The Central American country of Belize is seriously looking into decriminalizing marijuana. A special committee has been created to look into reducing the penalty for minor possession to a small fine without incarceration. Currently the country has some of the tougher anti-marijuana laws in the region. From the government of Belize: Belmopan, 16th July, 2012. [...]

The Chicago City Council today voted by an overwhelming margin of 43-3 in favor of a new ordinance to reduce the penalty for simple marijuana possession.  The ordinance makes it possible for police to issue only a citation punishable with a simple fine and/or community service. The policy change is expected to go into effect [...]

A legislative effort to reduce marijuana arrests by decriminalizing possession that is in “public view” appears to have failed in New York. The bill had passed the Democratic controlled State Assembly after being recently endorsed by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), but it failed to get a vote in the Republican controlled State Senate.  From the [...]

Chicago Mayor and former Chief of Staff for President Obama Rahm Emanuel (D) has asked the city council to pass a law decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana. From the Chicago Tribune: Mayor Rahm Emanuel is throwing his support behind a plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. Under the proposed ordinance, police officers will have [...]

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee (I) signed SB 2253, which decriminalizes the the simple possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Last week the bill received its final vote in the state House of Representatives. This new law will make Rhode Island the 15th state to have decriminalized simple possession. Previously, possession of a [...]