How many wars can we fight?

Our presidential candidates demand "stronger action" against both illegal immigration and illegal drugs. But those goals conflict. The War on Drugs makes border enforcement much harder!

America's 44-year-long Drug War hasn't made a dent in American drug use or the supply of illegal drugs. If it had some positive effect, prices of drugs would have increased, but they haven't. American authorities say drugs are more available than ever.

Drug prohibition, like alcohol prohibition, creates fat profits that invite law-breaking.

It clocked in at $70 million last fiscal year alone.

Pot is a boon for tax revenues in Colorado, outpacing revenue from alcohol taxes in the fiscal year ending on June 30.

Colorado collected almost $70 million in marijuana taxes during that time, nearly double the $42 million collected from alcohol taxes. The state had a tax holiday for marijuana on Wednesday, an event that was welcomed by consumers and producers alike.

By a margin of over 2 to 1, voters in Toledo, Ohio yesterday approved a municipal ballot measure removing criminal and civil penalties associated with minor marijuana possession offenses. The vote took place during a special city election.

On September 30, 2012, Sierra Riddle’s life was turned upside down when her 2-year-old son, Landon, was diagnosed with Leukemia and given an 8 to 10 percent chance to live past the next 24 to 48 hours.

“It was the absolute most terrifying day of my life,” Riddle wrote on Landon’s blog.

For the next four months, Landon would be subjected to rounds of chemotherapy, drugs and the side-effects of treating his cancer. Just 30 days after he started chemo, Landon’s physical appearance and quality of life changed.

Marijuana consumers were taking advantage of a tax holiday in Colorado on Wednesday, with some lining up early for doorbuster-style deals.

A quirk in state law led Colorado to suspend most taxes on recreational pot for one day, including a 10 percent sales tax on pot and a 15 percent excise tax on marijuana growers.

At The Grass Station near downtown Denver, a dozen shoppers were in line before doors opened.

"Lower prices are always better," said Benjamin DelCarpio of Centennial, who was rewarded for standing in line with a 50 percent off coupon.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan Wednesday announced the biggest case to date on the latest drug scourge to hit the metropolitan area, charging 10 men with running a ring that sold more than a quarter million retail packets of so-called synthetic marijuana, a popular drug marketed in bodegas.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara called the case the start of "an aggressive assault on a dangerous new public health crisis reaching epidemic proportions." He said despite the name and the fact that they are not covered by state criminal laws, the drugs are "poison in a packet."

"This is not marijuana," Bharara said at a morning news conference attended by NYPD Commissioner William Bratton. "They are packaged like children's candy, but they are lethal."

Comedian Steven Colbert made fun of ResponsibleOhio's marijuana mascot, Buddie, during a segment on The Late Show on Tuesday. ResponsibleOhio is the political action committee backing Issue 3, a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in Ohio. (ResponsibleOhio on Facebook)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's marijuana legalization ballot issue earned a few laughs Tuesday on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

In a four-minute segment on the show, Colbert mentioned smoking buckeyes, Willie Nelson, Columbus-based Wendy's, and Buddie, the mascot Issue 3 supporters created to pitch their plan to college-aged voters.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission gave Nick Diaz a five-year suspension after testing positive for marijuana use in January, which could end the 32-year-old fighter’s career (but is lighter than the lifetime ban the commission originally wanted). Diaz’s positive test was the third in his career, and after Diaz’s hearing he called the NSAC “a bunch of crooks.”

Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports

During a press conference for her upcoming bout with Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey defended Nick Diaz and destroyed the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s policy on drug use.

Sales tax on marijuana in Colorado was so profitable last year that the state declared Wednesday a pot tax-free day.

Tax collected on marijuana sales came to $70 million (£45m), much more than the $40 million (£26m) the state predicted.

The tax will return to 25% on Thursday but state law requires an automatic suspension of any new taxes due to the accounting error.

Pot retailers are hoping for large crowds on the pot tax-free day.

Colorado became the first state in the US to legalise cannabis, after voters approved the change in 2012.

The average savings on Wednesday for a $200 ( £128) ounce of marijuana will be about $20 (£13), Fox31 Denver reports, and a regular 2.9% sales tax will still apply, as will taxes on medical marijuana.

The controversial political action group California Cannabis Voice-Humboldt (CCVH) has been adorning their newsletters and press releases with “#SameTeam” for months now, and you’d be forgiven for dismissing the hashtag as yet more sunny propaganda from a groupprone to overstatement and declarations of its own historical import.