The polls are looking good in Florida and Massachusetts, California's governor signs a mandatory prescription monitoring bill, Iran executes more drug offenders, and more.
California Nurses Endorse Legalization Initiative [19]. The California Nurses Association has formally endorsed the Prop 64 [20] legalization initiative. "California Nurses believe strongly that the prohibition and criminalization of marijuana has ruined generations of lives, wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer of dollars and failed to protect the public health and safety, "Deborah Burger, the organization's president said in a prepared statement Tuesday. "On balance, Proposition 64 is significantly better for public health and safety than the broken status quo, and we are pleased to endorse it,"she added. The California Medical Association has also endorsed Prop 64; the California Hospitals Association opposes it.
Massachusetts Legalization Initiative Favored in New Poll [21]. A new WBZ-TV/UMass Amherst poll has the Question 4 [22] legalization initiative favored by 53% of respondents, with 40% opposed and 7% undecided. Of demographic groups, only voters over 55 and self-described conservatives opposed the measure.
Medical Marijuana
Florida Medical Marijuana Initiative Cruising to Victory in New Poll [23]. A Florida Chamber of Commerce poll has 73% of voters favoring the Amendment 2 [23] medical marijuana initiative, with only 22% opposed. Because it is a constitutional amendment, the initiative needs 60% to pass, but it is polling well beyond that.
Heroin and Prescription Opioids
California Governor Signs Prescription Monitoring Bill into Law [24]. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) Tuesday signed into law Senate Bill 482 [25], aimed at preventing "doctor shopping." The new law requires doctors to check a database of prescription drug prescriptions before writing prescriptions for potentially addictive drugs. The state already has an electronic prescription database, but until now it's use has been optional. The new law will go into effect in six months.
International
Iran Hangs Five More Drug Offenders [26]. Iranian authorities executed four drug prisoners at Tabriz Central Prison on Saturday and one more at Taybad Prison on Sunday. Their names were Abdolkarim Bapiri, Mehdi Molaie, Salah Ghaderian, Ali Mohtabipour, and Hadi Oskouie. In recent years, Iran has executed hundreds of drug offenders each year.