William Breathes

Florida medical marijuana polling at 70 percent support, down from 88 percent in May

By William Breathes on June 11, 2014 Medical, News

A poll in May found 88 percent of Florida voters supported medical marijuana. A March poll showed support at 74 percent. One from November had support at 82 percent.
So a bipartisan poll released today showing that only 70 percent of Floridians plan to vote to legalize medical marijuana in the state is a bit surprising. It follows a poll released on Tuesday that showed support down to 66 percent. Then again it’s hard to get more than 50 percent of Floridians to agree on anything and the amendment on November’s ballot needs just 60 percent support to pass. Miami New Times has more details.

Colorado’s KC Stark on the MMJ Business Academy and the Silicon Valley of pot

By William Breathes on June 11, 2014 News

Denver is the Hollywood of cannabis, according to KC Stark. As for Colorado Springs, he sees it as Silicon Valley — which is why he decided it was the perfect place to serve as a base for his latest venture, MMJ Business Academy. The academy’s mission, Stark explains, is to break down and explain the new and complicated laws and licensing procedures for people looking to get into the pot industry.
“We saw the need for comprehensive understanding of that marijuana monopoly game. It’s three-dimensional; it moves and changes. It’s brutal,” Stark says.

California sheriff’s deputy allegedly hooked up killer inmate with sex, phones and weed

By William Breathes on June 11, 2014 News, Say what?

David Lloyd Cass.

There’s no dispute that vicious, Southern California killer Stephenson Choi Kim managed to enjoy his maximum security inmate status with sex dates, porn, marijuana, a vibrator, cigarettes, restaurant food, razor blades, tools and an AT&T cell phone (plus earpiece and charging cord) inside the Orange County Jail system.
But at a just-launched trial there’s a tense debate about whether Kim owes his perks to a corrupt jail deputy–David Lloyd Cass, or merely gross incompetence inside the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). OC Weekly has more.

Pennsylvania lawmakers close to medical marijuana vote?

By William Breathes on June 11, 2014 News

A medical marijuana proposal in Pennsylvania may make it to lawmakers by the start of summer, according to the head of the state Senate Law and Justice Committee.
Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, a Republican from Bucks County, says the committee will likely vote on a medical marijuana proposal before the Senate adjourns sometime later this month until early September.
The committee was in day two of hearings yesterday, marked by the appearance of federal medical marijuana patient Irvin Rosenfeld. Rosenfeld, tub of joints in hand, pleaded with the committee to do the right thing.

Kuwait man caught growing on retired major general/father’s roof, could face death penalty

By William Breathes on June 11, 2014 News, Say what?

When your father is a former Major General with the Kuwait army, you might think that growing a few dozen pot plants on your roof would go unnoticed.
You would be wrong, however. According to the Arab Times, a Kuwaiti man was arrested for marijuana cultivation after neighbors narc’d on the rooftop garden that had been fenced in with tall corrugated plastic sheeting.

Colorado attorney argues marijuana taxes are illegal

By William Breathes on June 11, 2014 News

Last year, attorney Rob Corry, who helped author Amendment 64, the 2012 law that legalized limited recreational marijuana sales, campaigned against cannabis taxation measures by, among other things, co-hosting rallies featuring free joints.
Corry’s efforts fell short at the ballot box, so now he’s trying his luck at the courthouse. In a complaint filed this week in Denver District Court, Corry and other plaintiffs argue that special pot taxes should be eliminated and all the money paid to date be refunded.

Mexico considering marijuana legalization?

By William Breathes on June 10, 2014 News

In a recent interview, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said he’s open to the possibility of legalizing marijuana in his country — a significant statement, given that he’s opposed such a move in the past.
An advocate for progressive marijuana policies in the U.S. believes the pot-legalization examples set by Colorado and Washington state are a big reason why Peña Nieto’s views appear to be changing. More over at the Denver Westword.

Need a job? Minnesota officials searching for medical pot chief

By William Breathes on June 10, 2014 Medical, News

Want to run Minnesota’s medical marijuana program? Sounds like it’d be an interesting gig, right? It also pays handsomely, with a salary in the range of $73,811 to $105,862. But before you start daydreaming about how many bags of Cheetos you could buy with that type of income, it should be noted that the job would be more about administration and analysis than cannabis, of course.
“This position will ensure proper direction and oversight is provided within a new division, the Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC), created within the Executive Office (EO) of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH),” the job post notes. “The Director of the OMC will create and oversee this new program and will report directly to the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives.”
Job responsibilities include strategic planning, budgeting, hiring, reviewing research and literature related to the field, and sampling the marijuana extracts to make sure they’re up to par. Okay, we’re just kidding about that last one. Check out more over at the Minneapolis City Pages.

Maine marijuana decriminalization supporters collecting signatures today

By William Breathes on June 10, 2014 News

If it isn’t going to be legalized, adults who choose to consume cannabis shouldn’t be treated like criminals. That idea is the basis for citywide ballot measures in Lewiston, South Portland and York that would decriminalize up to an ounce of herb as well as the use of ganja on private property.
Public use would remain illegal. So would selling it, growing it, distributing it, importing it and even smoking it in your rental unit if your lease forbids it.

New York medical marijuana bill dead for the session?

By William Breathes on June 10, 2014 Follow that story, Medical

New York state Senate Finance Committee chairman John DeFrancisco will not allow the state senate to vote on a medical marijuana proposal this session. Despite major support for the bill and a Governor who says he’s willing to sign it, DeFrancisco says he can’t let it move forward because of his concerns with the health effects of marijuana.
“The Savino bill will not come out of my committee, the Finance Committee,” DeFrancisco told Gannett News Albany Bureau yesterday. “You don’t have any kind of reasonable research on the effects. You have people coming in here every day trying to ban e-cigarettes and use of tobacco in other ways.”

Author William Breathes