William Breathes

Chris Christie tells Coloradans he still thinks Colorado is hell on earth for legalizing marijuana

By William Breathes on July 24, 2014 News, Say what?

Greg Skidmore.

Chris Christie.

Back in April, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ripped the quality of life in Colorado due to marijuana legalization — a statement that prompted Governor John Hickenlooper’s office to come up with a list of eight ways Colorado is way, way, way better than New Jersey.
Yesterday, Christie was in Colorado to stump for Bob Beauprez, Hick’s gubernatorial opponent, in the sort of visit calculated to raise his profile as a potential 2016 Republican presidential nominee. And when he was asked if he regretted ripping the state, his answer was a typically blustery and unequivocal “no.”
Read more over at the Denver Westword.

Explosion leads to fire, then to marijuana in downtown Los Angeles

By William Breathes on July 24, 2014 News

Not actual explosion (duh).

Sounds of an explosion at an old downtown warehouse prompted calls to the Los Angeles Fire Department last night. And when firefighters arrived they found flames raging on the third floor of the structure, said LAFD spokesman Erik Scott told us. But the real find came during the firefight when first responders, he said, discovered a “marijuana growing operation” at the location.
It all started about 8:17 p.m. in a 6-story building at 421 E. Sixth St., according to an LAFD statement. The blaze required the efforts of 100 firefighters, but they had it finished in 14 minutes, the department states.
More over at the LA Weekly.

Colorado edibles co-owner speaks out about recalled pot brownie mix

By William Breathes on July 24, 2014 Follow that story, News

Last week we told you about At Home Baked, a Colorado marijuana edibles company, being forced to recall their product because health inspectors had an issue with their extraction process. Namely: the old washing machine they were using to make large batches of icewater hash. Now co-owner A.J. “Hashman” Ashkar, says he isn’t sure why he’s been singled out and that he was operating a clean, safe environment. Further, he says that Public Health Inspections had no prevue over his operations – that job is up to the state Marijuana Enforcement Division. And finally, he says he isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary – everyone uses repurposed washing machines in the industry.
“We don’t see the appropriate connection between the concentrate we’re making and food,” Ashkar says. “We kept the washing machine in a separate room from the kitchen.”

Welfare cards being used at Colorado pot shop ATMs?

By William Breathes on July 24, 2014 News, Say what?

According to data compiled by the National Review, welfare recipients have used electronic benefit (EBT) cards to withdraw cash at dispensaries at least 259 times since the sale of limited amounts of cannabis to adults 21 and up began in Colorado on January 1.
In total, more than $23,600 of money meant to go toward food and housing from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program was withdrawn, according to the conservative publication. And while there’s no way to prove the money was spent in dispensaries, that doesn’t matter to the lawmakers who immediately demanded something be done.

Maureen Dowd’s bad edibles experience helps inspire Colorado pot food education campaign

By William Breathes on July 23, 2014 News

North Shore cookies from Colorado.

Last month, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd shared a bad experience with a marijuana edible during a visit to Colorado, joking (maybe) that such items be stamped with a “stoned skull and bones.”
The Dowd piece, coupled with other negative news stories linked to edibles use, is among the inspiration for First Time 5, an edibles-education campaign being launched at an event tomorrow. Steve Fox, executive director of the Council for Responsible Cannabis Regulation, offers the Denver Westword a preview.

American Cannabis Company is counseling potential Minnesota pot producers

By William Breathes on July 23, 2014 Medical

They won’t say who, but the American Cannabis Company is counseling a group of “Minnesota-based entrepreneurs” who want to become manufacturers of the new state-sanctioned medicine.
ACC got off the ground last year in Colorado, working with local applicants, but has since expanded to include clients across the U.S. and as far as the eastern seaboard of Canada. Trent Woloveck, the company COO, says his team will be tasked with meeting Minnesota regulatory standards while “bringing what our best practices are from these more mature markets.”
Read more about ACC’s vague announcement over at the Minneapolis City Pages.

Arizona surpasses 50,000 medical marijuana patients

By William Breathes on July 23, 2014 News

New statistics by the Arizona Department of Health Services show that Arizona now has more than 50,000 qualifying, adult patients.
As of June 30, the state had 52,638 “active cardholders,” which is a 9.1 percent increase from the last official number published by the agency on March 28 of 48,231 patients. The recently released quarterly report also shows 93 minor patients and another 94 minors being treated by caregivers, which is a 34 percent increase over those same categories in the March 28 report. That increase could be due to a judge’s ruling in late March that allows the use of concentrated marijuana, which can be used in pills or food items for youngsters with epilepsy or other serious ailments.
More over at the Phoenix New Times.

Snoop Dogg says he smoked weed at the White House

By William Breathes on July 23, 2014 Culture, Say what?

LA Weekly.

Snoop Dogg makes no apologies for when and where he smokes weed. Case and point? His latest claim that he lit up a blunt while taking a deuce in the White House bathroom.
On his Double-G News Network YouTube show this week, Snoop sat down with comedian Jimmy Kimmel who the Doggfather about wildest place he’s ever toked.

Iowa cancer patient recently convicted for growing herb takes vacation in pot-friendly Oregon

By William Breathes on July 23, 2014 CBD, Medical, News

Benton Mackenzie in court.

Benton Mackenzie doesn’t have much time left. The angiosarcoma eating away at his blood vessels and leaving fist-sized tumors on his skin is in the final stages. He’s in pain. It’s why he chose to grow cannabis at his parent’s Iowa home where he lives with his wife. It was worth the risk, a risk that ultimately led to his conviction for cannabis cultivation earlier this month along with his wife.
Without much strength or time left, though, Mackenzie wants to be comfortable. So he’s travelled from Iowa to Oregon where he can legally purchase cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation. It’s likely a last trip for Mackenzie, his wife and their son. And one he is already enjoying.

Oregon legalization measure to be on November ballot

By William Breathes on July 23, 2014 Legalize It, News

The beaver thinks you should legalize pot.

Should the possession, cultivation and sales of limited amounts of marijuana be legal in Oregon?
We say yes, of course, but that decision will ultimately be up to Oregon voters this November as a legalization ballot measure has officially qualified for the ballot. Read more below.

Author William Breathes