Pot on the ballot, and more

Pot on the ballot

State ballot initiatives to ease restrictions on marijuana use met with mixed results in three states this week. In Massachusetts, voters handily approved a proposition to eliminate criminal penalties for possessing less than 1 ounce of marijuana. A similar proposal in California went down to defeat. Michigan voters approved a proposal to allow terminal or severely ill patients to use marijuana with a physician’s approval.

Airwaves opened up

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The Federal Communications Commission said it would open unused, unlicensed portions of the TV airwaves known as “white spaces” to deliver wireless broadband service. A coalition of high-tech firms, including Microsoft and Google, had lobbied to make the spectrum available to the public, saying it would spur development of new wireless gadgets. They plan to make smart phones, laptops, and other devices that will use the spectrum to surf the Web.