Governors of Washington and Rhode Island Ask for Marijuana Reclassification

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received a request from Gov. Christine Gregoire (D-Washington) and Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee (Ind.-Rhode Island) asking that marijuana be reclassified from a Schedule I drug  to a Schedule II drug, which would essentially allow it to be used for medical and research purposes like Cocaine but keeping it illegal in terms of illicit use.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/us/federal-marijuana-classification-should-change-gregoire-and-chafee-say.html?hp

Medical Marijuana Proposal in Wisconsin's Legislature

A bill legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin has been proposed.

Source:  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/legalizing-medical-marijuana-in-wisconsin-proposed/article_2eb3d8de-1b8b-11e1-920f-001cc4c03286.html

Madison, WI, Schools to Pilot More Choice in Lunch Program

Six elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District will begin receiving a choice of entrees for lunch in a new pilot program designed to look at how to better meet student nutritional needs.  As a parent of a vegetarian, I think this is a fantastic idea since the great majority of lunches are meat-based and there currently is no other option besides sending a lunch from home.  It is also commendable that more sugary foods (chocolate milk, etc.) are being taken of the school district's menu.

Source:  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/madison-school-lunch-program-expands-to-serve-up-more-options/article_cf33d00a-1afc-11e1-97ad-001cc4c03286.html

New Study Suggests States with Medical Marijuana Had Fewer Traffic Fatalities and Decreased Alcohol Consumption

A new study published by the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in Bonn, Germany, by two American economists shows some surprising findings among U.S. states that legalized medical marijuana between 1990 and 2009.

According to a news source, one of the researchers stated, "Although we make no policy recommendations, it certainly appears as though medical marijuana laws are making our highways safer."

Link: http://ftp.iza.org/dp6112.pdf

T.I. Praises Fellow Rapper Eminem For Help with Recovery From Addiction

I think it's a great sign of the times that rappers as famous as T.I. and Eminem are talking openly about overcoming additions to painkillers and other substances, as well as being open about giving and receiving help from others.

Link: http://www.billboard.com/column/the-juice/t-i-salutes-eminem-for-helping-him-overcome-1005570822.story#/column/the-juice/t-i-salutes-eminem-for-helping-him-overcome-1005570822.story