SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California voters will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults, after the secretary of state on Wednesday certified the initiative for the November ballot.

It would become the first state to legalize recreational marijuana use if the proposition is approved. Marijuana use is legal for medicinal purposes in California and 14 other states, but the drug is illegal under federal law.

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By Lisa Leff and Marcus Wohlsen, Associated Press Writers

Published March 25, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Now that a proposal to legalize pot is on the ballot in California, well-organized groups are lining up on both sides of the debate. And it’s not just tie-dyed hippies versus anti-drug crusaders.

By Jose Luis Jiménez

Published March 25, 2010

ESCONDIDO— A man who admitted to driving under the influence of marijuana caused at least 13 crashes Thursday afternoon, police said. The spree finally stopped when he hit the last vehicle head-on, disabling the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder he was driving.

By Don Banks, Sports Illustrated

Published March 24, 2010

ORLANDO — There’s a widespread belief within the NFL that the 2010 draft represents one of the deepest and most promising pools of collegiate talent in years. But in addition to the vast potential of this year’s draft class, numerous NFL personnel evaluators told SI.com they are concerned about the increased number of prospects who have a history of marijuana use in their background, with players often acknowledging a failed drug test for pot in college in interviews with team executives.

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By Bruce Grant

Published March 30, 2010

The push is on to make the use of cannabis for medical purposes legal in Florida. It seems that every few years, vocal marijuana interest groups seek a way to normalize their drug of choice to the rest of us. Maybe they forget the terrible human toll exacted by drug abuse.