"Health & Medical News"

Advocates for decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana in Massachusetts appear to have gathered enough resident signatures to move the legal initiative forward, the Boston Globe reported on Nov. 24.

Proponents had to gather at least 66,593 signatures by Nov. 21, equal to three percent of ballots cast in the 2006 gubernatorial election. Proponents for the initiative appear to have done so, said Brian McNiff, a spokesman for the secretary of state’s office. Still, city and town clerks have to certify the signatures, and the secretary of state’s office has to count them.

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California bill will prod national decision makers, serve in lieu of federal policy if Congress fails to act

SACRAMENTO—The California Assembly Health Committee passed the Pharmaceutical Drug Information and Safety Act, SB 606 (Scott), today with all members present voting in favor of the bill. The measure will require pharmaceutical companies to disclose the results of clinical studies, meaning that doctors, patients, researchers and even industry competitors will gain access to information on the side effects and effectiveness of medicine currently on the market.

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Popularity: 14% [?]