LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) – A prosecutor in southeastern Washington has charged three teens with felonies for marijuana possession, saying a new law demands the higher level of offense.

The Lewiston Tribune in Idaho reports the teens ages 14, 15 and 17 have been charged in nearby Asotin County with felonies that could net them up to five years in prison. The offense was previously a misdemeanor with a maximum 90-day jail sentence.

Asotin County Prosecutor Ben Nichols said Senate Bill 5052, which the Legislature passed and Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law this year, contains the new language.

“If you are a minor, a person under 21, it’s a felony no matter what,” Nichols said.

NEW YORK -- U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told a group of marijuana industry professionals Monday that the federal government should reform laws affecting its medical use, allowing states to set their own policies.

The New York Democrat told members of the National Cannabis Industry Association that she's pushing for reforms she introduced last March with Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey.

Marijuana use is illegal under federal law but allowed in some cases in dozens of states. Gillibrand said more families would benefit from medical marijuana if they didn't have to fear federal prosecution.

One of my old college professors is infatuated with United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. That professor has published several books dealing with female Supreme Court Justices, and recently published one specifically about the legal opinions that Justice Sotomayor has issued during her career. That college professor was my favorite when I was in college, and I still seek her advice to this day. As a result, I have always been a Sotomayor fan a little bit.

The Red Headed Stranger just scored some green, in more ways than one.

A New York private equity firm is backing country singer and songwriter Willie Nelson’s endeavor to sell marijuana in Colorado and Washington.

Tuatara Capital is leading an investor group financing the Willie’s Reserve cannabis brand for sale in the two states’ recreational markets, “and also other states as regulations allow,” according to a news release.

“We’re really excited to partner with someone like Willie, who embodies this spirit of American entrepreneurship and conviction to a cause,” said Tuatara Chief Investment Officer Al Foreman.

Former prosecutor believes municipalities shouldn't wait for federal government for pot approval

B.C. could legalize marijuana on its own without federal approval, believes a former prosecutor that helped legalize pot south of the border in 2012. 

Marijuana falls under federal jurisdiction in Canada, but with some creativity local politicians can push from the bottom up for change, says Tonia Winchester the former deputy campaign director for Yes on I-502.

National Head of the Anti Drug Unit, Superintendent Ephraem Maphalala has said  to reduce the high rate of drug dealing in the country, the current drug legislation had to be altered.

He said the old Opium Habit Forming Drug Act of 1922, together with the United Nations Convention of 1971 only deal with cases of possession and use and stipulates a custodial sentence of five years.

Maphalala said with the money that dagga dealers would make, they soon find their way back in the business. 

The Pharmacy Act of 1929 was amended in 1983 and it stipulated a 15-year-sentence with the equivalent of E15 000 fine, for those found to be selling drugs illegally. It has been more effective since.

On marijuana, the new head of the Drug Enforcement Agency said, “If we come up with a medical use for it, that would be wonderful. But we haven't.”

The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made headlines last month by admitting that marijuana is less harmful than heroin, but in a new interview he says that cannabis should not be rescheduled.

WASHINGTON — Despite ample evidence pointing to the therapeutic, non-addictive qualities of marijuana, the new head of the Drug Enforcement Agency wants to keep it legally classified alongside heroin and other highly addictive substances.

The City police and the Narcotics Cell have recorded two major cannabis seizure cases in the last 24 hours, with three persons being arrested and a total of seven kilograms of cannabis, apart from a cache of prescription drugs, being seized from the coastal belt of the city.

The first case, involving seizure of 5.5 kg of ganja and one of the biggest seizures in recent times in the city, was cracked by the Poonthura police from an electronics shop at Beemapally around 7.30 p.m. on Saturday.

Felony charges filed Friday in state court say Anchorage detectives made a series of undercover marijuana buys from three Alaska businesses. One delivery company was found with paperwork indicating more than $700,000 in sales since the beginning of the year, charges say.

Here is a summary of the charges against each business.

ABSOLUTELY CHRONIC DELIVERY CO.

Prosecutors say that as early as April, Absolutely Chronic Delivery Co., or ACDC, advertised a local marijuana delivery service online and through social media in Anchorage.

Felony charges filed Friday in state court say Anchorage detectives made a series of undercover marijuana buys from three Alaska businesses. One delivery company was found with paperwork indicating more than $700,000 in sales since the beginning of the year, charges say.

Here is a summary of the charges against each business.

ABSOLUTELY CHRONIC DELIVERY CO.

Prosecutors say that as early as April, Absolutely Chronic Delivery Co., or ACDC, advertised a local marijuana delivery service online and through social media in Anchorage.