2011 June

Monthly Archives: June, 2011

Goodman Runs For Congress On Cannabis Legalization Platform

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Legislation, News

Congressional candidate Roger Goodman, left, advocates the legalization of marijuana and protecting the planet.

What if we could elect a real, live drug policy reformer to Congress? A candidate who has that background — and unabashedly advocates the legalization of cannabis nationwide — is running for the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington state, and he has an excellent chance to win.

Washington state Rep. Roger Goodman had in February initially announced he would run in the 8th District against Rep. Dave Reichert, a right-wing Republican, but now that Rep. Jay Inslee is vacating his seat in the House to run for Governor, Goodman will be running for that open seat in the reliably liberal 1st District where he lives, the candidate told Toke of the Town in an exclusive interview Friday afternoon.

“My number one priority is planetary health,” Goodman told me. “We need to pay attention to that, and we need to foster justice in our society.

“Cannabis policy reform is actually a part of both of those major issues, and my training as a lawyer, an environmentalist, a former Congressional chief of staff, a state agency director, and now as a legislator and reformer for years, qualifies me not just on cannabis reform but on qualify of life issues and on true progressive leadership,” he said.

Bolivia Set To Withdraw From U.N. Treaty Banning Drugs

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Global, News

Photo: Shroomery

Defiant Bolivian President Evo Morales — himself a former coca grower — holds up a coca leaf. Due to the United Nations’ banning of the ancient practice of chewing coca leaves, Bolivia is moving toward withdrawing from the U.N. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

The South American nation of Bolivia is set to withdraw from the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, adopted in 1961 to outlaw “illicit substances” across the planet. It plans the move in protest of the U.N.’s classification of coca leaves as an illegal drug.

President Evo Morales — who, not coincidentally, is also leader of one of the country’s biggest coca producers’ unions — has asked the Bolivian Congress to pass a law that would take the nation out of the Single Convention, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Morales, an Aymara Indian who came to power as the leader of coca growers in the Chapare region, has moved away from the forced eradication of coca plantations while at the same time stepping up efforts against cocaine traffickers, with record seizures.

Cretin Congressman From TX Holds Up Marijuana Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: America’s Voice

Take a gander at this Howdy Doody-looking asswig (Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas). It only takes one moron to hold up the progress of an entire nation of 300 million people, when it comes to ending marijuana prohibition. (If this clown truly represents the 21st District of Texas, I feel sorry for y’all.)

What’s that? You’re excited about the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, are you? You’re invigorated by the idea of saving millions of taxpayer dollars, and finally putting law enforcement priorities where they belong?

Maybe you’re pumped about the possibility the these United States could finally end the 74-year-old nightmare of cannabis prohibition, and stop putting people in cages for growing and using a demonstrably harmless plant?

Well, simmer down, weed lover. It seems that the opinion of one good-old-boy Congressman from Texas outweighs yours.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), also known for his anti-immigrant policies, has said his House Judiciary panel will not consider the Barney Frank/Ron Paul bill. Period.

Scientists Want To Dig Up Shakespeare To See If He Smoked Pot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Culture, Global, News

Graphic: Wikipedia/Steve Elliott; Idea: Peaceful Soul

Shakespeare: “Why write I still all one, ever the same, And keep invention in a noted weed?” (Damn long-haired hippies.)

Doobie, or not doobie? That is the question. A team of paleontologists wants to dig up William Shakespeare to find out of he used marijuana.

They didn’t just come up with this out of thin air; some recent evidence actually suggests that Shakespeare may have gotten high. Now Francis Thackeray, an anthropologist and director of the Institute for Human Evolution at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, has placed a formal request with the Church of England to unearth the Bard, reports David Edwards at The Raw Story.

The playwright is buried under the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and the planned analysis is of the “nondestructive” variety, according to Thackeray, reports Alec Liu at FoxNews.com.

“We have incredible techniques,” Thackeray said. “We don’t intend to move the remains at all.” The team instead plans to conduct a forensic analysis using state-of-the-art technology to scan the bones.

Michigan Supreme Court To Clarify Medical Marijuana Rules

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 23, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: LAist

The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to hear several cases that could clarify the rules surrounding the state’s medical marijuana law, approved by an overwhelming 63 percent of voters in 2008.

One Shiawassee County patient with a medical cannabis card who grew marijuana in a backyard structure wants the criminal charges against him dismissed, reports Rick Pluta at Interlochen Public Radio. Police cited him for not having the grow area locked and enclosed.

In another case, an Oakland County man fighting pot possession charges is using for his defense the fact that he’s a medicinal cannabis patient, even though at the time of this arrest he had not yet obtained his medical marijuana card.

Restrictive Pot Ordinance Blocked; DA Files Charges In Year-Old Case

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 23, 2011 Dispensaries, Growing, Medical

Photo: Ty Barbour/ChicoER

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey: vindictive prosecution?

Butte County, California’s restrictive dispensary ordinance was just blocked by petition — and now, in what reeks of vindictive prosecution, the district attorney is filing the first charges on dispensaries raided a year ago.

Butte County D.A. Mike Ramsey announced on Wednesday that three Forest Ranch residents have been arrested on three felony counts of marijuana sales and one count of possession of marijuana for sale, reports ChicoER.

Jason Allen Anderson, 35; Michael Franklin Anderson, 46; and Kaitlin Christine Sanchez, 23, operated the Mountainside Patient Collective at 3330 Highway 32 west of Chico.

The Anderson brothers are also charged with marijuana cultivation and possession for sale, relating to a grow operation found on their property in Forest Ranch.

Marijuana Minister Gets 6.5 To 13 Years In Prison

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 23, 2011 Growing, News

Photo: WHTM

Robert Henry: “My growing and smoking, it harms no one.”

A Pennsylvania man who says he smokes marijuana daily for religious reasons was sentenced to a lengthy prison term on Wednesday after telling the judge that he is being persecuted for his spiritual beliefs.

Robert Henry, 51, formerly of Fannettsburg, was given a sentence of 6.5 to 13 years in prison for growing and selling cannabis, reports Myles Snyder at WHTM.

A jury last month found him guilty of “manufacturing marijuana” with intent to deliver, conspiracy, and possession of “drug paraphernalia.” Henry reportedly wore a T-shirt featuring a marijuana leaf and the words, “I Am Not A Criminal” and “Legalize Marijuana” to his trial on April 14. At Wednesday’s hearing, he had on an orange jail jumpsuit and shackles.

Franklin County Senior Judge John Walker also ordered Henry to pay $50,500 in fines, undergo a drug treatment program and avoid contact with his codefendants in the case, reports Jim Tuttle at Public Opinion.

“I liken what the government is doing to me to the way the Nazis treated the Jews during World War II,” Henry said.

Don’t Miss 2nd Annual Tacoma Hempfest This Saturday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 23, 2011 Culture, Products

Graphic: Tacoma Hempfest

If you’re in the Puget Sound area and want to help break down the negative stereotypes surrounding cannabis and the people who use it, I have a great, free destination for you this weekend — and the weather’s supposed to be pretty, too. The second annual Tacoma Hempfest happens this Saturday, June 25, at Wright Park in Tacoma, Washington.

“We’d like everyone to come out and show the variety of people who truly support cannabis culture in the area,” Tacoma Hempfest creator and organizer Justin Prince told Toke of the Town.

New Cannabis Comedy ‘Wilfred’ Debuts On FX

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 23, 2011 Culture, Products

Photo: Cheryl Shuman

From left, Jason Gann (Wilfred), medical marijuana consultant Cheryl Shuman, Elijah Wood (Ryan) and David Zuckerman (executive producer)

Ever noticed how often TV shows get it wrong when it comes to the telling little details of marijuana culture? Inaccuracies, large and small, can diminish our enjoyment of a show because they call our attention to artifice rather than art.

Well, I can assure you those kinds of details are going to be correct in “Wilfred,” a new pot-based comedy debuting tonight on the FX television network. How am I so sure? Because, in what appears to be a first, the producers had the good sense to hire Cheryl Shuman (yes, the well-known cannabis activist and Kush Magazine media director) as medical marijuana consultant.

‘New Approach Washington’ Files Initiative To Legalize Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 22, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: Don Skakie

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes: “Ending marijuana prohibition and focusing on rational regulation and taxation will free up law enforcement resources to combat violent and property crimes, and it will restore respect for government and the law”

There’s a new move afoot to legalize cannabis in Washington state. The newly formed political action committee New Approach Washington on Wednesday filed an initiative to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in the state. Sponsoring the measure are prominent civic leaders, along with members of the public health and legal communities.

The initiative would authorize the Washington State Liquor Control Board to regulate the production and distribution of marijuana for sale to adults 21 and older through state-licensed stores. A new marijuana excise tax would be earmarked for prevention, research, education, and health care. State and local retail sales taxes would be directed to the general fund and location budgets.

Unfortunately, the initiative would not allow the cultivation of marijuana by recreational users (medical marijuana patients in Washington are already allowed 15 plants). Cannabis users would be required to buy their supply at state-licensed stores. Another possible sticking point is the codification a THC blood level of of 5 ng/ml as per se driving under the influence; that would criminalize any driving by most medical marijuana patients, although very few daily medicinal users would be impaired at that level.

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