In The News
Victory: Unanimous Supreme Court Rules that Citizens Can Hold Federal Government Liable for Abuse by Law Enforcement Officers (Police, Prison Guards)
WASHINGTON, D.C.
In its ruling in Millbrook v. United States, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court has concluded that the U.S. government may be held liable for abuses intentionally carried out by law enforcement officers in the course of their employment. The Court’s ruling dovetails with arguments put forward by The Rutherford Institute in its amicus brief, which urged the Court to enforce the plain meaning of federal statutes allowing citizens to sue the government for injuries intentionally inflicted by law enforcement officers.
In striking down lower court rulings, the justices held that the courts had erred in dismissing a prisoner’s lawsuit alleging that three prison guards had brutally and sexually assaulted him. The lower courts justified their ruling under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which allows individuals to sue the government for misconduct by law enforcement officials only if the injury inflicted occurs while the officers are in the… Continue reading
Evaluating Marijuana Behind the Wheel
By Conan Milner On March 13, 2013
With more states allowing medicinal and even recreational cannabis use, the federal government has been encouraging safety precautions with tougher restrictions for suspected marijuana DUI. But critics say the rising threat of traffic accidents is an issue based more in politics than facts. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)
With more states allowing medicinal and even recreational cannabis use, the federal government has been encouraging safety precautions with tougher restrictions for suspected marijuana DUI. But critics say the rising threat of traffic accidents is an issue based more in politics than facts.
As states ease up on marijuana possession laws, police, legislators, and a skittish driving public worry how this trend will impact road safety. Cannabis clearly has an influence on driver performance, but there is a wide range of opinions about how long to wait after the last toke before getting behind the wheel.
The… Continue reading
Drivers aren’t high but still busted for DUI: Column
EJ Montini 5:41p.m. EDT March 11, 2013
Arizona drivers are going to jail, paying big fines and losing their licenses even after blood tests prove they were not high.
How could a person who is not drunk or high get busted for DUI? Blood tests now can detect two important chemical compounds in marijuana often for weeks after smoking.
In Arizona, if you have either of these compounds in your blood you are guilty of a DUI. What if you could get a DUI for having had a few drinks two weeks ago?
Crazy, right?
Except it’s happening. Not with alcohol, but with marijuana.
Drivers from Arizona and at least nine other states, including Utah, Iowa, Indiana, Delaware and Rhode Island, are going to jail, paying big fines and losing their licenses after having gotten driving-under-the-influence citations when blood tests prove they were not high.
“It makes no sense,” says attorney… Continue reading
Key lawmaker says hemp bill regaining momentum in Kentucky House
By Janet Patton — [email protected]
The hemp bill is back on track.
House Agriculture and Small Business Committee Chairman Tom McKee said Monday that a proposal to regulate hemp farming in Kentucky is expected to win approval from his committee Wednesday.
“I anticipate a very strong vote. It could be a unanimous vote,” said McKee, D-Cynthiana.
His substitute bill, which would have scrapped a licensing framework for farmers and replaced it with a research project at the University of Kentucky, has been dropped, McKee said. He plans to file no amendments, signalling that the original version of Senate Bill 50 could get the up or down vote that supporters have sought.
McKee’s move came after bill sponsor Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer held a news conference last week to accuse McKee of blocking the bill. His committee heard about two hours of testimony about… Continue reading
Marilyn & Gerry Campbell Medical Marijuana Trial Continues Into March 2013
On Monday, February 4, 2013, at the Nashville TN Federal Courthouse, the Marilyn and Gerry Campbell Medical Marijuana trial continued on to March 18, 2013 because the judge wants to explore the federal guidelines, technicalities and sentencing on a number of issues; size of the plants, the guns found in their country home and if the ‘safety valve’ applies in their case.
When I met Marilyn in the hallway outside the courtroom that Monday, she said, “Google The Price of Pain and my name for more info on the story”. So here’s an excerpt below. The Barbra mentioned in the story is Marilyn’s daughter, Barbara Broads, a business owner in Woodbury, TN. Marilyn is on the agenda to speak at our next NORMLTN meeting, Sunday February 10th, 2 p.m. at the Sunset Grill in Nashville.
Shattered glass.
Gerry Campbell had a horrible accident in 1999. He ran off the Auburntown Road… Continue reading
Pot Prohibition, Regulation and Danger to the Young
Letters to the Editor
Pot Prohibition, Regulation and Danger to the Young
January 28, 2013
http://online.wsj.com/public/page/letters.html
The defenders of the status quo say that we can’t end marijuana prohibition because it “sends the wrong message to the kids” and will increase teen drug use (“Legalizing Pot Won’t Make it Any Safer” by Mitchell S. Rosenthal, op-ed, Jan. 17).
Ironically, prohibition is a complete failure when it comes to keeping young people from using drugs. Despite decades of DARE programs with the simplistic “Just Say No” message, 50% of teenagers will try marijuana before they graduate. Young people also feel the brunt of marijuana enforcement and make up the majority of arrests. Arresting young people will often cause more damage than drug use itself. Teenagers need honest drug education to help them make responsible decisions. We have cut down on teen smoking without tobacco prohibition and without one arrest.… Continue reading
Congressional Lawmakers Introduce Legislation To Halt Federal Interference In State Marijuana Laws
United States Representatives have introduced bipartisan legislation in Congress — House Bill 6606, The Respect States’ and Citizens’ Rights Act of 2012 — to amend the US Controlled Substances Act to provide that federal law shall not preempt state marijuana laws.
The measure is sponsored by Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado, and is co-sponsored by Reps. Blumenauer (OR), Coffman (CO), Cohen (TN), Farr (CA), Frank (MA), Grijalva (AZ), Lee (CA), Paul (TX), and Polis (CO). It has been referred to Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
“I am proud to join with colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the ‘Respect States’ and Citizens’ Rights Act’ to protect states’ rights and immediately resolve any conflict with the federal government,” said Rep. DeGette in a prepared statement. “In Colorado we’ve witnessed the aggressive policies of the federal government in their treatment of legal medicinal marijuana providers. My… Continue reading
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