William Breathes

Minnesota medical marijuana plan doesn’t allow for smoking of cannabis

By William Breathes on May 2, 2014 Medical, News

Yesterday, medical marijuana’s House supporters announced a big compromise they hope will be amenable to law enforcement and signed into law by pot unfriendly Gov. Mark Dayton.
The compromise, announced at a Capitol news conference by House Speaker Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis), Majority Leader Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul), and Rep. Carly Melin (D-Minneapolis), “would create a medical cannabis clinical trial, allowing limited participation by children who are suffering and adults with severe illnesses,” a House DFL news release says. The bill gets it’s first hearing today, and could potentially pass before the end of the session.

Colorado officials mulling marijuana edibles limits after two deaths questionably linked to cannabis consumption

By William Breathes on May 2, 2014 News, Say what?

Edibles at a Denver dispensary

The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division held a session on product potency yesterday at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, where a working group discussed how to make sure that marijuana edible serving sizes are safe for consumers. Much of the talk focused on packaging, and how to make it clear what the side effects of eating a certain milligram level of THC might be.

Florida governor says he will sign CBD bill with Senate approval

By William Breathes on May 2, 2014 News

Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he will give his approval to a House bill passed today that legalizes access to high-CBD cannabis for patients with severe seizure disorders as well as cancer and muscle spasms.
The bill will also allow up to five dispensary/grow operations to cultivate high-CBD for sale to patients who can eat it or vaporize it. Smoking marijuana would not be legal. The bill now has to be approved by the Senate by the end of today before the governor can sign it into law.

Colorado veteran Sean Azzariti heartbroken but hopeful after PTSD bill’s failure

By William Breathes on May 1, 2014 Medical, News, Say what?

Sean Azzariti. See more photos and a video below.

Earlier this week, an effort to add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of conditions legally treatable by medical marijuana in Colorado failed — a development Colorado cannabis advocate Brian Vicente described as “shameful.”
Veteran Sean Azzariti offered emotional testimony in favor of the bill and admits to being frustrated that the effort fell short again, just as it did in 2010 and 2012. But while he’s disappointed, he has new reasons for hope for a change in the future.

DEA chief says Colorado and Washington pot laws are encouraging trafficking

By William Breathes on May 1, 2014 News, Say what?

Michele Leonhart telling Congress that pot is as bad as heroin or meth in 2012.

DEA administrator Michele Leonhart has made it clear she doesn’t like marijuana. This is a person who sat with a straight face and told the U.S. Congress that she didn’t think meth or heroin was any worse than marijuana.
So it should come as no surprise that she (and her ilk at the DEA) would freak out over the fact that some people have chosen to break the law and travel out of Colorado with marijuana – like they’ve been doing since well before Amendment 64 passed, making the possession of up to an ounce legal in the state.

Louisiana state Senate nixes medical marijuana proposal

By William Breathes on May 1, 2014 Legislation, Medical, News

Though it was a slim one, medical marijuana actually had a chance in Louisiana this year. “Had”, of course, being the operative word here.
Yesterday a medical cannabis bill that arguably would have set up the most restrictive in the country was shot down by the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

Colorado considering limiting hash sales

By William Breathes on May 1, 2014 Legalize It, News, Say what?

707 Headband shatter oil.

Earlier this month, lawmakers in the Colorado House approved a bill that would limit the amount of hash and other cannabis concentrates that retail marijuana stores can sell to both in-state and out-of-state customers.
State representative Jonathan Singer sponsored the legislation — partially in response to the March death of a Wyoming college student that was questionably linked to marijuana consumption. But Singer says the measure has another goal: to prevent marijuana products leaving the state by making them harder to buy in large quantities.

Iowa lawmakers approve CBD-only bill in last-minute, early morning push

By William Breathes on May 1, 2014 Medical, News

Commons/CBurnett.

Update, 5/1/14: We love when we are wrong about things like this. The Iowa legislature officially passed their CBD-only bill this morning, with the bill clearing both the House and Senate by 4:30 a.m. today.
The bill, which would allow sick Iowans with a doctor’s reccomendation to purchase CBD oil out of state then bring it back to Iowa, passed the house with a 75-20 vote and was approved by the senate with a 38-8 vote. The bill now heads to Gov. Terry Branstad for his signature.

Hector Diaz to be charged for guns, dropping $500K in Colombian cash on Colorado pot biz

By William Breathes on April 30, 2014 News

Hector Diaz.

Last November, the DEA and Colorado law enforcement conducted marijuana raids at multiple cannabis businesses, including VIP Wellness.
This morning, Hector Diaz, a 49-year-old from Colombia, is due in court to be formally advised of the charges against him related to the sweep — including dropping more than $500,000 on the Colorado pot industry and weapons beefs he considers to be unconstitutional. VIP Wellness, which reopened briefly after the November raids, was re-raided this morning.

Florida judge reprimanded by state Supreme Court for speaking the truth about marijuana

By William Breathes on April 30, 2014 News, Say what?

In October 2012, the Judicial Qualifications Commission’s investigative panel filed formal charges against Palm Beach County Judge Barry M. Cohen for using his bench as, in their words, a “bully pulpit” and “a neutral and detached magistrate.”
The findings came after the outspoken judge made some comments about racial profiling and mandatory sentences.
Specifically, Cohen criticized the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office for the way it handles criminal cases. He also criticized the law making marijuana illegal and has been outspoken on the county’s police department’s alleged racial profiling and racial bias. Some would say Cohen is just speaking the truth (including us here at Toke of the Town). The panel, however, found it inappropriate behavior for a judge and recommended a reprimand by the Florida Supreme Court. On Tuesday morning, Cohen received that reprimand.

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