States say it's time to rethink medical marijuana

Colorado, Washington, Rhode Island and Vermont are asking federal officials to reclassify marijuana as a drug with medical use.

CNN:

Medical marijuana advocates are hoping state governments can succeed where their efforts have failed by asking federal authorities to reclassify pot as a drug with medical use.

Shortly before Christmas, Colorado became the fourth state to ask the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic in the same league as heavyweight painkillers including oxycodone. The governors of Washington and Rhode Island filed a formal petition with the agency in November, and Vermont signed onto that request shortly afterward.

All four are among the sixteen states and the District of Columbia that have laws on the books that allow the medical use of marijuana, even though the drug remains illegal under federal law. Meanwhile, federal authorities have asserted their power by raiding dispensaries in states including California and Washington.

Supporters say the public is on their side, and the state requests show the feds are increasingly isolated on the issue. But they acknowledge it's still an uphill battle.

Continue reading here.

Syria's opposition join forces

The two leading Syrian opposition blocs have agreed on a roadmap, in the event of a popular uprising succeeding in toppling the government of President Bashar al-Assad. In a document signed in Cairo, the National Co-ordination Committee and the Syrian National Council, called for civilians to be protected under international law. They also rejected any foreign intervention that could affect Syria's sovereignty and demanded a new constitution with a transition to democracy. The latest development came as hundreds of thousands took to the streets across the country on Friday, aiming to demonstrate the strength of their movement to Arab League monitors checking whether Assad is implementing a pledge to halt a violent crackdown on unrest that has been raging since March. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports from the Syrian-Turkish border.

Kazakhstan launches environmental initiatives

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest nation in the world and possesses huge oil and gas reserves. The country is also a major polluter. Recently, however, it has made headlines for environmentally friendly initiatives, with a new subway line being installed in the capital and the government arranging for bike lanes on the country's roads. Al Jazeera's Robin Forestier-Walker reports from Almaty, the Kazakh capital.