Recreational drug use
FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2015, file photo, a bud tender holds two marijuana buds on his fingers on the way to a customer at the Denver Kush Club in north Denver. A coalition that wants to ask Colorado voters to approve higher taxes on recreational marijuana to help children make up for learning losses during the pandemic and address tutoring and other special needs for low-income and disadvantaged children said Wednesday, June 16, 2021, it's been endorsed by former Democratic and Republican governors.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Colorado pot tax hike proponents get bipartisan endorsements

By James Anderson Jun. 16, 2021 04:07 PM EDT

Editorial Roundup: New England

By The Associated Press Jun. 11, 2021 01:10 PM EDT
Hearst Connecticut Media. June 3, 2021. Editorial: No excuse for legislative lag on marijuana Connecticut has had...

This July 9, 2018 photo shows the Atlantic City, N.J., beachfront. A report released Wednesday, May 5, 2021, from a state panel recommended rebuilding Atlantic City's Boardwalk, improving the look of its business districts, and embracing the "blue economy" of the ocean to help the seaside gambling resort recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. It also suggested money from legalized marijuana sales could help pay for it. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
Can pot money rebuild Atlantic City? New Jersey suggests it

By Wayne Parry May. 05, 2021 12:32 PM EDT

Montana Legislature wraps up with $12B, two-year budget

By Amy Beth Hanson Apr. 29, 2021 07:03 PM EDT
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Legislature wrapped up its 2021 session Thursday having passed a $12 billion two-year budget, set a framework for spending $2...

State Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, the Senate's second-highest ranking member, speaks about legislative work in response to a report that details Louisiana State University's repeated mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations, on Friday, March 19, 2021, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte)
Louisiana lawmakers ready for latest session starting Monday

By Melinda Deslatte Apr. 10, 2021 10:14 AM EDT

Another Vermont town approves sale of recreational marijuana

Apr. 07, 2021 10:05 AM EDT
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) — St. Johnsbury residents voted to approve the sale of recreational marijuana, after delaying the vote for a month to allow more people...

FILE - In this March 24, 2021 file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference at his offices in New York. New Yorkers can now possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis under a legalization bill signed by Cuomo. Criminal justice reform advocates hope the legislation signed Wednesday, March 31, will help redress the inequities of a system that has locked up people of color for marijuana offenses at disproportionate rates. (Brendan McDermid/Pool Photo via AP, File)
New York is latest state to legalize recreational marijuana

By Marina Villeneuve Mar. 31, 2021 11:03 AM EDT

A Christian group prays that outside the state capitol building on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Legislators met in a special session to revisit a sprawling set of marijuana legalization proposals that led to a deadlock during the regular session earlier in March. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio)
New Mexico lawmakers reconvene to consider legalizing pot

By Morgan Lee And Cedar Attanasio Mar. 30, 2021 08:43 PM EDT

Workers remove segments of the chain-link fence around the New Mexico state capitol in Santa Fe on Saturday, March 27, 2021. The fence was erected by National Guardsman and State Police officers following Jan. 6, 2021, riots in Washington, D.C. The added security cost at least $700,000 with over $15,000 going for the fence rental, according to a March 12, 2021, response from state officials that did not include the cost of removing it. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio)
Security fence, cops, no longer encircle New Mexico capitol

By Cedar Attanasio Mar. 29, 2021 03:55 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2017, file photo, James MacWilliams prunes a marijuana plant that he is growing indoors in Portland, Maine. New York has failed in recent years to pass marijuana legalization, but a state senator said lawmakers have reached an agreement to legalize marijuana sales to adults over the age of 21. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
New York lawmakers agree to legalize recreational marijuana

By Marina Villeneuve, Jennifer Peltz And Karen Matthews Mar. 28, 2021 08:12 AM EDT

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hails the Legislature's accomplishments and calls for a special legislative in session in the coming weeks to approval recreational cannabis legalization in Santa Fe, N.M., at the close of a 60-day legislative session on Saturday, March 20, 2021. The Democrat-led Legislature has charted an economic exit from the COVID-19 pandemic and checked off progressive priorities on policing reforms, abortion rights, medical aid in dying and child poverty. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee)
Legislature delivers virus aid, civil rights; falters on pot

By Morgan Lee And Cedar Attanasio Mar. 20, 2021 11:09 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 11, 2019, file photo, store manager Ruby Amsden, left, attends to medical marijuana customer and retired nurse Jan Stewart, who uses cannabis to relieve pain associated with her recovery from bone cancer and help with sleeping, at the Minerva medical cannabis dispensary in Santa Fe, N.M. Legislation to legalize cannabis in New Mexico advanced Thursday, March 18, 2021, toward a decisive Senate floor vote under a framework that emphasizes government oversight of pricing and supplies and social services for communities where the criminalization of pot led to aggressive policing. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File)
Democrats rally behind recreational pot bill in New Mexico

By Morgan Lee Mar. 19, 2021 03:30 PM EDT

Spending on lobbying NJ government hits new record in 2020

By Mike Catalini Mar. 09, 2021 02:23 PM EST
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Lobbyists spent a record amount of money trying to influence New Jersey's state government in 2020, the state's Election Law Enforcement...

Vermont Town Meeting Day will decide issues large and small

Mar. 02, 2021 04:00 AM EST
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — It’s Town Meeting Day in VermontTuesday and communities across the state are deciding issues as varied as local budgets to electing...

Highlights of Gov. Evers' $91 billion state budget plan

By Scott Bauer Feb. 16, 2021 08:17 PM EST
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Highlights of Gov. Tony Evers' state budget proposal submitted to the Legislature on Tuesday: GENERAL BUDGET: ...

FILE - In this June 11, 2019, file photo, store manager Ruby Amsden, left, attends to medical marijuana customer and retired nurse Jan Stewart, who uses cannabis to relieve pain associated with her recovery from bone cancer and help with sleeping, at the Minerva medical cannabis dispensary in Santa Fe, N.M. An advisory board is recommending that New Mexico clear the way for licensed medical marijuana producers to grow more plants. The board during a meeting Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, voted in favor of a petition that sought to significantly increase the current plant count limit. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File)
Amid pandemic, New Mexico forges path to legal cannabis

By Morgan Lee Feb. 16, 2021 05:42 PM EST

Lamont's new $46 billion budget focuses on defeating COVID

By Susan Haigh Feb. 10, 2021 12:52 PM EST
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Defeating COVID-19 tops the priority list for Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who unveiled a new two-year, $46 billion state budget on...

Evers renewing call for Medicaid expansion opposed by GOP

By Scott Bauer Feb. 10, 2021 11:37 AM EST
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers will try again to expand Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin, announcing Wednesday that his state budget proposal will also...

Virus lying low at Capitol, but still dominates agenda

By Stephen Groves Feb. 06, 2021 01:12 PM EST
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers have survived to nearly the halfway mark in their 9-week legislative session without an outbreak of coronavirus...

A look at Gov. Wolf’s policy proposals for the 2021-22 year

By The Associated Press Feb. 02, 2021 03:39 PM EST
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Highlights of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s policy proposals for the 2021-22 budget year that starts July 1: —...