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More and more states are legalizing marijuana. But some allow marijuana only for medicinal purposes, while others are legalizing it for recreational use. And a few jurisdictions have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, regardless of the use. At the same time, federal law still prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of any amount of marijuana. This patchwork of laws can lead to a lot of questions regarding where, how, and why you can possess or use pot, and in some cases, what kind of pot you can use....

Producers Steve Stabler and Brad Krevoy thought they had first dibs on any sequel to the 1994 Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels classic Dumb and Dumber. Imagine their surprise when Dumb and Dumber To hit theaters in 2014 (not to mention the forgettable prequel, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd in 2003). So Stabler and Krevoy did what any self-respecting, aggrieved movie producers would do: they lawyered up. The producers are suing New Line Cinema for $1 million for breach of contract....

The makers of Airborne have reached a $7 million agreement with the attorneys general of 32 states to settle an ongoing investigation over the labeling and marketing of the popular dietary supplement. The manufacturers of Airborne – a supplement that combines a number of vitamins, minerals and herbs – claim that the product helps support the immune system. Although the agreement announced on December 16 involves marketing language that has already been removed from the product’s packaging and advertising, the makers of Airborne also “agreed to certain prohibitions against making claims over the benefits of its products,” and pledged to “not demand where a retailer puts its products in stores,” Reuters reports....

Excessive force by police has gotten a lot of media attention in recent years and some legal analysts believe a changing national consciousness is starting to influence decisions on the bench. Judges are increasingly reluctant to let police escape liability with qualified immunity, according to Noah Feldman, a writer and professor of law at Harvard University. The basis for this claim made in a Bloomberg editorial is extremely limited – a single conservative judge’s dissent on a motion to dismiss a civil suit against Texas officers who allegedly contributed to a man’s death with excessive force....

Adjusting to civilian life is never easy for veterans, especially if they are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans with PTSD can have difficulty securing benefits, keeping therapy ducks, and, sadly, staying out of trouble with the law. So where can veterans turn if they need legal help? Fortunately there are criminal defense attorneys and courts that can help. Veterans Courts In an effort to help veterans dealing with substance abuse, mental health issues, and criminal charges, many jurisdictions have been setting up Veterans Treatment Courts....

The good news: There are fewer drunken drivers on the road. The not-so-good news: There are more “drugged drivers” on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released its 2013-14 survey of 9,000 drivers at 300 locations from coast to coast. The findings: 1.5 percent of weekend drivers had illegal blood-alcohol concentrations, down from 2.2 percent of drivers in 2007 and 7.5 percent of drivers in 1973. Meantime, Reuters reports that 10 times as many drivers surveyed, 15....

Over 30 years after his first murder, and six years after his arrest, Lonnie David Franklin, Jr., dubbed the Grim Sleeper serial killer was found guilty of 10 counts of murder in the slayings of nine women and one 15-year-old girl. Franklin targeted vulnerable young black women in the Los Angeles area for decades spanning the crack cocaine epidemic and killed his last known victim in 2007. It was a 13-year gap in the middle of that span that earned Franklin the Grim Sleeper moniker, distinguishing him from other serial killers operating in the same area at the same time....

Atlanta-based rapper Gucci Mane was sentenced to 6 months in jail in Georgia for shoving a woman out of his moving Hummer last January. Gucci Mane, whose real name is Radric Delantic Davis, pled guilty to two counts of battery, two counts of reckless conduct and a count of disorderly conduct, the AP reports. Mane was also ordered to complete 12 weeks of anger management classes, and his prison sentence will be followed with probation, according to the AP....

Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are grappling with one of the largest recalls ever involving 1.9 million vehicles sold in the United States. In a separate recall, Japanese automaker Subaru is recalling 200,000 vehicles for brake line cracks, NBC News reports. Vehicle recalls and defects can lead to serious accidents and injuries. Hyundai, Kia, and Subaru could potentially face legal liability for any injuries that may have resulted from the taillight, electronic control or airbag defects....

Today’s Supreme Court decision has once again left Texas’ legislative future up in the air. Just 11 days after oral arguments, the Court has issued a per curiam opinion rejecting interim redistricting maps drawn by a panel of federal judges. The interim set of Texas redistricting maps affects voting for the State Legislature and the House of Representatives. They are believed to increase the power of Hispanic voters and help Democratic candidates....

A 17-year-old North Carolina is facing cyberbullying charges after posting a nude photo of a 15-year-old girl to Instagram, CNN reports. The incident raises the question: Just when does cyberbullying turn criminal? Here’s an overview of cyberbullying statutes and what you can do when confronted by cyberbullying: Nineteen states now have cyberbullying-specific laws on the books, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center; 14 states impose criminal sanctions for cyberbullying. Definitions of criminal cyberbullying and corresponding penalties vary by state, but generally speaking, the laws encompass acts of online harassment – words or images sent via email, texts, or social media that are intended to intimidate or embarrass another person – and typically categorize the offense as a misdemeanor....

Pop sensation Ke$ha (her real name does not have a dollar sign in it) claims her former manager is an unlicensed agent. So what? He got her jobs, right? Well, in the state of California it is a big problem when an unlicensed agent is working for their client. Such a big deal that Ke$ha has asked the California Labor Commissioner to declare her contract with her former manager void based on his lack of a license....

When it comes to crimes that shock the public conscious, the recent shooting in Las Vegas clearly qualifies. Almost 60 people were killed, and many more were injured, when a man opened fire on a crowded music festival. While not as shocking, the brother of Stephen Paddock, that Las Vegas shooter, Bruce Paddock, was recently arrested on possession of child pornography charges. It is alleged that Bruce Paddock was in possession of over 600 images of child pornography, including several depicting children under the age of 12....

Sometimes, even lawyers get confused about the law. Take Lynn, Mass. lawyer who thought that if he destroyed a case file, somehow the case against the defendant would not proceed. Ilya Ablavsky was arraigned this week on charges of tampering with a record, document, or other object for use in an official proceeding and for larceny under $250. The reports of his motivation are confusing, but what is certain is the allegation that Ablavsky arrived at the courthouse on Wednesday, November 3, obtained a court file from the Salem Superior Court Clerk and shredded it, according to The Boston Globe....

A Michigan man has filed a class action lawsuit against AMC Theatres, accusing the chain of illegally charging customers excessive concession prices. Joshua Thompson claims those prices – $4 for a box of gummy worms and $6 for stale popcorn – violate the state’s Consumer Protection Act. Though noble in goal, Thompson’s movie snack lawsuit may not make it to trial. Legal scholars point to a 1999 Michigan Supreme Court ruling, telling the Hollywood Esquire that it practically guts the consumer protection law with respect to regulated industries....

A Missouri appellate court has ruled that most red-light camera laws in the state are invalid. As a result, Kansas City and other municipalities are suspending their red-light camera ticketing programs. According to The Kansas City Star, the Missouri Court of Appeal’s Eastern District reversed its 2011 ruling that allowed red-light cameras in the state. The new ruling, issued Tuesday, cites a fundamental contradiction between many local red-light camera ordinances and Missouri state law....

The social networking website MySpace has reached an agreement with the attorneys general of 49 states, on a number of measures that will protect young MySpace users and keep sexual predators from using the site. The New York Times reports that, under the agreement, “MySpace will classify as private all profiles of users under the age of 18, strengthen its response to complaints of inappropriate content on the site; and organize a task force of Internet businesses, nonprofit organizations and technology companies to review and develop online safety tools....

“It’s good to be king, if just for a while. To be there in velvet, yeah, to give ’em a smile. It’s good to get high, and never come down. It’s good to be king, of your own little town.” -Tom Petty Of course Tom Petty skipped the verse about running naked into traffic at 1:30 a.m. and getting tased three times. However the song was written in 1994 and a lot has changed since then....

Social media and the Internet open the door for a lot of possibilities for law enforcement. Have you heard about the “Video Villains,” for example? It’s a “most wanted list” that the Philadelphia Police Department released on YouTube. The concept is to give people the chance to solve crimes from their cell phones, computers and laptops, FindLaw’s Philadelphia Criminal Law Blog reports. “These are really, really good facial shots of these individuals,” says Police lieutenant Ray Evers, “and our goal is to get these suspects identified, arrested, and get them off the street....

This is what it sounds like… to be sued by your lawyer. – “When Doves Cry,” the Litigation Remix. Music fans may be surprise to see headlines like “Prince Sued by Former Lawyers.” On the other hand, so many superstars are being sued these days, maybe not. Pop star Prince, real name Prince Roger Nelson, is being sued by the New York law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler (PBWT) for $700,000 in legal fees according to CBS News....