Jack Daniel

Leader of Canadian Liberal Party favors pot legalization

By Jack Daniel on August 7, 2013 Global, Legislation, News

Last week the world watched as Uruguay became the first nation to officially re-legalize marijuana in nearly eight decades. Not to be outdone, our neighbors to the north in Canada may be heading in the same direction, at least if Justin Trudeau, the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, has anything to say about it.
On July 23rd, while attending a rally in British Columbia, the head of one of Canada’s three major political parties spotted a supporter carrying a sign in favor of decriminalizing weed, and he stated, “I’m actually not in favor of decriminalizing cannabis – I’m in favor of legalizing it.”

DEA literally training agents on how to withhold evidence from judges and attorneys

By Jack Daniel on August 6, 2013 Follow that story, News, Say what?

An exclusive report released today by Reuters outlines a long-running campaign of the federal government knowingly withholding evidence in numerous cases involving the DEA, and a highly classified multi-agency wing of the DEA known as the Special Operations Division (SOD). By withholding the true sources of their investigations, critics contend that defendants’ rights to a fair trial are being compromised daily.

NJ Gov Chris Christie forced to decide on medical marijuana reform this week

By Jack Daniel on August 5, 2013 Follow that story, Legislation, News

New Jersey State Senate Bill 2842 and Assembly Bill 4241 were passed in the final week of June and were rushed immediately to Governor Chris Christie’s desk to sign into law. Passing by a lopsided 25-13 margin in the Senate, and an uneventful amendment process in the General Assembly, the bill is intended to ease dogmatic restrictions on what many consider to be a farce of a medical marijuana program.
Early last month, on July 9th, the bill was still sitting, unsigned, on Gov. Christie’s desk as he partied with Bon frickin’ Jovi. Unconcerned, Governor Christie has repeatedly stated that there is “no crisis” in the state’s medical marijuana program, even though the state’s only dispensary has been closed since June due to a “lack of inventory”.

Massive scam sends California teens to drug rehab for no reason

By Jack Daniel on August 2, 2013 News, Say what?

When President Obama took office in 2009, his Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy proclaimed that the new administration would no longer use the term “War on Drugs”, as they found it to be “counter-productive”. In June of 2011, the Global Commission on Drug Policy released a scathing report which clearly stated that “the global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world.”

Medical Marijuana Inc. seeks to ease concerns about CBD-infused investments

By Jack Daniel on August 1, 2013 Hemp, Medical, News

San Diego based Medical Marijuana Inc. (MJNA) is commonly regarded as being the first publicly held company to deal openly in the hemp and marijuana markets. Promoted as a sort of ‘one-stop-shop’ for marijuana, hemp, and hempseed oil based products, services, and development, their product line focuses primarily on the benefits of CBDs, or cannabinoids, and what they hope are new, innovative, and popular ways to ingest them. MJNA prides itself on its “range of over 85 proprietary and patented cannabinoid ‘delivery methods’ that are more ‘socially and medically acceptable’ than typical industry methods.”

Michigan doctor warns of potential “overdosing” on medical marijuana

By Jack Daniel on July 29, 2013 Medical, Say what?

Quack.

Among the many natural benefits associated with medicating with marijuana is the sheer lack of detrimental side effects like you see at the end of every prescription drug commercial. But in a half-baked attempt to combat a recent string of favorable headlines for cannabis research, those opposed to the plant are issuing a stern new warning to anyone who smokes (or is even thinking of smoking) pot.
Abdominal cramping, power-puking, and the need for a hot shower – this, they say, is what you are in for if you choose to smoke weed. The prohibitionists are right about one thing; you might need a hot shower after trying to wrap your head around their latest attempt at reasoning.

California dispensary owner sentenced to 22 years in federal prison

By Jack Daniel on July 24, 2013 Dispensaries, News

Facing no less than 15 years, and the very real possibility of a life sentence, 56-year-old John Melvin Walker was sentenced yesterday to 22 years in federal prison stemming from a guilty verdict on charges of tax evasion and drug trafficking.
On April 1st of this year, Walker plead guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute marijuana and maintain a “drug-involved premises”, along with a 2nd count of tax evasion. Walker, who had two prior felony drug-related convictions in the State courts, was the owner of nine lucrative medical marijuana dispensaries strewn across Los Angeles and Orange Counties – a largely cash-and-carry business network that Walker admits bagged him over $25 million in his six years in operation.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta changes course on cannabis reform

By Jack Daniel on July 22, 2013 Medical, News

Wikimedia commons/Dnd523

Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta appeared on the Katie Couric Show on ABC last week alongside “Marijuana Moms” advocates Cheryl and Aimee Shumann to discuss the various benefits of smoking weed.
You can stop rubbing your eyes or adjusting your screen, yes, even Dr. Gupta has seen the light – or perhaps the profit – when it comes to medicating with marijuana, and even enjoying it on a purely recreational level. This reefer revelation has him blazing a trail on the talk show media circuit promoting his latest project, a pro-ganja documentary called “WEED”, slated to air sometime in August.

Americans for Safe Access seek to appeal cannabis rescheduling decision with US Supreme Court

By Jack Daniel on July 16, 2013 Legislation, Medical, News

For over four decades now, advocates for the responsible use of marijuana have been fighting an uphill battle against the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. government in an attempt to get weed moved off of the Schedule I list of drugs. The goal for groups like Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is to get pot moved down to at least Schedule II, where it can be studied and prescribed more effectively.
Founded in 2002, ASA has been helping to lead the way in cannabis law reform, lending their influence and expertise to local City Council decisions, all the way up to Supreme Court cases. It is there, with the U.S. Supreme Court, that Americans for Safe Access currently finds themselves fighting for the rightful rescheduling of marijuana.

NJ Gov Chris Christie parties with Bon Jovi while sick children suffer

By Jack Daniel on July 9, 2013 Follow that story, Legislation, Medical

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie isn’t sympathetic to severely sick children.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spent most of the day Monday with his wife Pat, and his good buddy, and fellow Jersey boy, Jon Bon Jovi at Borough Hall in Sayreville, N.J. They gathered in front of a hand-chosen crowd to celebrate a very generous one million dollar donation made by the rock-star to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, which is chaired by the Governor’s wife. So that explains why two out of the three were there, at least.
Meanwhile, it has been five days since we last reported on recently approved changes to the state’s medical marijuana laws that would help extremely sick kids get access to cannabis if needed. The Democrats who lead the state legislature pushed the bill to the Governor’s desk on June 25th, or two weeks ago, where it sits waiting for the Governor’s signature. But c’mon, its Bon frickin JOVI!

Author Jack Daniel