William Breathes

Florida Gov. Rick Scott against medical marijuana, can’t stop a ballot initiative

By William Breathes on January 22, 2014 Follow that story, Medical, News

Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said yesterday that he would vote against a medical marijuana ballot initiative that could come before voters this fall, but that’s about all he can do. A ballot initiative approved by voters can’t be vetoed by Scott’s office.
Scott, the former head of Columbia/HCA hospitals, says he has empathy for sick Floridians, but that he can’t bring himself to approve of a freely available plant to help them. Instead, he conflated the issue and associated medical cannabis with alcohol and other illegal drug use.

Oklahoma lawmaker introduces marijuana legalization bill

By William Breathes on January 22, 2014 Legislation, Medical, News

Oklahoma is not a state where you want to get caught with pot. First-offenders caught with even a flake of bud face up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines. Cultivation or sales can net you anywhere from a mandatory two years to life life in jail.
State Sen. Constance Johnson, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, says it’s time to change that. Johnson has introduced Senate Bill 2116, which would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of pot for adults 21 and up as well as the personal cultivation of up to five plants. The bill would also license commercial growers and retail marijuana stores as well as lessen penalties for those under 21.

Proposed Illinois MMJ rules would bar felons and fingerprint medical marijuana patients

By William Breathes on January 22, 2014 Medical, News, Say what?

Despite medical cannabis being legalized in the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health clearly thinks medical marijuana users are still criminals. Proposed rules for the program unveiled yesterday by the department would require all patients to be fingerprinted and undergo a background check before they could use the plant.
Thankfully, these are just draft proposals and there will be plenty of time for public comment on these stupid, onerous restrictions.

Obama’s belief that pot’s less risky than alcohol (sort of) is refreshing, says Mason Tvert

By William Breathes on January 22, 2014 Follow that story, News

In the latest issue of the New Yorker, President Barack Obama says marijuana isn’t more dangerous than alcohol and is actually less so in at least one significant way.
Obama, who admits to smoking pot during his younger years but has spoken critically about the substance, hasn’t turned into a cheerleader for weed.
But Marijuana Policy Project spokesman Mason Tvert is still upbeat about the President’s statements and hopes they signal more progressive cannabis policies on the part of his administration. Denver Westword has more.

Maryland lawmakers to introduce bill legalizing limited amounts of marijuana for adults 21+

By William Breathes on January 21, 2014 Legalize It, News

Three Maryland lawmakers say they are crafting a bill that would legalize cannabis use and possession for adults 21 and up in an effort to curb illegal drug trafficking and funnel new tax dollars to schools and drug treatment programs.
The Marijuana Control Act of 2014 would also allow Marylanders to cultivate up to six plants at home.

Alabama lawmaker proposing CBD-legalization bill

By William Breathes on January 21, 2014 Medical, News

Alabama state Rep. Mike Ball wants to legalize medical cannabis for sick and ailing Alabamans, but he doesn’t want the whole plant. Instead, Ball says he will be pushing for a bill that allows for high-CBD oils derived from cannabis but not for the outright legalization of the cannabis plant as a whole for medical purposes.
“This CBD oil bill is very high on my list of priorities,” Ball told Montgomery, Alabama’s ABC 31. He says the idea for the bill came after meeting a child in his district suffering from a severe seizure disorder.

Puff, Pass and Paint offers a 420-friendly art experience in Denver

By William Breathes on January 21, 2014 Culture, Legalize It

Like most artists, Denver painter Heidi Keyes, seen here, was looking to expand her artistic endeavors. Then, a friend told her to create a Colorado-style version of the popular Sip and Paint/Canvas and Cocktails events already happening: “Why not some kind of 420-friendly painting class?”
And with that, Puff, Pass and Paint was born, gaining steam and clients faster than Keyes could ever have imagined. Westword caught up with Keyes this week to find out more about how she managed to become a professional artist and what it’s like finding her way within the state of Colorado’s new marijuana laws.

Mapping Phoenix’s medical marijuana dispensaries

By William Breathes on January 21, 2014 Medical

Maps released by the Arizona state health department show the areas around the state that have the most medical-marijuana patients. All these hot spots are in the Phoenix area, and most are around North Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the East Valley. Consider this: Maryvale, a neighborhood on the west side of Phoenix, and Scottsdale have similar populations — about 208,000 in Maryvale and 217,000 in Scottsdale. The map shows that after splitting up Scottsdale, both North Scottsdale and South Scottsdale have more medical-marijuana patients than all of Maryvale.
The Arizona Department of Health Services’ year-end report on the medical-marijuana program also shows that other North Phoenix (and north-ish Phoenix) areas have more medical-pot patients than areas on the south side. Phoenix New Times has the full details and map.

PTSD and depression denied as qualifying conditions for Arizona medical marijuana program

By William Breathes on January 20, 2014 Medical, News

The Arizona Department of Health Services again denied adding PTSD, depression, and migraines to the list of medical conditions that qualify people for a medical-marijuana card.
DHS Director Will Humble wrote on his blog that he “didn’t approve the petitions because of the lack of published data regarding the risks and benefits of using Cannabis to treat or provide relief for the petitioned conditions.” Phoenix New Times has the rest.

Thirty recreational pot shops now open for business in Denver

By William Breathes on January 20, 2014 Legalize It

yesterday’s Denver Bronco win, everyone in this city is plenty high (Go, Broncos!). But for those who’d like to augment that euphoria, there are now thirty fully licensed retail pot shops in Denver. Late Friday, the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses updated its list of the establishments that have gotten both their state and city licenses, and although the pace has slowed a bit since the hectic days before recreational sales started on January 1, license-holders report that the process has been relatively slow and steady.
Denver Westword has a list of all of the recreational marijuana stores now fully licensed in Denver, Colorado.

Author William Breathes