William Breathes

Uruguay approves cannabis legalization measure

By William Breathes on December 11, 2013 Global, Legalize It, News

TokeoftheTown.com

Update 12/11/13 – 8:20 a.m.: Uruguay yesterday became the first country in the world to legalize and regulate cannabis sales as well as legalize the home cultivation for adults over 21. The Uruguayan Senate yesterday gave final approval to the proposed measure, passing the bill over to President Jose Mujica, who is expected to sign it into law. The bill passed with a 16-13 majority.
“Today is an historic day. Many countries of Latin America, and many governments, will take this law as an example,” Sen. Constanza Moreira said after the vote.

Kingston, Jamaica airport cops net four ganja busts in six hours

By William Breathes on December 10, 2013 Global, Say what?

This should probably be widely known information at this point, but do not try and smuggle pot out of Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport. After 40 years of being known as the pot capitol of the Caribbean, the police have made it pretty hard to get through one of their largest airports.
Take yesterday, for example, when cops busted four different, unrelated groups of people trying to get ganja out of the country netting a total of 156.4 pounds of compressed buds according to the Jamaica Observer.

Michigan law re-allowing dispensaries moves forward in House along with two others

By William Breathes on December 10, 2013 Legislation, Medical, News

Three marijuana-related bills in Michigan leaped initial hurdles this morning, passing out of the House Judiciary committee. The first would allow for medical marijuana dispensaries to operate in the state again legally and the other makes legal marijuana-infused products including edibles and tinctures.
A third measure passed allowing pharmacies to sell and produce “pharmaceutical grade” cannabis that is if the FDA ever allows such a thing to happen. All three measures move on to the full House for consideration.

Dallas city council wants to seize the cars of people caught with pot

By William Breathes on December 10, 2013 News, Say what?

At a briefing yesterday morning, Public Safety Committee chair Sheffie Kadane wondered why business owners aren’t punished when police catch someone doing or selling drugs at a bar or restaurant. “My understanding is in some of these places, it’s just blatantly out in the open there, passing drugs, selling drugs … Shouldn’t the owner be liable some way if they’re doing drugs in his facility, whether he knows it or not — and I’m sure he knows it.”

Dallas Observer has the full story.

Pot smoking on front porches okayed by Denver City Council

By William Breathes on December 10, 2013 Legalize It, News

Yesterday, Denver city councilwoman Susan Shepherd predicted that an amendment allowing people to smoke pot on their front porches and front lawns — a reversal of a ban that seemed certain to pass — would be approved at a meeting last night, and she was right. The new rules sailed through.
Not so for another proposal that concerned Shepherd — one that would have prohibited smoking within 1,000 feet of schools even on private property, like a home. Denver Westword has the full details.

California petition to legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and up filed for 2014, but nobody’s sure what to do with it

By William Breathes on December 9, 2013 Legalize It, Legislation, News

The Drug Policy Alliance Wednesday filed ballot initiative language last week that would legalize up to an ounce of pot and four plants for adults over 21 in California as well as allow for recreational cannabis sales with a tax of up to 25 percent.
But as of now, nobody seems willing to push it. According to a blog post at StopTheDrugWar.org last night, DPA officials say they aren’t sure if they are even going to push for the measure right now due to remaining shell shock from failure of 2010’s Proposition 19 that would have legalized recreational cannabis in the Golden State.

Proposed B.C. marijuana decriminalization ballot measure fails to get voter signatures

By William Breathes on December 9, 2013 Global, Legislation, News

Sensible British Columbia Campaign organizer Dana Larsen Sunday announced that the ballot initiative they had been pushing to decriminalize marijuana possession failed to collect enough signature in time for the deadline.
Still, the group says they collected 200,000 signatures and that they’re looking forward to 2015 with another plan to prevent police from enforcing marijuana laws in the Canadian province.

Cannabis Time Capsule, 1877: Amateur Philly pharmacist gives away “hasheesh” treatments

By William Breathes on December 9, 2013 Cannabis Time Capsule

Almost every Friday for the last year, Denver Westword has dug up a vintage marijuana-related news article from a treasure trove of small town newspapers. Here’s an old Cannabis Time Capsule they’ve dug up from nearly 136 years ago. It appeared in the now-defunct Colorado Banner newspaper out of Boulder. This December 13, 1877 brief details the schemes of a Philadelphia snake-oil salesman hooking unsuspecting victims on the opium-like wonders of hashish! Cue scary music.
Click over to the Westword for more.

Uninformed plastic surgeon still believes that pot causes man boobs

By William Breathes on December 9, 2013 Say what?

Corey Balazowich/Flickr.com

You couldn’t imagine worst news for male stoners than a doctor’s contention this week that weed might actually cause some tokers to grow “man boobs.”
Of course, since the “news” is actually based on outdated and disproved science, California plastic surgeon Anthony Youn says when daily smokers come to him for man-boob reduction, the first thing he tells them is to stop smoking cannabis. LA Weekly has more on what the plastic surgeon has to say.

L.A. City Council proposes banning e-cigarettes in public

By William Breathes on December 6, 2013 News, Products

Hold onto to your e-cigarettes and vape pens while you can, people, because using them in Los Angeles might soon be banned in the same places that prohibit lighting up regular smokes including beaches, bars and restaraunts.
The L.A. City Council today will consider a new motion to be introduced by Councilman Mitch O’Farrell that would treat electronic devices the same way that cigarette smoking is regulated in town. LA Weekly has more.

Author William Breathes