William Breathes

Three charged in murder of Calif. medical marijuana grower last week

By William Breathes on October 9, 2013 News

Roger Bounnhaseng.

Three men suspected of killing a marijuana grower in Tehama County, Calif. just south of Redding have been arrested on murder charges. Police are still seeking a fourth suspect.
Cops are still piecing the story together, but it seems that 37-year-old Keo Oudone Vannarath was living or staying in a camper at a legal medical garden early last Thursday morning when Roger Bounnhaseng, Alan Doulphus, Jr and Chase Doulphus drove up to rob the growers of their plants. Vannarath was shot trying to escape and the robbers fled.

Fairfield, Conn. City leaders nix marijuana dispensary, praise medical marijuana

By William Breathes on October 9, 2013 Medical, News

Don’t expect any MMJ dispensaries here anytime soon.

The NIMBYs of the Fairfield, Conn. Town Plan and Zoning Commission all seem to agree that medical marijuana is a legitimate and beneficial therapy for patients with certain debilitating conditions.
They just don’t want it anywhere near their town.

High Times feature focuses on the dabs of Denver

By William Breathes on October 9, 2013 Culture, News

Derek Cumings/Pink House Labs.

Venerable pot magazine High Times has been focusing on Colorado quite a bit over the last few years, including naming Colorado strains as the most potent staffers have seen and bringing their annual Cannabis Cup events to the Mile High City.
This month’s High Times feature keeps up that trend, with editor Bobby taking a tour of two of Denver’s largest hash-making labs, Pink House Labs and Top Shelf Extracts, and sharing how they crank out consistent concentrates. Denver Westword has the rest.

Feds drop case against medical marijuana dispensary landlord

By William Breathes on October 9, 2013 Dispensaries, News

Google maps.

2601 W. Ball Rd., Anaheim, California.

The federal government no longer wants to try and seize an Anaheim office building owned by Tony Jalali, who was charged last year for renting out space to Remedy Tree Collective, a state-legal medical cannabis dispensary.
Though prosecutors aren’t commenting on the agreement, we’re guessing it stems from the fact that the feds have deemed such cases to be a waste of resources when related to state-legal marijuana shops.

Jamaica lawmakers considering ganja decriminalization in light of Colo., Wash. laws

By William Breathes on October 8, 2013 Global, Legislation, News

A leading Jamaican justice official says Jamaica will consider changes to their cannabis laws, easing restrictions on a plant many worldwide already associate with the tiny, beautiful island nation.
Justice Minister Mark Golding tells the Jamaica Gleaner that changes to state marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington and the subsequent reaction by the federal government are signs of a shifting attitude towards cannabis. Golding also points out that much of the fight against ganja in his country over the last fifty years has been at the insistence of the United States.

Texas voters want legalized, regulated marijuana

By William Breathes on October 8, 2013 Medical, News, Say what?

You know the pot tide is turning when Texas wants to legalize it. According to a study by the Marijuana Policy Project and Public Policy Polling released today, 58 percent of voters polled said they wanted to legalize pot and regulate it similarly to alcohol. Thirty-eight percent were opposed.
The Lone Star State also feels that medical marijuana should be legalized, with 58 percent supporting changes in laws to allow access to cannabis for sick and terminally ill patients. Only 31 percent say they would oppose medical cannabis laws.

Phoenix man arrested for pot blames federal government shutdown

By William Breathes on October 8, 2013 News, Say what?

Washington D.C.

This government shutdown seems to be causing very serious problems for some Americans.
In fact, a 26-year-old Phoenix man arrested for marijuana possession told police that he was just smoking pot because the shutdown was stressing him out too much, according to court documents. Phoenix New Times has the rest of this tale.

(Another) study shows marijuana helps treat multiple sclerosis

By William Breathes on October 7, 2013 Global, Medical, News

Cannabis is an effective tool for combating multiple sclerosis. It is something medical marijuana patients have known for years now, but researchers at Tel Aviv University now have sound evidence that certain cannabinoids can help prevent swelling in the brain and spinal cord associated with the disease.
The study, published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology this month, said that they were able to control the “out of hand” inflammation associated with MS by using both cannabidiol (CBD) and THC – chemical compounds found in cannabis.

Can you legally fly with marijuana on a commercial flight?

By William Breathes on October 7, 2013 News

William Breathes.

There’s an interesting article on Lawyers.com making its way around the internets. It quotes from the website for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which states that its officers “do not search for marijuana or other drugs.”
While TSA also states that if officers happen to find any pot in someone’s baggage, they will refer to matter to law enforcement, what if the pot is discovered in a state where it happens to be legal to possess marijuana for medical or recreational purposes? Nick Schou with the OC Weekly has more on this.

War on Drugs = better, cheaper drugs, according to study

By William Breathes on October 4, 2013 News, Say what?

High-quality LA Kush, brought to you by the War on Drugs.

The American war on drugs has cost taxpayers at least a trillion dollars. For decades, it has put away mothers and fathers, husbands and daughters, giving the United States one of the highest incarceration rates in the world.
Then-President Richard Nixon first identified drugs as a top target in 1969 and more formally declared war in 1971. What has this four-decade battle really gotten us? Stronger and cheaper drugs. LA Weekly has the full story.

Author William Breathes