Author Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

High Times ‘Cuts Ties’… Will Village Voice Even Notice?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 18, 2012 Culture, News

High Times

Rick Cusick, High Times: “Cutting ties” with Village Voice Media. WHAT “ties”?

In a self-serving and hubristic press release on Tuesday, Trans High Corporation, the parent company of High Times magazine, announced that it will, effective immediately, discontinue any advertising or promotional relationship with Village Voice Media due to their continued financial stake in Backpage.com.

Village Voice Media is the corporation which owns Toke of the Town.

High Times claimed it was taking the action “due to their [Village Voice Media’s] continued financial stake in Backpage.com, based on reporting by Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times and others who credibly accuse the website’s ‘adult services’ classified ads of being allegedly complicit in the advertising of child sex traffickers.”

“While we remain staunch defenders of the First Amendment and free speech in general,” Trans High Corp spokesman and High Times associate publisher Rick Cusick said, “we do not in any way condone such activity as has been alleged by Backpage.com, and this includes advertising in media owned by its parent company.”

Who’s In Charge At UK Cannabis Law Reform Group CLEAR?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 18, 2012 Culture, Global, News

The World Through My Specs

Peter Reynolds of CLEAR is engaged in a tug-of-war with ex-members of the organization’s Executive Committee

By Denzil White

Special to Toke of the Town

In suit and tie, Peter Reynolds looks more like an extra from the set of Mad Men than like the hairy-headed hippie stereotype of a cannabis activist. He’s definitely not hairy-headed, but when he promised to clean up the image of cannabis campaigning in the UK, few people expected the makeover to result in a beauty only skin deep.

Claiming a background in advertising and public relations, Peter Reynolds won leadership of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, a small, single-issue political party, then set about changing the name of the party to CLEAR (Cannabis Law Reform) and brought on help to spruce up the party’s website and logo.

Reynolds wrote at the time, “We will build a new and effective brand and campaign. We are reasonable, responsible, respectable members of society from all walks of life and professions.”

Things were looking good; MPs hit Reynolds’ “Friend” button on Facebook and the CLEAR “Comment Warriors” plagued the popular press with pro-cannabis comments on any article reporting a factory raid or medicinal marijuana critique.

Patients’ Group Opposes Privacy Change to MI Medical Marijuana Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 18, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

National Patients Rights Association

The National Patients Rights Association (NPRA), a Michigan-based alliance of leading medical marijuana advocates working to protect patient rights, on Wednesday announced strong opposition to proposed legislative changes to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act it they said would would directly violate patients’ and caregivers’ civil and constitutional rights, privileges and protections.

Specifically, it opposes Michigan House Bill’s 4851, 4853, and 4856. The NPRA also strongly opposes HB 4834, which is sponsored by Gail Haines.

Under the proposed legislation, the most troubling, HB 4834, will allow officers or security personnel to easily gain access to the registry without a warrant, as is currently required. Patient and caregiver information would no longer be strictly confidential, and their private medical treatment choice will be available to a “near endless” list of authorized officials, according to the group, including security personnel or recreation officers hired by the state or local townships.

Richard Lee, Elected Officials To Announce Oaksterdam Plans

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 17, 2012 Culture, News, Products

Oaksterdam University

Wednesday Press Conference: Richard Lee, Elected Officials, Union, to Announce Future Plans for Oaksterdam University and National Day of Action

Taxpayer Resources Are Wasted Trampling CA Medical Marijuana Laws While City Officials Beg for Help with Gun Violence

National Day of Action on 4/20 Will Pressure Obama on Heels of Historic Discussion About Failed Drug War at Summit of the Americas

Oaksterdam University, which calls itself “the premier cannabis college in the United States,” will announce plans for the future of the school on Wednesday at a press conference.

At the event, founder Richard Lee will discuss his personal plans, as well as the fate of Oaksterdam University, arguably the leading educational institution in the nascent cannabis industry. Other speakers will raise awareness about the waste of valuable community resources.

Obama Administration Increases Drug War Spending Again

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 17, 2012 Legislation, News

StoptheDrugWar.org

Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske (left) and President Obama: “Drug War Autopilot and Co-Autopilot,” according to Phillip Smith at StoptheDrugWar.org

Cops Slam Obama For Same Old ‘Drug War’ Budget

Despite Promises, President Continues To Favor Punishment Over Treatment

The Obama Administration on Tuesday morning released its annual National Drug Control Strategy, detailing the methods and budgets planned to “combat drug use” for fiscal year 2013. The report stresses that more resources need to be spent on addiction treatment and prevention, and that an enforcement-centric “War On Drugs” is unworkable. But in a prime example of political incongruence, the report also shows that budget allocations for law enforcement methods could increase by hundreds of millions of dollars, including military operations on U.S. soil.

Upcoming Comedy ‘Gone To Pot’ Launches $10K Video Contest

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 17, 2012 Culture, Products

Gone To Pot

Makers of the upcoming cannabis movie, Gone To Pot — a comedy about two hustlers who inherit a medical marijuana dispensary — have announced a free video contest in which entrants will explain why they like weed.

“The top 10 videos selected will appear in our film and the top three will share $10,000,” Gone To Pot writer/director Marty Keegan told Toke of the Town. “It’s free to enter as many times as you like.”

Celebrity judges of the video contest include legendary comedian Margaret Cho and Academy Award nominated director Peter Bogdanovich, according to Keegan.

Marijuana Documentary Looks Inside Oaksterdam Weed College

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 16, 2012 Culture, Products

California 90420

California 90420 Offers An In-Depth Look Inside Oaksterdam University, Opens On 4/20

Oaksterdam University Was Recently Raided by Federal Agents

Each year, marijuana enthusiasts and activists around the country gather to celebrate 4/20 as a holiday. This year, a new documentary entitled California 90420 will be released on 4/20 in more than 50 theaters nationwide, making it one the widest theatrical releases ever for a marijuana-related documentary.

90420 focuses on the rapidly open and growing marijuana trade in California, which is setting precedent for the rest of the nation. The film explores the burgeoning ‘above ground’ industry through the eyes of four, 20-something characters whose real lives are caught up in the changing green landscape. This groundbreaking feature documentary is directed by Dean Shull, one of the guys that brought you the hit comedy, Waiting…

Don’t Even Think About Taking Colorado Weed Through Texas

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 16, 2012 Culture

David B. Sloane, Attorney

Don’t drive through the Texas Panhandle carrying Colorado marijuana — unless you plan on needing the services of attorney David Sloane

Beware in the Texas Panhandle (Potter, More, Hartley & Dallam counties)

By David B. Sloane

Criminal Defense Attorney

In my criminal defense practice I am seeing some alarming trends in police Drug Interdiction tactics in the Texas Panhandle with Colorado’s relaxation of their marijuana laws. I am finding myself defending people in these areas more than ever before.

The Texas Highway Patrol (Department of Public Safety) and a few local agencies have stepped up and bolstered their drug interdiction tactics dramatically in the Texas Panhandle corridor leading from Colorado in an area primarily North and West of Amarillo. US Highway 87 running through Potter, Moore, Hartley, and Dallam Counties appears to be the areas where police are most active in their Drug Interdiction efforts.

AZ Takes Marijuana Dispensary Applications Starting May 14

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 16, 2012 Dispensaries, News

Where’s Weed?

According to Arizona’s Department of Health Services Director, Will Humble, “The tumblers have clicked, and the race to apply for a dispensary [in Arizona]is on.”

Humble has given the go-ahead for accepting medical marijuana dispensary licenses in Arizona between May 14 and May 25.

You can check out our Registration Certificate Application Checklist [PDF], Instructions [PDF] and Application [PDF] on Arizona Department of Health Services’ Medical Marijuana Dispensary webpage.

Richard Lee Endorses Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 16, 2012 Legislation, News

Oaksterdam History

Richard Lee: “Medical cannabis prohibition is unjust and counterproductive”

Cannabis icon Richard Lee, in one of his first statements since the raid on Oaksterdam University, has endorsed the Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment.

“Can you imagine seeing your life’s work raided and seized?” Lee asked in a telephone interview. “Many patients like me can.”

At age 27, while working as a lighting technician, Lee fell off a scaffold and broke his back. A paraplegic, he must now use a wheelchair. Standard prescription pills didn’t ease the pain, but medical cannabis did.

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