tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173 2012-02-09T03:52:01Z Movable Type Enterprise 4.21-en tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.576037 2012-02-08 19:20:00 2012-02-09T03:52:01Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com Continue reading "Exclusive Interview: Cannabis Cultivation Expert Jorge Cervantes" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575878 2012-02-08 12:07:00 2012-02-08T20:27:18Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com Continue reading "Decrease Teen Use]]>" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575803 2012-02-08 10:20:43 2012-02-08T18:20:46Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com Star-TelegramArlington Councilman Mel LeBlanc: "I wasn't a daily user"​Arlington, Texas City Councilman Mel LeBlanc (not to be confused with Bugs Bunny -- that's Mel Blanc) told police last year that he got drugs, including methamphetamine and marijuana, through prostitutes he hired using online escort services.LeBlanc, who publicly confessed his "addictions to drugs and alcohol," declined to comment Tuesday about details in a recently released Arlington Police Department report that outlined his domestic troubles, where he got his dope and his reported relationship with the owner of Flashdancer Cabaret, a strip joint that has, over the years, been targeted by the city as a center for drug sales, prostitution, and "other criminal activity," reports Susan Schrock at the Arlington Star-Telegram.The 61-year-old councilman was investigated last year after the cops, responding to a domestic disturbance call, found and seized about a gram of meth and a glass pipe from his home in north Arlington. A group of good old boys, I mean a Tarrant County grand jury, decided not to return an indictment."I'm not going to comment any more on this whole issue," commented LeBlanc. "I've already done a radio interview, a television interview, and two newspaper interviews and was completely honest with all questions asked," said LeBlanc, who seems to have confused "honesty" with "a license to bang whores and snort meth." Continue reading "Texas Councilman Got Drugs Through Prostitutes: Report" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575742 2012-02-08 08:20:00 2012-02-08T16:29:54Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com Cannabis Defense Coalition​Seattle-based medical marijuana patient advocacy group the Cannabis Defense Coalition (CDC) has expressed serious concerns about Senate Bill 6265, currently in the Washington state Legislature.A internal email sent to CDC members on Tuesday, February 7, outlined the group's five biggest concerns with SB 6265 thusly:1. Giving too much for too little"SB 6265 would legalize a limited number of medical cannabis access points in a limited number of jurisdictions, but it will come at great cost to the Washington State medical cannabis community," CDC said. "Governor Gregoire -- whose partial veto last year put an end to the 'designated provider model' under which most access points were operating -- has set boundaries on any medical cannabis bill she is to sign, and SB 6265 represents what is acceptable to her."The bill would provide broad authority to local counties, cities and towns to regulate medical cannabis collective gardens and access points through zoning, taxation, licensing, health and safety requirements, etc.," the email said. "This will allow pot-friendly jurisdictions like Seattle and Tacoma to license, tax and regulate the medical cannabis businesses which have sprouted up in their midst, and over which they have uncertain authority." Continue reading "Washington Patient Group Worried About Medical Cannabis Bill" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575700 2012-02-08 07:20:48 2012-02-08T15:23:48Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com Get SurreyActivist Winston Matthews, 55 and disabled, is being jailed for 16 months for growing cannabis to treat his back pain​British pro-cannabis campaigner Winston Matthews, 55, who refused to stop growing marijuana despite repeated arrests, has been jailed for 16 months in the U.K.Matthews, of Upfield Close, Horley, admitted violating a suspended sentence he was given on August 23, 2010, as well as three counts of cultivating cannabis and two counts of possession between August 28 and December 16 that same year, reports Ben Endley at Get Surrey.He had been scheduled for sentencing last Friday but the hearing was deferred until Monday, when Judge Suzan Matthews (no relation) admitted the case was "unique" but insisted the grandfather of two still had to be jailed.The day before his sentencing, Matthews, an outspoken member of Surrey's Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA), posted on Facebook about the case."All I had to do to get a deferred sentence yesterday [February 3] was lie to a judge and say I'd stop taking cannabis!" he posted. "I wasn't prepared to do that! One love!" Continue reading "British Activist Jailed For Growing Cannabis" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575546 2012-02-07 14:20:00 2012-02-07T22:35:38Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com CSPARC​The Patient Access to Regulated Medical Cannabis Act of 2012 has been filed with Sacramento County Elections Office and will begin gathering signatures to qualify for the November ballot.Medical cannabis patients, providers, activists and supporters in Sacramento County, California have come together in an effort to qualify a measure for the November 2012 ballot that will establish a reasonable and controlled system for qualified patients to access their medicine.Over the past two years, medical cannabis advocates said they have attempted to work with Sacramento County officials to develop a regulatory system that would allow for safe access points throughout the unincorporated areas of the County. Continue reading "Sacramento Group Files Medical Marijuana Act; Will Gather Signatures" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575461 2012-02-07 11:52:19 2012-02-07T20:17:50Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com Continue reading "Former Pot Smuggler Educates Seniors On Medical Marijuana" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575443 2012-02-07 11:20:00 2012-02-07T21:03:35Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com Continue reading "Over-Medicated America: How Big Pharma Greed Hooked The US" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575435 2012-02-07 11:07:00 2012-02-07T19:12:39Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com NPRA​Advocates have formed a new Michigan-based medical marijuana coalition, the National Patients Rights Association (NPRA). The group said it will encourage legislators, prosecutors, and local governments to fully honor the decision of citizens who voted to legalize medical marijuana in 16 states and the District of Columbia.Michigan, whose Medical Marihuana Act was approved by nearly two-thirds of voters (63 percent) in 2008, will be among the first states targeted by the NPRA.The new group said it is "backed by patients, caregivers, businesses, and a range of other supporters." The coalition said it "will work to broaden awareness, reach legislators in a targeted manner, and help mobilize patients and caregivers who are affected by these laws." Continue reading "New Group Aims To Protect Medical Marijuana Patients' Rights" > tag:www.tokeofthetown.com,2012://173.575359 2012-02-07 09:20:00 2012-02-07T18:03:11Z

Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ http://www.tokeofthetown.com The Medical Cannabis Resource CenterSuicide rates among males are reduced by as much as 11 percent in medical marijuana states. Overall, suicide rates are 5 percent lower in MMJ states, according to a new study.​A new study suggests that legalizing medical marijuana lowers suicide rates by almost five percent.The study, brought to you by the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in Bonn, Germany, the same firm that recently found that legalizing medical marijuana was associated with fewer deaths on the highways -- possibly because people use marijuana instead of drinking -- is titled "High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide," reports Christopher Shea at the Wall Street Journal."Using state-level data for the period 1990 through 2007, we estimate the effect of legalizing medical marijuana on suicide rates," says the IZA Discussion Paper from January. "Our results suggest that the passage of a medical marijuana law is associated with an almost 5 percent reduction in the total suicide rate, an 11 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 20- through 29-year-old males, and a 9 percent reduction in the suicide rate of 30- through 39-year-old males." Continue reading "Medical Marijuana Reduces Suicides: Study" >