Yearly Archives: 2011

Marijuana Advocates To Protest Drug Czar’s Seattle Appearance

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 3, 2011 Culture, News

Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske requested — and got — a meeting with the editorial board of the Seattle Times after the newspaper endorsed marijuana legalization. The Drug Czar is bound by law to oppose marijuana legalization.

Immediately after the Seattle Times ran an editorial supporting marijuana legalization, Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske made plans to visit the newspaper on Friday, March 4 — presumably to tell them where they have erred. In response to that, cannabis legalization advocates plan to protest Kerlikowske’s appearance at the paper by rallying on public sidewalks around the Times building.

Yes, it may be the first time in history that protesters have shown up to support a newspaper editorial on any subject!

Some observers have wondered whether the meeting is an attempt at intimidation by the Drug Czar, especially since the Times is one of the largest newspapers yet to support legalization.

Protest Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske’s Appearance at the Seattle Times

LOCATION: Sidewalks adjoining the Seattle Times at 1120 John Street

TIME: From 7:30 a.m. until the Drug Czar departs the Seattle Times building

Poll: 57% Of Floridians Support Legalizing Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 3, 2011 Legislation, Medical, News

Graphic: Zazzle

A big majority of Florida residents support the legalization of medical marijuana, according to a new survey from a Republican pollster. According to the poll, 57 percent of Floridians would back such a move.

The news comes just as there is a serious movement to bring the issue to the Florida ballot in 2012, reports Bob Norman at our Village Voice Media sister blog, the Broward Palm Beach New Times. Under Florida’s election rules, such a referendum would require 60 percent of voters to approve before it became law.

In the poll, 800 voters were asked the question, “If there was a Constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes only when prescribed by a practicing physician and the election were held today, would you vote Yes to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes or No to stop it?”

MI Bill Would Ban Group Smoking In ‘Medical Marijuana Bars’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 3, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Graphic: THC Finder

Medical marijuana patients would no longer be allowed to smoke pot in support groups under a bill approved by a Republican-led Michigan Senate committee on Thursday. The bill would ban medical marijuana bars and clubs that have sprung up in the state since voters, by a wide margin, legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes in 2008.

The legislation now advances to the floor for a vote by the entire Senate, reports The Associated Press.

The legislation defines “clubs and bars” as places where medical marijuana is used in a group setting for a fee. Violations would be punishable by up to 90 days in jail and fines of up to $500.

“There’s really no good reason for people to gather and consume marijuana,” Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) claimed.

L.A. Releases List Of Marijuana Dispensaries Vying For Licenses

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 3, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation

Photo: THC Finder

The Los Angeles City Clerk on Wednesday released a list of 228 medical marijuana dispensaries that have applied to participate in a lottery to select 100 dispensaries to operate in the city.

The clerk’s office said it is still reviewing the information on the eight-page form and supporting documents to ensure all applicants meet the requirements to qualify for the drawing, reports John Hoeffel at The Los Angeles Times. To qualify for the lottery, dispensaries must have paperwork showing they were in business on September 14, 2007, and still have at least one of the original owner/operators.

Cops Charged After Being Caught On Tape In Botched Pot Raid

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 3, 2011 Medical, News

Graphic: Action News

The corrupt cops were caught on tape discussing the spoils of their “drug raid” — which netted a quarter-ounce of marijuana.

Two Michigan police officers have been criminally charged after being caught on tape during a botched marijuana raid.

Lt. Luke Davis and Lt. Emmanuel Riopelle face dozens of charges in the case, reports Action News WXYZ. Davis headed the undercover narcotics unit. The indictment alleges that he and the others sold drugs and confiscated goods for personal profit.

The rogue cops were caught on audio tape by a local man, Rudy Simpson, during a pot raid (you can hear the audio at the end of this story). Simpson alleges he was the victim of heavy-handed and unprofessional police tactics during the raid on his home. Of course, it was just business as usual for the cops — except this time, a tape was rolling.

WA Senate OKs Marijuana Dispensary Bill, But…

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 3, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation

Photo: Smashed Frog

One amendment to SB 5073 would ban print advertising by medical marijuana dispensaries.

Version Passed By Senate Would Ban Print Advertising By Dispensaries; Law Prof Calls That ‘Clearly Unconstitutional’

The Washington Senate approved a bill Wednesday night which, if approved by the House, would legalize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.

The bill, intended to bring the medical marijuana supply chain out of a legal gray area, was approved by senators on a 29-20 vote after lengthy debate, reports Manuel Valdes of The Associated Press. The measure now moves to the House.

Senators approved several amendments to the bill which are opposed by the medical marijuana community, including a troublesome ban on print advertising which would strip dispensaries of their First Amendment right to advertise. Distressingly, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), author of the bill, introduced that change.

One University of Washington law professor and First Amendment expert called the proposed ban on print advertising by dispensaries “clearly unconstitutional,” reports Curtis Cartier at Seattle Weekly.

Iditarod Expands Drug Testing After Last Year’s Pothead Victory

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 2, 2011 Culture, Global

Photo: Screwed US

Medical marijuana patient Lance Mackey has won the past four Iditarod races. Drug tests were instituted last year — at the urging of jealous opponents, Mackey believes — but the champ tested clean. Now they’re expanding the drug tests.

Drug tests are back this year for Iditarod dog-sled mushers under updated rules that could now disqualify participants who smoke marijuana before — not just during — the race.

The Iditarod began testing for illegal drugs for the first time last year, reports Kyle Hopkins at The Tacoma News Tribune. Anchorage-based WorkSafe set up a makeshift drug-testing lab in a city supply room in White Mountain, the next-to-last checkpoint on the trail. Officials pulled mushers aside and forced them to take urine tests during their mandatory eight-hour stay in the village.

The top finishers all tested clean, according to Iditarod officials, including champion Lance Mackey, who believed jealous competitors called for the drug tests in hopes the throat-cancer survivor and well-known medicinal cannabis smoker would test positive.

Nepal’s Holy Men Banned From Selling Cannabis At Temple

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 2, 2011 Culture, Global

Photo: Nepal Mountain News

A sadhu smokes marijuana at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal at the Shivaratri festival. Hundreds of holy men from Nepal and India gather yearly for the festival, where religious-based cannabis use is common.

Thousands of holy men — known as sadhus — have been banned from selling cannabis to religious festival-goers at an ancient temple in Nepal.

Hindu devotees are gathering at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu to celebrate the holy festival of Shivaratri. Sadhus — Hindu holy men who renounce the world around them for spiritual goals — traditionally celebrate Shivaratri by smoking cannabis, reports Joanna Jolly at the BBC.

But those found selling pot at the temple this year will face eviction or even arrest by armed police, temple officials say — even if they are holy men.

Since last week, plainclothes police have been “mingling” with the sadhus to “identify anyone selling drugs.” Meanwhile, religious festival attendees are forced to endure the sight of young, gung-ho law enforcement officers defiling and disrespecting a venerated spiritual tradition dating back thousands of years.

About 20 sadhus have already been arrested and forced to an area outside the city, according to officials.

Texas Bill Could Make Pot Possession Like Traffic Ticket

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 2, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: Simple Cannabis

A legislator in Texas has introduced a bill which would reduce penalties for the possession of marijuana.

House Bill 548 [PDF], introduced by Rep. Harold Dutton Jr (D-Houston), would reclassify possession of less than an ounce of marijuana from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a $500 fine, reports My Fox Austin.

Possession of two ounces or less, but more than one ounce would remain a Class B misdemeanor.

Currently, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas, with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.

Utilities Are A Cop’s Best Friend For Finding Marijuana Growers

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on March 2, 2011 Growing, News

Photo: COTO Report

Smart energy meters send lots of data to power companies — which can then be subpoenaed by law enforcement.

Police have started the Orwellian practice of subpoenaing energy-use records of people suspected of indoor marijuana growing operations.

At least 60 such subpoenas are filed every month in Ohio alone, reports Dean Narciso at The Columbus Dispatch.

Utilities, while “sensitive” to their customers’ expectation of privacy, are compelled by law to provide information about electricity use, said Terri Flora, spokeswoman for American Electric Power, an Ohio utility.

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