By Bill Harlan, Journal Staff Writer
Packs loaded with hemp energy bars, hemp pretzels and medical-marijuana petitions, Hermosa political activist Bob Newland set out for Sioux Falls on Sunday afternoon - on a bicycle.

"It's a personal growth experience," he told reporters, who stopped him 10 miles east of town for brief interviews.

For those of you who cannot conceive of the US as a cruel country, read the tale of the young quadriplegic condemned to death for possessing marijuana. By Andrew Stephen

If you think that the number of law and order bills in Tuesday's Queen's Speech shows that Britain is becoming illiberal and authoritarian, you should look across the Atlantic. There you would see how bad it could be. I sometimes find it hard to describe to British friends just how galactically right-wing this country has become. They always insist that things cannot be as bad here as I say they are, that Britain is moving to the right too, that it is all just because of George W Bush. They have exactly the same reaction when I describe the US as a cruel and sentimental country, as I did in these columns not long ago: nowadays life in Britain, they say, is every bit as cruel as it is in the United States. In short, they do not want to see the negative sides of the US - or, for that matter, to acknowledge that positive aspects to Britain do still exist.

 Hartford-AP, Mar.1, 2004 Updated 5:37 PM ) _ Advocates of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes said today that legislation is gaining support.

State Representative James Abrams of Meriden says he believes there are enough votes to pass the bill this year in the House of Representatives. The bill was defeated last year in the House, but Abrams said the proposal has been gaining support each year.

He would not predict its chances in the state Senate.