William Breathes

Michigan Prosecutor Won’t Give Up Fight Against Grand Rapids Decriminalization

By William Breathes on November 14, 2014 Legislation, News, Say what?

This week’s asshole prohibitionist award goes to Kent County (Michigan) Prosecutor William Forsyth, who single-handedly has challenged the will of voters in Grand Rapids after they decided in 2012 to decriminalize up to 2.5 ounces of pot.
He’s failed so far, but now the case is in the hands of the state Court of Appeals.
Forsyth first challenged the law in 2013, saying voters have no right to pass a measure that makes city laws conflict with state laws. But his challenge was shut down when a county circuit court judge said voters did have the authority.

Michigan Still Busting Legal Medical Marijuana Patients Over Edibles

By William Breathes on November 14, 2014 Medical, Say what?

According to state courts, Michigan medical marijuana laws technically don’t allow for edibles made from concentrated cannabis, which includes infused butter. It’s a stupid loophole that any medical marijuana advocate should be closed, but in the meantime cops and courts are still using it to hang patients and caregivers out to dry.

Lawmakers Back D.C. Marijuana Legalization, Urge Congress to Respect Voters

By William Breathes on November 14, 2014 Legalize It, Legislation, News

Legalize it.

Voters in Washington D.C. may have approved the legalization of limited amounts of pot for adults 21 and up earlier this month, but the U.S. Congress will have the final say. According to D.C. law, any new legislation Congress can either approve or reject new legislation in within 60 days.
The bill would also become law if no action is taken in that time – and that’s exactly what some lawmakers want to see happen.

Maryland Medical Marijuana Regulations Approved, Patients Will Still Have to Wait

By William Breathes on November 14, 2014 Medical, News

Medical marijuana patients in Maryland will soon be able to finally actually access medical marijuana as the state approved medical cannabis rules Thursday.
But it has taken the state forever – and left patients languishing – to get this far. And patients will still have to wait until 2016 to access any buds.

Vermont Finishes Study on Legalizing Pot, Results Due in January

By William Breathes on November 14, 2014 Follow that story, Legalize It, News

Cosmonaut.

We told you earlier this year about Vermont teaming with the RAND Corporation to study what the legalization of limited amounts of cannabis for adult use would look like.
The study is now complete – it’s apparently as thick as a phone book — but won’t be released until January. But the public is getting hints as to what it contains.

Arkansas Governor to Pardon Son’s 2003 Marijuana Possession Conviction

By William Breathes on November 13, 2014 News, Products

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe.

Getting arrested for marijuana can ruin your life in Arkansas. Unless you are the governor’s son, that is.
Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe announced yesterday that he plans to pardon his son’s 2003 felony marijuana charges. Kyle Beebe was convicted of marijuana possession with intent to deliver. Mike Beebe has pardoned nearly 700 nonviolent offenders in during his tenure in office and says his son deserves the same second chance as all the other people he’s let off.

United Nations Drug Boss Says CO/WA/OR/AK/D.C. Pot Laws in Violation of International Treaties

By William Breathes on November 13, 2014 Legalize It, News

By allowing Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C. voters to legalize limited amounts of cannabis for personal use, the United States has violated United Nations conventions. That’s the gripe from the head of the U.N. director of the Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov, who says he plans to take official actions.
“I don’t see how (the new laws) can be compatible with existing conventions,” Fedotov told reporters this week.

West Palm Beach Teen Wins Appeal in Weed Bust Because Search Happened Before School

By William Breathes on November 13, 2014 News, Say what?

The person pictured above is not the teen discussed in this article, though we assume he would be pleased with the verdict.

A West Palm Beach teenager’s conviction for possessing a half gram of weed was reversed because the cop who arrested him says he stopped the kid for truancy — but the kid wasn’t actually skipping school at the time, making the initial stop unlawful and the evidence obtained inadmissible.
According to a ruling by the appeals court issued on November 5, the kid, a 15-year-old referred to only as “J.R.” in court documents because he’s a minor, had his rights violated when the unnamed police officer stopped and searched him. The cop claims he saw J.R. leave a designated school bus stop before the bus arrived and believed the kid was skipping class, so he decided to see what the youngster was up to.

Denver International Airport Says Pot Merchandise Won’t Fly — But You Can Weigh In

By William Breathes on November 13, 2014 Culture, Say what?

These High-ly Legal flipflops won’t be able to sell at DIA.

There is a difference between cannabis and a t-shirt. But the distinction doesn’t really matter much at Denver International Airport, which recently published the details for a public hearing at which it plans to ban the sale of marijuana-themed souvenirs.

Nevada Legal Pot Backers to Submit Signatures for 2016 Ballot Proposal

By William Breathes on November 12, 2014 Legalize It, Legislation, News

Supporters of a measure that would legalize limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and up in Nevada have collected nearly twice the required amounts of signatures needed to get their measure on the ballot in 2016.
They’ll submit the signatures later today, joined by Democratic state Sen. Richard Segerblom, who has tried several times to get legalization measures passed by the state legislature.

Author William Breathes