The Price of Pot: "Kettle Falls Five" face charges in state where marijuana is legal
As Washington's legal pot business booms, some people in the state are facing federal drug charges for growing marijuana.
The price of pot: Life sentence for buying marijuana?
Five people in Kettle Falls, Washington may be facing 10 years in prison for conspiring to grow and sell marijuana. The five claim they were using it for medical reasons.
Should marijuana use be legal?
But if pot is legal, why won't the federal prosecutors drop the charges? Does the punishment fit the crime?
CNN's David Mattingly has the story.
The price of pot: Life sentence for buying marijuana?
A Missouri man is serving a life sentence for pot. Marijuana may be legal in some parts of the country, but in others, pot could land you in jail for the rest of your life.
Life sentence for buying marijuana?
So how does the punishment fit the crime?
Study: Medical marijuana linked to fewer painkiller overdoses
(CNN) - States that have legalized marijuana for managing chronic pain have significantly fewer deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses each year, according to a new study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Researchers looked at medical marijuana laws and death certificate data in all 50 states between 1999 and 2010. During that time, just 13 states had medical marijuana laws in place.
"We found there was about a 25% lower rate of prescription painkiller overdose deaths on average after implementation of a medical marijuana law," lead study author Dr. Marcus Bachhuber said.
Berkeley to approve medical marijuana for low-income residents
It's official. Washington is now the second state where people can legally buy recreational marijuana. The demand is expected to be huge as business starts.
One reason: as of now, there are only 24 stores in a state of nearly 7 million people. And only one in the city of Seattle. But while Washington looks to cautiously bring pot to the masses, one California city - where marijuana is only available for medicinal use - is looking to give pot to the poor.
The Berkeley city council is expected to officially approve that plan Tuesday night.
Are they going too far?
CNN's Dan Simon has more.
Do U.S. drug laws apply differently to minorities?
Colorado is cashing in on pot. It's been six months since recreational marijuana became legal, and the state has already collected more than $11 million dollars in taxes.
While pot is bringing in millions in Colorado in most parts of the country, it can still land you in jail. Reports show black people are much more likely to be arrested for pot than whites.
So, are U.S. drug laws applied differently to minorities?
CNN's Jim Clancy has more.
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