Yearly Archives: 2011

Maine Legislator Urges Marijuana Legalization

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

The extremely cool Rep. Diane Russell of Maine: “We’re dealing with the world as it is”

Legalizing marijuana would just be recognition of “the world as it is,” according to Rep. Diane Russell, lead sponsor of a bill that would make cannabis legal in Maine.

Rep. Russell (D-Portland) has introduced a bill to legalize marijuana, allow people to grow small amounts for personal use and subject sales to a seven percent sales tax, reports Edward D. Murphy at The Portland Press Herald. The resulting revenue would be directed to law enforcement, agricultural programs, land preservation, weatherization and higher education.

Russell, who has already been anointed Toke of the Town‘s favorite Maine lawmaker, spoke about her plan to legalize pot at Portland City Hall with about a dozen supporters and a lone whack-job protester wearing a sweater with “Jail Diane Russell” emblazoned on its back.

UConn Basketball Star Arrested On Marijuana Charges

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 22, 2011 News

Photo: Fred Beckham/AP

Basketball star Jamal Coombs-McDaniels of the national champion UConn Huskies was arrested Thursday night for marijuana possession

Seems it’s time to go through the old routine again. You know — the one where mainstream sports commentators express “surprise” and “disappointment.” Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, a star on the University of Connecticut’s national championship basketball team, has been arrested for marijuana possession.

When will they get it? Athletes, like people in every other walk of life, choose to use marijuana — and life goes on.

Campus police say the sophomore from Dorchester, Massachusetts was arrested at 10:23 Thursday night along with two other people at Merritt Hall, a UConn campus dormitory, reports Pat Eaton-Robb of The Associated Press.

Officers responded to Hilltop Apartments for a “narcotics complaint,” reports Brian Zahn of The Daily Campus, an independent UConn newspaper.

“During the course of the investigation, officers found Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and two other individuals in possession of 5.6 grams of marijuana, a marijuana grinder and a package of cigars used to smoke marijuana,” the police report drily noted.

Coombs-McDaniel was charged with marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession. He was released on a $500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on May 5. Also arrested were Shakwaan Simpkins and Stanley Winn, both 19 and both of Boston.

S.F. Cannabis Advocates Tell President What Time It Is On 4-20

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 22, 2011 Culture, News

All photos by Jack Rikess

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

President Obama’s fund raising drive continued in San Francisco on April 20 with a financial pow-wow at the St. Regis Hotel downtown. The President was met by some 75 medical marijuana protesters who had arrived at 7 a.m. at 3rd and Mission. The protesters were carrying homemade signs and chanting that the President has turned his back on the medical marijuana community.

“We’re here because Obama hasn’t provided safe access for patients that need their medicine. Raids are continuing on dispensaries,” David Goldman of Americans for Safe Access explained over his coffee cup.

“The IRS is putting pressure on the banks that do business with anyone in the Medical Marijuana community,” Goldman told Toke of the Town. “The IRS is also disallowing expenses to be used as deductions. No sane business can operate without allowing deductions.”

OK Senate Approves Life In Prison For Making Hash

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: Beats From The Streets

Concentrating marijuana down into hashish could get you a life sentence in Oklahoma under a bill approved by the Oklahoma Senate.

The Senate voted 44-2 for the bill on 4-20, of all days. Dudes, are they saying F.U. to us, or what? The bill now heads to the House for final consideration, reports the Associated Press.

The bill was “requested” by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Well, hell. Nice to know that in Oklahoma, they let the BNDD not only enforce the drug laws, but also write the damned things. That cuts a whole host of inconvenient things out of the process, you know? Things like citizen input and common sanity.

Our Guy Was There: 4-20, Hippie Hill, Golden Gate Park

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2011 Culture

All photos: Jack Rikess

There’s nothing like Golden Gate Park’s Hippie Hill at 4:20 on 4-20.

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

It starts on the downbeat about an hour before noon.

Five cats in assorted guises from assorted backgrounds bang on congas, snares, and on upside-down five-gallon buckets, pounding out an Afro-beats while the first couple hundred of celebrators mosey their way into Golden Gate Park, and to establish themselves at party central headquarters, Hippie Hill.

It will be another five hours or so before the land and the world as we know it will bend in time. The reality that we call Marijuana for some, will change their conscientiousness and for others just take their change. For now, everything seems copacetic, tranquil, and even sedate with just of a hint of backbeat in the air.

Since early morning, folks of all creeds, colors, genders and baseball affiliations, whether Giants or A’s, have been streaming in to what should be the biggest pot party this side of Seattle. Soon there will be nothing but grins, smiles and a lot of nodding.

But for now, there are some 500 people who are animated; chatting gaily laying down blankets and lugging coolers as more and more stoners appears every minute, getting ready for…something.

Venice Pot Doctors Shut Down After State Medical Board Raid

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: Los Angeles Times

An investigator carries out two large bags of marijuana from the Medical Kush Beach Club, Wednesday, April 20, 2011

One of the storefront pot doctors on the boardwalk in Venice was shut down Wednesday when the California state medical board and police raided three locations linked to Medical Kush Doctor.

Investigators carried out boxes and at least two large plastic bags that “appeared to contain marijuana” out of the building next to Muscle Beach that houses a doctor’s office, a smoke shop and a dispensary called the Medical Kush Beach Club, reports John Hoeffel at the Los Angeles Times.

Exposed: CNN Skewed Its Poll On Marijuana Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2011 Culture, News

Graphic: BookRags

CNN reported that only 41 percent of “American adults” support marijuana legalization — but they didn’t ask anyone under 35.

CNN.com on Tuesday released results from interviews with 824 “adult Americans” asking their opinions in the legalization of marijuana and gay marriage. But there was one big problem. They left out a big section of “adult Americans” — everyone under 35.

In response to the question, “Do you favor or oppose the legalization of marijuana?” 41 percent of “adults” said they favor it, 56 percent opposed, and 2 percent had no opinion, reports J. Grant at Our Time.

While American adults tend to be divided on controversial topics like this, what is disturbing is that CNN.com posted these results despite the fact that they include no respondents between the ages of 18 and 34.

“Regardless of your opinion, you have a right to have an opinion, and for that opinion to be factored into poll results by one of the most trafficked news sites in America,” Grant wrote. “Since 18- to 34-year-olds were kept out of the conversation entirely, this is not an accurate poll and should not be labeled as such.

Tomato Grower Caught Up In Marijuana Roundup

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 21, 2011 Growing, News

Photo: KMBC

Big props to the brave police officers of Independence, Missouri, for being alert to these dangerous tomato plants.

‘The Last Time I Checked, It Wasn’t Illegal To Grow A Tomato Plant,’ Man Says

Hundreds of marijuana plants were seized by police officers in Independence, Missouri on 4/20, a day celebrated by pot smokers. But when the cops came busting in at one man’s door looking for cannabis, they found a tomato growing operation instead.

“What I saw today was not protection,” the man told KMBC‘s Cliff Judy. “That was harassment, all because of where I made a purchase.”

See, it turns out the Missouri Highway Patrol “monitors” stores that sell hydroponic growing equipment — and they use those sales to track down illegal marijuana growing operations. That information — couple with the asinine assumption that any customer at a hydroponics store must be involved in cannabis — led them to the tomato farmer’s door.

4/20 Marijuana Rally In Denver Attracts Up to 15,000

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 20, 2011 Culture, News

Photo: Denver Westword

This appropriately attired gentleman was among the attendees at today’s 4/20 Rally in Denver.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 cannabis enthusiasts of all ages converged at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on April 20 for the annual 4/20 political rally, concert, party, and smokeout, reports Denver Westword.

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Yearly Archives: 2011

​‘The Last Time I Checked, It Wasn’t Illegal To Grow A Tomato Plant,’ Man Says

‘The Last Time I Checked, It Wasn’t Illegal To Grow A Tomato Plant,’ Man Says