William Breathes

Vermont prisoner’s marijuana-smuggling scheme busted by a cell phone photo

By William Breathes on February 25, 2014 News, Say what?

flickr.com/mrthomas

We’ve been over this before, but bringing pot into prison for an incarcerated inmate is not the best idea, but it’s especially dumb if you’re already in jail yourself or happen to work there.
Case and point: Vermont inmates Trish Belliveau and Wesley Kidder and former Windsor Prison guard Brett Jasinski, both convicted of bringing marijuana into a detention facility after Belliveau bribed Jaslinski into bringing pot and cigarettes back into the prison while Belliveau was out on furlough. It’s a strange story that involves some bumbling cloak and dagger actions, notably that the entire thing was caught on security cameras.

Don Imus supports Kinky Friedman for Texas Agriculture Commissioner

By William Breathes on February 25, 2014 News

Fox Business talk show host Don Imus has come out in support of hemp-backing Richard “Kinky” Friedman‘s campaign for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. He’s also having some fun with it. Imus had a phone conversation with Friedman on his show Wednesday morning.
Our friends at the Houston Press have a transcript the show.

Missouri Governor says “maybe” to medical marijuana

By William Breathes on February 25, 2014 Medical, News

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

In what could possibly be a shift in the way Governor Jay Nixon will approach reforming Missouri’s draconian marijuana laws, he gave an ever-so tepid “maybe” to the question of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes when asked about it on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday.
On a panel with three other governors – Rick Perry from Texas, Mike Pence from Indiana, and Dan Malloy from Connecticut – host Candy Crowley asked Nixon his thoughts on legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Well, sort of. The Riverfront Times has more.

Colorado governor warns other governors of pot legalization

By William Breathes on February 24, 2014 News

John Hickenlooper.

Legalizing limited amounts of pot for personal use and cultivation has been a great idea, raising millions in tax revenue and creating a newfound sense of freedom for people who choose to use cannabis. But Colorado’s governor feels much, much differently.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper told his peers at the National Governors Association that they shouldn’t rush into changing their laws any time soon.

It’s always 4:20 in Denver, at least while Union Station is under construction

By William Breathes on February 24, 2014 News

Big photos below.

The other week, I was dropping off my pop at the Oxford Hotel downtown around 2 p.m. when I noticed that the clock was wrong at Union Station.
Or, better, the clock was right on at Union Station.
Yup. 4:20. At 2 p.m. in the afternoon. I’m not downtown much these days (I’m stuck changing diapers), so I’m not sure how long it’s been like that. But I did go back the next day and snap another picture around 6 in the evening, and the clock was still at 4:20. Denver Westword has it all.

Dallas-area cops just now learning that THC comes in candy form

By William Breathes on February 24, 2014 News, Say what?

The days when you had to actually smoke marijuana to get dosed with THC ended long ago with the discovery that the chemical can be melted into butter and baked into brownies. Ganjapreneurs in Colorado are taking things to a completely different level. In Denver, you can get high via balms, massage oil, under-the-tongue tinctures, and, yes, soft drinks and candy.
This was news to police in Corinth, Texas, who were surprised to discover that, in addition to a half pound of marijuana, Marisol Noriega, 20, was arrested with THC-infused gummies and sodas. An alleged accomplice, 23-year-old David Ramos, was arrested on Wednesday.
Read more at the Dallas Observer.

Tampa Bakery chomping at the bit to sell legal medical pot edibles

By William Breathes on February 24, 2014 Medical, News

Salted Caramel.

Megan Auclair is not some tie-dye-wearing college kid whipping up potent pot brownies in the communal dorm kitchen. In fact, Auclair wants to wipe that stereotype from everyone’s subconscious.
Auclair is a medical professional, an entrepreneur, and as soon as the bill for medical marijuana passes, Auclair plans to heal the state with her yum-tasting THC-containing edibles. Assuming, of course, all her customers have prescriptions.

Broward-Palm Beach New Times has the full story.

Is Florida ready for legal marijuana? (Hint: hell yeah it is)

By William Breathes on February 21, 2014 Legalize It, Opinion

Miami New Times.

Is Florida ready for medical marijuana? Well, yeah actually. The latest polls show that seven in ten statewide support legalized weed for various ailments, and supporters have gathered enough signatures to put the question on November’s ballot. One way or another, loosened mary jane restrictions seem coming to the Sunshine State.
But everyone knows Miami rocks to its own beat on just about every statewide issue. How’s the average Magic City resident feel about medical marijuana? Miami New Times‘ Kathryn Sotolongo took a camera to Bayfront Park to find out.

Maryland Democrat governor hopefuls all support marijuana reform

By William Breathes on February 21, 2014 News

Doug Gansler.

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler this week told the Baltimore Sun that he feels the legalization of cannabis is going to happen, and that as governor he would ensure laws are implemented “the right way” if such a change were to happen while he is in office.
Gansler joins the two other Democrat forerunners for the state Governor’s office with a pro-pot stance, state Del. Heather Mizeur and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. Mizeur has campaigned openly on a legalization platform and Brown says that he would work towards decriminalizing up to an ounce of pot.

New Jersey lawmakers debating changes to state medical marijuana program despite Governor’s disapproval

By William Breathes on February 21, 2014 Legislation, Medical, News

It’s been nearly five years since New Jersey passed medical marijuana laws in their state, but so far few dispensaries have opened and others have dragged their heels to the point where patients have had enough.
Yesterday, the state Assembly Regulatory Oversight Committee took an hour to listen to testimony from patients and dispensary owners fed up with the current system. Among their gripes: dispensaries have taken more than three years to open, patients in parts of the state have little access to legal meds and doctors should be able to write pot recommendations without having to sign up themselves up with a onerous physician registration system.
The hearing came after more than 16,000 emails and calls were made to the state health department from frustrated cannabis patients.

Author William Breathes