Connecticut and Texas expand marijuana access
The Connecticut General Assembly has approved legislation legalizing the recreational use of marijuana: Starting on July 1, Connecticut residents 21 and over will be allowed to purchase or possess up…
Marijuana prohibition still rules official Washington
The Biden administration is happy to talk about expanding the federal government’s role in everyday life. It’s far less eager to talk about the president’s dogged determination to keep fighting…
Demilitarizing the Police Gets a New House Push
A collection of congressional Democrats is pushing legislation that would end a controversial Pentagon program that allows the DoD to sell suplus military hardware to local police departments: The bill…
Arizona Poised to Join Growing List of States Reforming Civil Asset Forfeiture
Despite the objections and lobbying of law enforcement, the Arizona Legislature approved a bill that would require a person be convicted of a crime before cops could seize property through…
Sen. Tim Scott Makes a Move to Reform Qualified Immunity
Federal efforts to reform qualified immunity, the court-created doctrine that shields law enforcement and other government officials from accountability when they violate an individual’s constitutional rights, have gone nowhere. But…
Put Qualified Immunity Reform at the top of the ‘to do’ List
The long-term political repercussions of the jury’s guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial are still unclear. But for the moment, there is some renewed effort to get a…
Schumer Will Make a Push to End Marijuana Prohibition With or Without Biden
President Joe Biden is a life-long drug warrior, having advocated for prohibition and strict drug law enforcement throughout his political career. But the old drug warrior faces a determined legalization…
Tackling Deeply Creepy and Highly Abusive ‘Predictive Policing’ in Florida
The movie Minority Report was a film set in a future where a special “PreCrime” unit of psychics helps law enforcement arrest people before they commit a crime. It was…
New Mexico Ends Qualified Immunity Defense for all Public Officials
New Mexico took a big step toward protecting its citizen’s rights and tackling the pernicious problem of qualified immunity with the enactment of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act. According…
New Mexico Joins Growing List of States Legalizing Marijuana
New Mexico is poised to become the 17th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The legislators gave final approval to the “Cannabis Regulation Act” on March 31. Gov….
