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The Democrat-controlled California state assembly passed a bill that will decriminalize psychedelic drugs for personal use. “The measure cleared the lower house of the Democratic-controlled state legislature Wednesday, with 42 members voting yes, 13 opposed and 25 not voting. Five of the Assembly’s 13 Republican members joined their Democratic colleagues to vote for the bill,” noted the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). "A broader version of the bill previously passed the state senate. That chamber is expected to pass the final version by next week, sending the measure to Gov. Gavin Newsom,” it added. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to...

Left-wing, conservative and libertarian pro-crime policies lead to a rise in crime. The left's insane propositions in California included Proposition 47 or the "Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act". That Orwellian name made as much sense as calling a bill to legalize arson the "Fire Prevention and Non-Torched Homes Act". Proposition 47 effectively decriminalized a bunch of crimes, including shoplifting. And you'll never guess what happened next. Shoplifting. Lots and lots of shoplifting. Perry Lutz says his struggle to survive as a small businessman became a lot harder after California voters reduced theft penalties 1½ years ago. About a half-dozen times...

B A controversial law in Massachusetts could go national if Congressman Barney Frank gets his way. Frank has filed a bill that would eliminate federal penalties for personal possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana. It would also make the penalty for using marijuana in public just $100. "I think John Stuart Mill had it right in the 1850s," said Congressman Frank, "when he argued that individuals should have the right to do what they want in private, so long as they don't hurt anyone else. It's a matter of personal liberty. Moreover, our courts are already stressed and...

Of course they did. It's Massachusetts. The voters passed a ballot initiative that made possession of less than an ounce marijuana a civil violation with no criminal consequences. And since Massachusetts is run by libtards, the law has shockingly caused a whole lot of problems. For starters, the police have given up - they won't even bother to write the ticket. More . . .

Voters yesterday overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, making getting caught with less than an ounce of pot punishable by a civil fine of $100. The change in the law means someone found carrying dozens of joints will no longer be reported to the state's criminal history board. With about 90 percent of the state's precincts reporting last night, voters favored the Question 2 proposition 65 percent to 35 percent. ...

But do not mistake gold digging as an invention of the 21st century. Superficially promiscuous women have been around for a long time. Case-in-point: President Benjamin Harrison once granted comprehensive pensions to Civil War veterans (his pro-veteran stance is what got him elected). However, it turned into a monumental boondoggle; 14-year-old girls were marrying 70-year-old men, knowing they would one day receive a generous pension package from Uncle Sam. It's ironic too, that the business of prostitution remains unregulated and illegal in the US. Not only would the industry improve by government regulation, but the government itself could benefit by...

A gay rights group has filed discrimination charges against Romania's TAROM airline after the company allegedly excluded gays from a Valentine's day discount offer for lovers. The state-owned firm offered travel discounts during February to couples travelling together, but the offer excluded gays, said Florin Buhuceanu, from Accept, Romania's main gay rights group. Mr Buhuceanu said he tried to purchase tickets for himself and his partner for a two-for-one offer, but was told that people of the same sex did not qualify. He said his organisation filed charges against TAROM with Romania's anti-discrimination board which would discuss the case today....

OTTAWA— The federal government has backed off plans to make pot possession a mere ticketing offence, the Star has learned. Instead, sources say the Liberal government will keep simple possession of marijuana on the books as a criminal offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The new plan came days after U.S. officials warned that any easing of Canada's marijuana laws could lead to a crackdown at border crossings. The government will provide "alternative" civil penalties — fines, not jail — upon conviction and will leave enforcement and the collection of fines to the provinces. Under the new scheme,...

THE O'REILLY FACTOR February 21, 2003 FACTOR Follow-Up O'REILLY: Thanks for staying with us. I'm Bill O'Reilly. And, in THE FACTOR "Follow-Up" Segment tonight, bad news in the drug war. The U.S. inexplicably did not destroy the poppy fields in Afghanistan, and the Bush administration has not moved the military to the borders to back up the Border Patrol as the patrol has requested. Result: It is business as usual for drug dealers around the country, and some believe America is waging a phony war on narcotics. Joining us now from Washington is Heidi Bonnett from the National Defense Council...