William Breathes

Congressman Jared Polis wants feds to open up marijuana research

By William Breathes on June 25, 2014 Medical, News

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colorado.

Congressman Jared Polis is among the majority of U.S. House representatives who voted in favor of defunding DEA raids on medical marijuana businesses in states where MMJ is legal. But even though that effort is currently stalled in the Senate, Polis is trying to push ahead on other cannabis-related fronts.
Case in point: Polis is among thirty Congressional signatories of a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell. The missive asks that Burwell take steps toward ending what Polis describes as the federal government’s “monopoly on marijuana research.”

Hawaii lawmakers considering marijuana dispensaries

By William Breathes on June 25, 2014 Medical, News

Though there are about 13,000 medical cannabis patients in Hawaii, there’s no place for anyone to legally purchase the plant. Currently, patients grow their own, though technically there is nowhere to legally purchase seed or even clones – state law doesn’t even address that.
To address that issue, the Hawaii House Health Committee is looking into the possibility of creating legal dispensaries.

CBS highlights growing number of vets using pot for PTSD

By William Breathes on June 25, 2014 Media, Medical, News

More than 20 percent of all vets coming home from the Middle East report at least some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. For some, it shows in depression and anxiety or an inability to function normally in day-to-day civilian life. For others, it’s more grave.
After two tours in Afghanistan, Matt Kahl says the only way out he saw after returning home was through suicide. He tried and failed, and likely would have tried again if it wasn’t for one thing: cannabis.

DEA requests feds review marijuana’s legal status

By William Breathes on June 25, 2014 Medical, News, Say what?

The Food and Drug Administration could change the federal controlled substance scheduling of marijuana, possibly opening up the plant for wider medical usage. Interestingly, the review was initiated by a Drug Enforcement Agency request, according to the Huffington Post, which broke the story.

Austin City Council considering resolution supporting medical marijuana

By William Breathes on June 25, 2014 Medical, News

Lone Star Mike/Creative Commons.

Though it wouldn’t change any laws if passed, Austin City Council will consider a resolution supporting medical marijuana in Texas this Thursday. The resolution would merely show that Austin City Council supports the idea of medical cannabis. Marijuana – medical or otherwise – remains illegal in Texas.

Denver DUI attorney advertises on rolling papers

By William Breathes on June 25, 2014 Products, Say what?

Lawyers have been known to use some pretty outlandish gimmicks to promote themselves. But one Denver DUI attorney is taking a route that has some people rolling up in laughter.
Or just rolling up.
Jay Tiftickjian of Tiftickjian Law Firm has been giving away packs of rolling papers featuring the phrase “Enjoy the trip, but don’t drive high” to smoke shops, dispensaries, record stores and anywhere else he thinks might take them. The packs also have his office’s contact information and tips on how to avoid a DUI under the cover.

Oregon pot legalization proposal pulled by backer Paul Stanford

By William Breathes on June 24, 2014 Legalize It, News

Oregon pro-pot activist Paul Stanford has announced he will not have enough signatures to get his legalization proposal on the November ballot.
Stanford made the announcement last week on his Cannabis Common Sense internet show, saying it would be impossible to collect the needed signatures by the July 3 deadline and blamed much of it on the popularity of another legalizaiton measure from New Approach which has received widespread funding support.

Washington recreational pot shops to open in July, will there be supply?

By William Breathes on June 24, 2014 Legalize It, News

According to Washington state officials, the first recreational marijuana dispensary licenses will be issued July 7.
But could high prices, low supply and a better value in the medical and black markets keep sales down? Some dispensary owners think so.

The pros and cons of crowd-funding pot smartphone apps

By William Breathes on June 24, 2014 Culture, Products

Crowd funding sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo have revolutionized the way new businesses start up.
But are they ready to help combine marijuana and mobile technology? The folks behind AbacaRX and Dispensed2U hope so.

Feds seize six properties, $700,000 in most recent Texas synthetic weed bust

By William Breathes on June 24, 2014 News

Our partners at the Dallas Observer discuss how popular synthetic weed used to be in Abilene, Texas:
For a thankfully brief period in the mid-aughts, I lived in Abilene. Having experienced it in all of its splendor, I can say without hesitation that it is one of the most boring places on Earth. If you can avoid it, don’t go there, ever, for any reason.
If you do have to spend some time there, you should know that, according to a forfeiture complaint filed in federal court Friday, one of the substances that you might have sought out to alleviate your inevitable ennui might be in short supply.

Author William Breathes