News

School Board to Vote on New Policy Feb. 28; Searches Could Start Next Day Dogs may be man's best friend, but for some Pleasanton students, in the not-too-distant future, they may be anything but.

Ryan Basore knows all about risk. For more than a year, he ran a medical marijuana dispensary on East Michigan Avenue, occupying that tenuous place between legality and lawlessness, a Wild West entrepreneur.

Washington State Lawmakers Sent a Letter to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to Reclassify Marijuana's Drug Status So It Can Be Used for Medical Purposes on Jan. 30.

Hardly a day goes by without a story in the news about marijuana shops in San Diego. Sometimes it's a robbery or break-in at a so-called "dispensary," or we see a story about the federal crackdown on these marijuana stores. Perhaps a lawyer for marijuana dealers is filing a lawsuit in an effort to keep their doors open.

Opinions

The Antigo and Merrill school districts have been rocked in recent weeks by drug charges against several employees, but the shockwaves from the case extend beyond those communities. And a conversation about drug policies in schools has followed the charges -- a hard but necessary conversation.

Decriminalization of marijuana is not an issue that is discussed by Serious People in America who want to focus on Serious Issues. It's just "pot." It's for "stoners." You want it to be legal? You must be a "stoner."

Opponents of the movement to allow marijuana use for medical purposes have long warned it is the foot in the door toward what supporters really want - full acceptance of recreational marijuana use. Those warnings are gradually coming true.

Pot Tourist Ban Doesn't Go Off As Smoothly As Planned New Year's Eve in Amsterdam was even more festive than usual this season as thousands of European visitors flocked to the city to enjoy what they believed would be the last night they'd be welcome in the coffee shops of the Netherlands.

Letters

As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer.

As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer.

As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer.

As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer.

Dear Editor, "Round 2 In Medical Marijuana Fight" (Jan. 26, 2012), seeks to add protection for sick citizens who use cannabis (marijuana) and businesses that help distribute the God-given plant. When this fight is over, the extremely popular plant will be completely RE-legalized and all citizens will be protected against an irrational overzealous federal government which insists on labeling cannabis a Schedule I substance alongside heroin, while meth and cocaine are only Schedule II substances. The historical truth of cannabis will reign over government lies, half-truths, propaganda and discrimination.

Has not a single one of our federal officials traveled to The Netherlands and observed that the coffeeshops are no big deal? ["Weed All About It," WW, Jan. 25, 2012.] The federal marijuana prohibition is bad law that makes kids less safe.

Dear editor: Re: Marijuana legalization is not a pressing need, Jan 23. Legalizing marijuana would indeed create jobs and go to strengthening both our Canadian economy and our international image -- just like when medical marijuana was first announced.