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In 2006, voters in South Dakota become the first -- and the only -- in the nation to reject a state initiative legalizing medical marijuana, defeating it by a margin of 52% to 48%. This year, they will have a chance to reconsider. The South Dakota Coalition for Compassion announced this week it has gathered enough signatures to put its medical marijuana initiative on the November ballot.

Meet the latest marijuana martyr. ​A 30-year-old Nevada man on Wednesday chose a month in jail instead of probation which would have meant he couldn't use medical marijuana for one year.

Charles Ray Balzer of Gardnerville, Nev., told East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl he was unwilling to give up pot for a year, and he would do 30 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to harassment, reports The Record-Courier.

Economy of Medical Marijuana

Did you know that the United States government provides medicinal pot to only four citizens? Marijuana legalization measures have been appearing frequently in petitions and on ballots across the country and the world, but opinions vary. Currently 16 states and Washington D.C. have made medical marijuana available to certain patients. Learn about the medical marijuana market and where it might be heading.

The last decade and a half have been good to marijuana (or kind to bud, if you go for that kind of joke). More and more states have passed medical marijuana laws since California blazed the path way back in 1996, and just last year, Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. That was a dream come true for both proponents of legalization at the federal level and the long-suffering residents of Colorado, who have absolutely nothing else to do but smoke pot...

University administrators met Thursday with NORML ISU, the campus chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, about the use of the school’s mascot on their club shirts. The T-shirts say NORML ISU on the front, with Cy’s head in place of the “O.” On the back is the slogan “Freedom is Norml at ISU” and a marijuana leaf. Now, Montgomery said, the group feels unfairly targeted, because other clubs on campus can still use Cy, with university approval.

By Michael Elliott Esq.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY GROUP

Editor’s Note: The following message to members of the General Assembly appeared in an ad in the March 29 issue.

A year ago, the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division (MMED) announced that without additional funding it would be forced to lay off most of its staff. In response, my organization, the Medical Marijuana Industry Group, led the effort to pass an emergency funding bill, HB 1358, that passed the House but died in the Senate. The recently published MMED audit is the direct result of this inaction....

An 11-year-old Minnesota boy who says he was fed up with his mom, a Dakota County probation supervisor, and stepfather filling their home with marijuana smoke took photos of the drugs, which were then sent to police.

South Florida became home to two 48 foot billboards urging the passage of medical marijuana legislation earlier this week. Both billboards are located in high traffic areas and highlight senior use of medical marijuana.

The Teamsters added nearly 40 new members earlier this month by organizing the country's first group of unionized marijuana growers. Such an arrangement is likely only possible in California, which has the nation's loosest medical marijuana laws.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/20/3042051/medical-marijuana-growers-join....