Today the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol launched a signature drive for a new initiative to legalize 
recreational cannabis in the State of Nevada.
State Senator Tick Segerblom and former Republican Senate Caucus Executive Director Joe Brezny were the first to sign the petition, during a press conference in Senator Segerblom’s office.
Read moreInitiative Signature Drive to Legalize Cannabis in Nevada Begins Today
A new poll conducted by the Castleton Polling Institute has found that a strong majority of voters in Vermont favor the legalization of recreational cannabis
for adults.
According to results of the survey, 57.2% of Vermont voters support legalizing cannabis, with just 34.3% opposed; the remaining 8.5% are currently undecided.
“People are fed up with marijuana prohibition,” says Matt Simon, New England Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project, the organization that commissioned the poll. “Marijuana is an objectively less harmful substance than alcohol, and this poll shows most Vermonters want it to be treated that way.”
Read moreNew Poll Finds 57% of Vermont Voters Support Legalizing Cannabis for Recreational Purposes
On Friday, more than 40 state lawmakers in Maine co-signed a memo authored by State Representative Diane Russell that was delivered to the Appropriations & Financial Affairs Committee. The memo
encouraged the committee to keep all options on the table in their upcoming financial deliberations, including potential tax revenue derived from an adult, non-medical market for marijuana.
“All options should be on the table,” Rep. Russell stated in the memo, “In this spirit, we propose committee members give serious consideration to the revenue options associated with legalizing, taxing and regulating cannabis for responsible adult use.”
Read moreMore Than 40 Maine Lawmakers Sign Memo Urging Consideration of Cannabis Legalization
Nebraska State Senator Norman Wallman has introduced a new measure, Legislative Bill 1
001, that would effectively legalize the cultivation and sales of hemp by removing it from the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, where it currently resides as a Schedule 1 drug, classified along with the rest of the cannabis plant. The measure has been referred to the Judiciary Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature, and, having already received its first hearing, awaits receival of a vote.
Advocates of cannabis legalization will gather at the Oklahoma State Capitol tomorrow at 9 A.M. to begin a full day of rallying
and lobbying, in an effort to change strict anti-cannabis laws in the state, and to encourage legislators to support Senate Bill 2116 (a measure recently filed to legalize recreational cannabis for those over 21).
Oklahoma N.O.R.M.L. will be hosting a training session in Room 104 designed to inform citizens on the most effective way to lobby their lawmakers, and how to follow important bills through the legislature. The session will begin at 10 A.M., and will be located in Room 104.
Read moreOklahoma Activists Plan Cannabis Legalization Rally and Lobby Day at State Capitol
A new poll released today from Quinnipiac University has found that Coloradans continue to support legalization – and that support is only growing.
The poll surveyed 1,139 registers Colorado voters, and found that a majority of respondents were generally in favor of cannabis legalization, and specifically Amendment 64 (A64 was the constitutional amendment passed in 2012 that legalized recreational cannabis in the State of Colorado). Of those surveyed, 58% said they support the legalization of cannabis – up from 54% when Quinnipiac conducted a survey asking the same question in August of last year.
Read moreNew Poll: Support for Cannabis Legalization Continues to Grow in Colorado
Residents of the State of Alaska will be voting on cannabis legalization this year. This morning, the Alaska Division of Elections announced that more than 31,593 valid signatures
have been submitted for the legalization initiative run by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana, confirming it will have a spot on the ballot in the next election.
Campaigners were required to reach a goal of 30,000 valid signatures on the initiative, gathered from at least 30 out of 40 House districts. 46,000 were turned in total, granting enough leeway to compensate for illegible or invalid signatures. State officials are still counting, with roughly 5,000 signatures left to go, after which the initiative will go to the Lieutenant Governor to sign off on, to certify its acceptance.
Read moreAlaskans To Vote On Cannabis Legalization This August
Support for legalization has been mounting in New Jersey, and according to lawmakers, legislation is forthcoming. State Senator Nicholas Scutari, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has announced 
plans to introduce a measure to legalize, tax and regulate recreational cannabis in N.J. within the next month.
Senator Scutari says the measure “will provide us with a tremendous cost savings and time savings for our law enforcement officers”. “It’ll save our citizens from the unnecessary multiple court appearance and criminal record and it’ll provide us with much needed tax revenue.”
Read moreNew Jersey Senator Announces Legislation to Legalize Cannabis
Last December, Uruguay became the first country to legalize the sale of recreational cannabis. Now, in an effort to curb black market trafficking, the country’s National Cannabis Federation has 
launched cultivation training courses for local citizens interested in learning how to grow their own.
Taught by experienced growers, the courses will cover everything from initial seed germination to harvesting techniques and curing, as well as tips on how to prevent pests and provide proper fertilization. “It’s about learning to care for the plant, but also about the user’s own use,” says Efe Antonella, a cultivation expert who will be directing one of the workshops.
Read moreUruguay Government Launches Cannabis Cultivation Training Courses
A new survey released by Public Policy Polling has found that the majority of Rhode Island voters are in favor of legalizing recreational cannabis, and taxing and regulating sales.
Conducted January 14-15, the poll posed the question, “In 2012, two states — Colorado and Washington — changed their laws to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol, for legal use by adults age 21 and older. Would you support or oppose changing Rhode Island law to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol, so stores would be licensed to sell marijuana to adults 21 and older?”
53% of respondents replied that they would support legalization in R.I., and just 41% replied they would be opposed (6% were unsure). Of respondents ages 18-34, 75% were in support of legalization, and those ages 35-49 responded in favor by 60%.