This may not be a history oriented issue but it most likely will come up in a class discussion at some time, so I include it here. The issue is the legalization of marijuana use for medical purposes how that it is being received by the states. 17 states have medical marijuana laws on their books with California being the most "permissive" and New Jersey being the most "restrictive". However, in California, regardless of the state law, 185 communities have "banned pot dispensaries" from opening. Towns in Colorado and Maine have also banned dispensaries. A representative of the National League of Cities says that local governments are "within their rights to restrict or keep out pot businesses". In NJ have made pot legal for patients "with certain conditions" back in January of 2010 "but there is still no place where they can get it legally". Six groups in NJ have been given permits to grow and sell cannabis but so far only one site in Montclair has indicated it might open.
(Source: "Pot dispensaries face roadblocks" by Geoff Mulvihill of the AP. In The Record on 1/10/12).
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