protest in Thailand: Several thousand protesters broke through a tight police seal around Thailand's seat of government today, planning to occupy the compound until the prime minister resigns. The protesters claim that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government is just a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Though he's facing criminal charges for corruption, Thaksin remains a powerful figure in Thailand. Despite the huge protest, there were no immediate plans to declare a state of national emergency or martial law. Police estimated that about 22,000 people were present for the protest.

Is the Media Closing the Door on Senator Kennedy's Recovery?

LibertySugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:27 -0700

Ever since the sad news of Senator Ted Kennedy's brain tumor diagnosis broke, I've been seeing a barrage of news coverage that seems pretty postmortem. Article topics include:

The coverage makes me think media companies are rolling out their prefabricated eulogies a little too soon. In fact, if someone wasn't paying close attention, they might assume the Senator already died!

Are these reports an honor to Senator Kennedy, or disrespectful? Since he did just receive a very serious diagnosis, should the country take the opportunity to celebrate all of his achievements while he is still alive? Should the media adopt a more hopeful and positive outlook in order to support Kennedy's efforts to battle the tumor?

Source

Ted Kennedy Diagnosed With Malignant Brain Tumor

CitizenSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:30:57 -0700

Doctors for the Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy say tests conducted after he suffered a seizure this weekend show a malignant tumor in his left parietal lobe. His treatment has not been determined yet, but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

The 76-year-old senator has been hospitalized in Boston. His wife and children have made no public statements, though the Senator is reported to be in good spirits and is resting comfortably.

Source