WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to 2011 funding “highlights” released this week by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Obama administration is expanding the war on drugs and focusing its funds toward law enforcement over treatment. The budget puts America’s drug war spending at $15.5 billion for fiscal year 2011; an increase of 3.5 percent over 2010 and an increase of 5.2 percent in overall enforcement funding ($9.7 billion in FY 2010 to $9.9 billion in FY 2011). Addiction treatment and preventative measures are budgeted to increase from $5.2 billion to $5.6 billion. Furthermore, President Obama chose to continue funding the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, which is run by the drug czar’s office and has for years emptied its coffers on absurd anti-marijuana ads that veer far from the truth. One such ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9B-h_bU-uI) released in 2006 insinuates that marijuana use can lead to rape, a particularly dishonest claim considering that alcohol, a legal drug, is a factor in a huge majority of sexual assaults. (February 4, 2010)

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND —A bill to decriminalize the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and substitute a civil penalty of $150 was introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives yesterday. H 7317, a bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by 35 House members and has been referred to the House Judiciary committee. The Rhode Island State Senate is likely to introduce their version of the bill later this week. If the bill becomes law, Rhode Island would join their neighboring state to the north, Massachusetts, and become the 14th state to pass a law to decriminalize marijuana. In 2008, Massachusetts voters passed a similar decriminalization law with 65% of the vote. “Rhode Island lawmakers should be applauded for their support of this bill that will save the state much needed money and resources by not arresting, prosecuting, sentencing and incarcerating marijuana users,” said Karen O’Keefe, MPP director of state policies. “We look forward to the day when the citizens of this state no longer have to fear being handcuffed and thrown in jail for using a substance far safer than alcohol.” (February 3, 2010)

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND — Tomorrow, Maryland lawmakers, patients and advocates will hold a press conference to announce the introduction of medical marijuana legislation in the Maryland state legislature. “This bill will provide Maryland’s doctors and patients with another tool in the toolbox, to be used safely and responsibly like any other therapy,” said Del. Dan Morhaim (D-Baltimore County), the bill’s co-sponsor and a physician board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for patients to have access to the medicines that work best for them, especially for those suffering from serious ailments like cancer and multiple sclerosis. Marijuana may provide the greatest possible relief, one that can help when other therapies are not effective.” (January 25, 2010)

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE — New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch vetoed a bill to protect seriously ill patients from arrest for using doctor-recommended medical marijuana today, and patients are urging the legislature to override the veto. The bill, which had been tailored to address eight specific concerns expressed by Lynch last month, passed in the House in June, 232-108, and in the Senate, 14-10 – two votes shy of what would be required to override the governor's veto. (January 21, 2010)

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — Today, in a 4 to 3 vote, the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee passed A.B. 390, legislation that would tax and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. This is the first time in U.S. history that a state legislature has ever passed—or even considered—a proposal to make marijuana legal, taxed, and regulated. A.B. 390, the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act was authored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), the chair of the committee. The bill will not progress any further this year due to the constraints of the legislative calendar but advocates praised today’s vote as a major milestone in ongoing efforts to end marijuana prohibition. (January 12, 2010)