The industrial revolution brought an era of innovation and economic growth that ushered in technological comforts and conveniences. But the path to the modern Western World was not paved without sacrifices, n...

California took another step toward providing equal rights and protections to its gay and transgender residents when Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation on Sept. 29 that outlawed gay and trans panic legal defenses in the state.Gay and trans panic are legal defenses sometimes used in hate crime cases that do not dispute a defendant’s guilt but aim to reduce sentencing by arguing that the defendant’s actions were motivated by a...

Twenty-four states have adopted marijuana law reforms, legalizing the substance for medical and—in some cases—recreational use. Still, many entrepreneurs bolting for the “Green Rush” are having difficulty getting their reefer-related businesses off the ground.Even in Washington and Colorado, where the ganja is legal for recreational use, marijuana business owners face state regulations, community animosity, bank re...

Voters will have big issues to vote on during Election Day on Nov. 6, including abortion, same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization. Same-sex marriage is on the ballot in Maine, Minnesota, Maryland and Washington, while marijuana legalization is on the ballot in Washington, Oregon and Colorado. Campaign financing and the death penalty are also among the 174 ballot initiatives across the U.S. this year.Even though 54 percen...