Supporters Argue Financial, Medical Benefits of Halting Prohibition CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Legislation to legalize marijuana use, especially for medical purposes, is being discussed again in West Virginia. Today, sale of medical marijuana is legal in 18 states and Washington, D.C. Today, 30 percent of Americans live in states where marijuana is legal in some form. On Nov. 6, popular votes in Colorado and Washington state legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Supporters of marijuana legislation in West Virginia back various reform laws they say could offer people medical help, create new state tax revenues, cut prison costs and enhance an industry already booming underground. [continues 1085 words]
A group called "Citizens Against Drugs" paid for a political advertisement in Wednesday's issue of the Nicholas Chronicle criticizing Nicholas County Circuit Judge Gary Johnson for being soft on drug prosecutions. Johnson said the ad was untrue and unfairly published in the last edition of the weekly newspaper before Tuesday's primary election. Headlined "Drug Dealers Own Nicholas County - and There is Nothing You Can Do About It," the advertisement urges voters to back Summersville lawyer Larry Losch for circuit judge in Tuesday's Democratic primary. [continues 387 words]
