MARYLAND EASES POT CRIMINALITY
A new Maryland law sets a maximum fine of $100 for 'medical marijuana' users who have less than an ounce of the leaf, making it the 10th state since 1996 to ease or eliminate sanctions for medical use of the herb. I picked this item up in the new Cato Institute newsletter which also cites Punishing the Sick,one of their white papers that notes that medical evidence shows marijuana can help those suffering from AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other ailments. "Morphine is illegal, but is routinely prescribed as a painkiller," the author writes. "Not marijuana, however, which remains illegal under federal law for all uses."

GOVERNMENT PROBES EVERYWHERE
The Justice Department has used many of the antiterrorism powers granted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to pursue defendants for crimes unrelated to terrorism, including drug violations, credit card fraud, and bank theft, according to a government report.
(Boston Glove, unearthed by Bill Messick and Kathryn King)

BILL OF RIGHTS NOW SLIM AND TRIM
Bill of Rights, though well-intentioned, was "seriously outdated." supporters say.
Flanked by key members of Congress and his administration, President Bush approved Monday a streamlined version of the Bill of Rights that pares its 10 original amendments down to a "tight, no-nonsense" six.
(The Onion, unearthed by Greg Reeves)

CANADIAN POT LAWS OVERTURNED
Canada has no laws prohibiting marijuana possession, an Ontario Superior Court judge said yesterday in a ruling that will be binding on judges in the province and may soon be picked up across the country.
(Ontario Globe, unearthed by Paul Whitehurst)