USA

Over The Edge

jeremiah — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:39:16 -0800

Sam was an extreme sports enthusiast, who thrived on the adrenaline of risk taking. He grew up in the B.C. interior, living in Nelson, where the flourishing mountain biking scene offered him new challenges.On February 23, 2009, 24-year-old Sam Brown of British Columbia was arrested by U.S. authorities in Washington State as he landed a helicopter he had piloted across the border. Sam’s crime: he was attempting to smuggle almost 200 kilograms of marijuana, “B.C. Bud”.

LA Council to Consider Medical Marijuana Ordinance

jeremiah — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:42:26 -0800

Four years, six drafts and nearly 1,000 stores later, the City Council on Wednesday will consider a long-awaited, oft-debated medical marijuana ordinance whose provisions have shifted dramatically in recent days.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich had sought to ban sales at dispensaries, but two city committees rejected the idea and suggested that cash could exchange hands as means for reimbursement but must comply with state law.

Pitcher Dock Ellis' Legendary LSD No-Hitter

jeremiah — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:08:19 -0800

In celebration of the greatest athletic achievement by a man on a psychedelic journey, No Mas and artist James Blagden proudly present the animated tale of Dock Ellis' legendary LSD no-hitter. In the past few years weve heard all too much about performance enhancing drugs from greenies to tetrahydrogestrinone, and not enough about performance inhibiting drugs.

Boomers See Views Relaxing on Marijuana

jeremiah — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:41:19 -0800

Joe Lee, 62, a regular pot smoker, runs a vintage-record shop in Rockville. He says he has noticed more public acceptance of the drug than when he used it while an art student in Baltimore in the 1960s. (Photo by Bill O'leary)Smoking pot isn't what it used to be for Joe Lee, a 62-year-old vintage-record dealer in Rockville.

Back in the late 1960s, as an art student in Baltimore, he kept his landlord in a constant state of suspicion, with clouds of marijuana smoke poorly masked by clouds of incense.

Duke Police Officer Drugs and Rapes Woman

Barry Cooper — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:16:52 -0800

Durham, N.C. — A Duke University police officer has been arrested and charged with raping a woman in Dothan, Ala., over the weekend.

Time Is Marching On! Even in Oklahoma!

Ed Rosenthal — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:13:09 -0800

We are all on high alert today here at Green Aid. A couple of weeks ago, Will Foster, who was extradited to Oklahoma, had his case heard by the Oklahoma parole board.

The first thing that happened is that all of the charges against him were thrown out as hearsay. The examiner said, in essence, that just because someone has charges against them, those charges cannot be used against them as evidence in another hearing. They also decided that Will had the right to confront the accuser in cross examination, although no one was prepared to testify against him.

First U.S. Marijuana Cafe Opens in Portland

jeremiah — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:42:55 -0800

Rumpspankers: Now Portland's Cannabis Cafe (Photo by Sarah Mirk)The United States' first marijuana cafe opened on Friday, posing an early test of the Obama administration's move to relax policing of medical use of the drug.

Wu-Tang Clan Affiliates Facing Drug Charges

jeremiah — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:09:11 -0800

West Memphis police busted eight members of Wu-Tang's Clan's entourage on Monday during a traffic stop for speeding. DJ Mathematics (left) and Streetlife were among those arrested. The Drug Task Force seized 18 bags of weed, 110 Ecstasy pills and $8,615 on the smoked-out tour bus.

Join Ed at the MPP 15th Anniversary Party in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill

Ed Rosenthal — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:16:49 -0800

Marijuana Policy Project is celebrating 15 years of working to reform marijuana laws in the United States.

Ed has purchased a table (ten seats) and would like you to join him and his wife, Jane, at the party! Tickets are a $200 donation to MPP and there are eight seats available. If there is more of a demand for tickets more will be made available.

Should Pot Be Legal?

jeremiah — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:28:36 -0800

At left, Dave Evans of the Drug Free America Foundation. At right, Judge James Gray, a pro-marijuana advocate.Editor's Note: This is the first installment of a two-part debate CBS News.com is hosting between James P. Gray, a retired Orange County, Calif. judge who nowadays is a speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, and David Evans, an author and advisor to the Drug Free America Foundation. Part 2 will be published on Tuesday.

AMA Ends 72-Year Policy, Says Marijuana Has Medical Benefits

jeremiah — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:33:10 -0800

The American Medical Association voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value.

The AMA adopted a report drafted by the AMA Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research.

Barry Cooper For Texas Attorney General 2010

jeremiah — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:10:44 -0800

Barry Cooper is currently running for Attorney General of Texas on a “Pro-Gun, Pro-Pot, Pro-Family” platform, and when he gives a speech you can feel the excitement and energy he brings to the room. His bold, charismatic, "in your face" style is always balanced with good-natured humor as he speaks passionately to audiences about the injustices and prejudices of American society that he has witnessed first-hand, both as a former law enforcement officer and current political activist.

THE COOPER FAMILY

Pot Acceptable? Not for Young and Nonwhite

jeremiah — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:02:17 -0800

This year is a watershed year in pot politics.

The Obama administration recently announced it would defer to state medical marijuana laws and stop federal prosecutions of patients and providers who comply with them.

In California, the tanking economy inspired Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to call for debating marijuana taxation and regulation, a bill was introduced in Sacramento to do just that, and four separate ballot initiatives are circulating to allow voters the chance to decide the issue for themselves.

Feds to Continue Raids on Medical Pot in California

jeremiah — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:55:43 -0800

Medical marijuana at Emmalyn's California Cannabis Clinic, located near the edge of the Mission District.The federal government will continue raids on medical marijuana operations in California despite guidelines issued by the Justice Department two weeks ago indicating the contrary.

Marc Emery Could Be Extradited Any Day

jeremiah — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:54:22 -0800

He's waiting for a five year jail term. The prince of pot, is sitting tight until he's extradited to the United States.

Since surrendering in September, Marc Emery has been waiting at the North Fraser pre-trial centre -- a maximum security facility. A justice minister has to sign extradition papers to send Emery south, which still hasn't been done.

On the Quiet, the US is Legalizing Marijuana

jeremiah — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:48:09 -0800

You know things are shifting in America when Fortune magazine, the bible for business journalism, runs a cover story titled “Is pot already legal?”. You also know it when Barack Obama’s Department of Justice publishes a long-expected memo signalling that the federal government will no longer raid medical marijuana dispensaries if they are legal under state law. That happened formally this month.

Marijuana Advocate Mason Tvert Launches Petition Targeting Drug Czar

jeremiah — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:48:16 -0700

The Obama administration's relaxed rules regarding enforcement of laws regarding medical marijuana has led to renewed optimism among weed advocates that across-the-boards legalization might be a more realistic possibility. But shortly thereafter, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske issued a statement referring to such a move a "non-starter."

One City's Insane Fight Against Obama's Sane New Pot Policy

jeremiah — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:19:02 -0700

Two years ago, in the throes of a Bush administration that disregarded states' rights whenever it felt like getting high on itself, there were fewer than two hundred medical-marijuana outlets in Los Angeles. Today, even the most conservative estimates say that number has quadrupled. On one stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard alone, four thriving pot shops estimate their tax payments at $4 million a year.

Minnesota Court Rules Bong Water Illegal

jeremiah — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:44:03 -0700

Bong water can count as a controlled substance, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a decision that raises the threat of longer sentences for drug smokers who fail to dump the water out of their pipes.

In a 4-3 decision Thursday, the state's highest court said a person can be prosecuted for a first-degree drug crime for 25 grams or more of bong water that tests positive for a controlled substance.

The Solution to Our Environmental Woes is to End Prohibition

jeremiah — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:38:18 -0700

The best solution to our environmental problems is to end prohibition. There is no other viable option short of the immediate end to military conflict that will have the same positive impact on the ecosystem.

Our first step towards a sustainable existence should begin with cannabis. Its assimilation into our civilization is the safest, simplest, most efficient immediate solution that we can implement in time to prevent an ecological catastrophe.

Time For Some Rare Praise

Kirk Tousaw — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:31:50 -0700

Anyone that reads my blog knows that I’m extremely critical of the Obama administration, particularly on the “national security” front (read: warmaking and civil liberties denying front). But its only fair to praise Obama when he does good things, and his change in federal medical marijuana enforcement policy is a very good thing.

Obama’s commendable change in federal drug enforcement policy - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

The Memo

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:53:43 -0700

The Obama Administration has issued an historic memo from the office of the Deputy Attorney General directing federal prosecutors not to arrest medical marijuana patients and caregivers who follow state laws.

Here's the memo:

October 19, 2009

MEMORANDUM FOR SELECTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

FROM: David W. Ogden, Deputy Attorney General

SUBJECT: Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana

read more

Obama Issues New Medical Marijuana Policy

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:16:51 -0700

The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday.

Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.

Los Angeles Prepares for Clash Over Marijuana

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:14:51 -0700

Harborside Health Center, a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland, Calif., is looked upon as a model of how others could operate. (Photo by Jim Wilson)There are more marijuana stores here than public schools. Signs emblazoned with cannabis plants or green crosses sit next to dry cleaners, gas stations and restaurants.

The dispensaries range from Hollywood-day-spa fabulous to shoddy-looking storefronts with hand-painted billboards. Absolute Herbal Pain Solutions, Grateful Meds, Farmacopeia Organica.

Marc Emery's Prison Potcast - Episode #2

jeremiah — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:29:19 -0700

Marc Emery in his prison garb at North Fraser Pretrial Centre.CANNABIS CULTURE - The Prince of Pot reports about life behind bars from inside his B.C. prison in Episode #2 of Marc Emery's Prison Potcast.