William Breathes

Colorado cops claim pot driving fatalities up 100 percent based on shoddy research

By William Breathes on August 14, 2014 News, Say what?

Flickr/Alex K

A new report from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area suggests that stoned driving remains a big problem that’s getting bigger, with fatalities increasing 100 percent from 2007 to 2012. Stats about teen pot use in the report are also considerably more negative than those in at least one other recent state-sponsored survey.
But the stats are based on testing drivers not for active THC — which would at least imply impairment — but instead are testing for THC metabolites that don’t cause any impairment and can stay in the body for up to a month. In short: the test don’t show impairment, only that the person had used cannabis at some time in the last three to four weeks. But never mind the facts, Colorado cops want you to believe it’s a stoned bloodbath out there.

Miami-Dade Democrats’ New Chairman Wants Recreational Pot Legalized in Florida

By William Breathes on August 14, 2014 Legalize It, News

The Miami-Dade Democrats have a new chairman and on one hot-button issue, he’s got one of the strongest positions in the state: Sen. Dwight Bullard thinks marijuana should be legal not just for medical purposes but for recreational use.
“Marijuana, whether medical or recreational, could be another way of generating revenue in Florida,” Bullard tells our compadres at Riptide. “It has a potential for real positive economic impact with real small business growth.”

$24.7 Million in Recreational Pot, Edibles and Concentrates Sold in Colorado in June

By William Breathes on August 14, 2014 Legalize It, News, Say what?

What better way to celebrate the coming of summer in Colorado than with weed?
That seems to have been the case in Colorado this past June, when tourists and locals purchased more than $24.7 million in recreational marijuana, concentrates and pot-infused food.  
Recreational marijuana sales have been slowly climbing month to month in this state, according to recent figures released by the Colorado Department of Revenue; June saw the highest sales yet. Meanwhile, medical marijuana figures are starting to show a slow decline, though they still outpaced recreational marijuana sales by approximately 18 percent. In June, about $28.65 million worth of medical cannabis was sold. 

Marijuana Field Valued at $1.7 Million Found Outside of Houston

By William Breathes on August 14, 2014 News, Say what?

A 50-acre pot farm with nearly 3,450 plants and a street value of $1.75 million was raided by municipal, county and state authorities in Brenham, Texas Monday.
No suspects were located in the seizure, which is the sixth “marijuana growing operation shut down in Washington County since January 2013,” according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter. More over at the Houston Press.

Dallas Cowboy’s Orland Scandrick suspended for taking crappy ecstasy

By William Breathes on August 13, 2014 News, Stoned Sports

News reports this week indicate that one of the Cowboys’ few defensive bright spots from last season, cornerback Orlando Scandrick, has been suspended for the first four games of the 2014 regular season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance abuse policy. Scandrick has already lost his appeal in the matter, so it looks like the Cowboys will be stuck with whatever the mercurial Mo Claiborne can give the on the outside for the first quarter of the season.
The details of Scandrick’s indiscretion — if his agent and ESPN’s Ed Werder are to be believed — are pretty mundane. While on vacation in Mexico with an ex-girlfriend, Scandrick, or someone in his party, mixed a drug — reported by Werder to be MDMA — purchased from a street vendor into a cocktail he was drinking. More at the Dallas Observer.

Interview with anti-pot “Don’t be a Lab Rat” campaign ad director

By William Breathes on August 13, 2014 Follow that story, News, Say what?

Yesterday, we told you about a campaign to scare kids off of pot that uses a giant rat cage and the statement: “Don’t be a Lab Rat”. Never mind the fact that criminalizing cannabis and keeping it illegal will likely get those same kids put in a similar cage down at the county jail.
Mike Sukle, the advertising agency pro who worked with Colorado officials to develop a new anti-pot campaign, had a significant challenge on his hands. He wanted to warn teens away from marijuana use without engaging in the sort of hyperbole they’d likely reject. Hence, “Don’t Be a Lab Rat,” which presents controversial facts and then asks viewers the equivalent of “Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?”

Minnesota Health Department is asking cannabis growers to help shape new program

By William Breathes on August 13, 2014 Growing, News

Minnesota state officials don’t know squat about pot. But in time, they will.
The rules governing Minnesota’s medical cannabis program, which went out last week, are only a first draft based on conversations with other states and a review of relevant literature. They are an impressive one at that, but a best guess of what it takes to get off the ground in a crazy quick period of time.

Oklahoma medical marijuana petition gatherers running out of time

By William Breathes on August 13, 2014 Medical, News

Supporters of Oklahomans for Health say they are about 26,000 signatures away from hitting their goal to get a medical marijuana proposal on the November ballot.
But the going has been slow and time is running out.

Pot legalization has not increased highway fatalities, report reveals

By William Breathes on August 12, 2014 News

Crashes involving alleged stoned driving continue to get a great deal of attention following this year’s start of legal recreational marijuana sales. Note the story of Emily Strock, who reportedly admitted to consuming one bowl of pot and drinking one beer prior to a grisly Denver-area crash but has only been charged with driving under the influence of drugs. The accusation came down before blood test results were final.
But have legal pot sales led to more Colorado highway deaths thus far in 2014? One report says “no” — and that cheers a Colorado marijuana business representative. Denver Westword has more.

Florida anti-pot group implies all stoners are rapists that use pot food to drug victims

By William Breathes on August 12, 2014 Medical, News, Say what?

The Florida anti-medical marijuana group called “No on 2” has made a lot of noise about the supposed dangers of legalizing medical weed in Florida. Some of its claims include that weed leads to gay sex and AIDS, weed has more cancer-causing compounds than cigarettes, weed causes more accidents and ER visits, and weed dispensaries will be the new pill mills.
But the latest argument is a bizarre mix of ignorance and bewilderment, soaked in offense. It’s weird enough to be from the The Onion. No on 2’s latest claim: that Amendment 2 will lead to people being able to sell pot cookies, which would be the new date-rape drug. Setting aside the colossal obtuseness of the claim for a minute, it’s important to remember what is behind No on 2. Money. Big, big money.

Author William Breathes