An Iowa state senator has introduced a medical marijuana bill to the state legislature, but says advancing the bill any further would be a long shot.
Sen. Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City says he doesn’t have the bipartisan support in both the state House and Senate whatsoever for Senate File 79, which would allow for qualifying patients to cultivate and possess up to 2.5 ounces of herb at a time as well as create state-regulated medical cannabis dispensaries.
You probably haven’t heard of Chris Mapp, a South Texas boat salesman and one of the six also-rans challenging John Cornyn in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, and here’s hoping you never have occasion to hear of him again after March 4.
In addition to advocating for the right to shooting human beings found crossing the Texas/Mexico border without warning or provocation, this personal-liberties warrior is completely against your personal right to consume cannabis: “As this society degrades, I hope they can learn to speak a second language and that language had better be Chinese because if marijuana is your biggest issue then you are screwed and it pains me that you would take your country with you. your views will get this country in a place that liberty will become but a memory.”
Yes, Mapp truly believes smoking cannabis will lead to China taking over the world. Dallas Observer has the rest of this.
| Don Gaetz. |
While top Republicans like Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi are opposed to legalizing medical marijuana in Florida, the issue isn’t necessarily a left vs. right issue.
Don Gaetz, the Republican President of the Florida Senate, has made the blunt admission that he once bought pot to ease the pain of a dying friend.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, back in 1984 Gaetz’s friend E. Ronal Mudd, a Methodist chaplain, was suffering from cancer with sever side effects of nausea. He read that marijuana might be able to help his symptoms. So Mudd asked Gaetz to get him some pot, and, well, he did. Miami New Times has the full story.
Last week, we told you about a lawsuit filed by Westword and High Times magazine related to the State of Colorado’s rules for recreational marijuana advertising.
The complaint called for a preliminary injunction against the regulations. But while a U.S. District Court judge has rejected that request, the case remains alive.
Get details and see the documents over at Westword.com
| LSP. |
US Army Sergeant Horace Brown was clad in camouflage while driving through Louisiana early Sunday morning, but still couldn’t manage to hide about 23 pounds of greenery from the Louisiana State Police.
According to a LSP release, Brown was pulled over for “improper lane usage” in Port Allen, Louisiana. We’re not sure what that charge means, but wouldn’t be surprised if it’s just a Louisiana cop term thrown around for “I’m pulling over a dark-skinned man late at night because I think he looks suspicious.”
| Jenny Kush. |
| Not actual cake, though still awesome. |
Despite what reports out of Spain may want you to believe, a student who has fallen into a coma after eating a pot brownie did not do so because of the pot in said brownie.
Reports say that a student ate a birthday cake baked with a little extra love inside and quickly became seriously ill. Nine other people went to the hospital as well. All of that is very strange and scary, no doubt. But as anyone with any clue about cannabis can tell you: it wasn’t the pot’s fault.
Missouri Rep. Chris Kelly has filed language that would legalize medical and recreational cannabis in Missouri, using language that closely follows another proposed ballot initiative.
In addition to legalizing taxed and regulated sales of ganja, House Bill 1659 would regulate recreational cannabis like alcohol, with a 21-and-up age limit. Missourians would be able to cultivate up to eight plants in their home and keep up to 16 ounces of herb, 16 ounces of edibles and 72 ounces of tinctures and other liquid-infused cannabis products.
Lawmakers in Mexico City fed up with the social and financial cost of marijuana criminalization in their city are floating the idea of decriminalizing up to 35 grams of cannabis.
Currently the possession of up to five grams of marijuana is legal in Mexico under 2009 minor drug possession reforms aimed at curbing police corruption and crime. It’s done nothing to end cartel violence, but so far hasn’t been a major issue.
| Arkansas AG Dustin McDaniel |
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel ruled that a marijuana legalization measure that repeals state laws on marijuana possession, use and cultivation for being too vague.
This is the second time that McDaniel has rejected the ballot proposal. And no, he is not unclear as to what “repealing all laws related to cannabis” means, nor does he seem to have a personal grudge against pot. Basically, the proposal just doesn’t make sense.
As we’ve reported before, Arizona law allows for medical marijuana dispensaries around the state, but one county has been fighting a battle against legal pot shops (and private patients). Of course, it’s Maricopa County, so nobody is really that surprised.
Thankfully, the fight for a medical-marijuana dispensary on unincorporated Maricopa County land won a key victory on Wednesday with the Board of Supervisors lifting its ban on the shops. But the five Supervisors — one Democrat and four Republicans — and the county attorney continue to see the case as their ticket to overturning the state’s voter-approved medical-pot law. The good people at the Phoenix New Times have the details.