William Breathes

Denver on 4/20 weekend: 130 arrests or citations, 22 jailed

By William Breathes on April 21, 2014 News

Photo by Brandon Marshall

A photo from our 2014 People of the Cannabis Cup slide show.

Last week, Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson told us that officers would have a greater presence at the annual 4/20 event at Civic Center Park due both to the still-unsolved shooting that took place at last year’s rally and laws against public consumption of marijuana. However, he pledged that officers would act with “discretion” during enforcement actions.
How’d they do? Well, social media hasn’t exploded with anger at the cops despite what appears to be a larger number of arrests and citations than in recent years: 130 over the course of the weekend.

Five people you don’t want to smoke with on 4/20

By William Breathes on April 18, 2014 Culture

With 4/20 coming this weekend, chances are some of your friends are going to be all, “Woo hoo! 4/20, bro! Let’s smoke!”
And that’s fine, bro. But keep in mind that, while 4/20 is officially pot day, it doesn’t mean that it’s legal to smoke it for one day. As it stands, you can still get busted in Florida for pot on 4/20. Of course, 4/20 does open the door for discussion. And we don’t mean the kind of discussion about how we might all be living in a universe that is just a speck of dirt on some enormous being’s fingernail. More over at the Broward-Palm Beach New Times.

The ten best stoner metal bands ever

By William Breathes on April 18, 2014 Culture

Weedeater.

No other musical genre (aside from reggae) has a stronger connection to the cannabis lifestyle than heavy metal, hence the term ‘stoner metal.’ But of course, this term describes a subgenre that can encompass different types of metal music and mean different things to different folks; whether you’re into that slow burning, hazy sound or a faster heavier more intense variety, there are as many ‘ stoner’ metal bands as there are strains of marijuana.
Backbeat writer Alex Distefano compiled a list of metal artists are best heard in a more mellow state of mind; but be warned, while some of these bands might look stoned in appearance, they all possess similar sound waves and patterns that heavy are enough to shatter your glass bong. So burn a bowl of your best stash, and turn your speakers up loud this 4/20 weekend. Bongripper? Weedeater? Bongzilla? Cannabis Corpse? Do they even make the list? Check out his list of the Top 10 Stoner Metal Bands over at BackbeatBlog.com

California medical marijuana distributor sentenced to 22 years gets 8-year reduction

By William Breathes on April 18, 2014 Medical, News, Say what?

The ringleader of a huge, Southern California medical marijuana distribution network has won a whopping 94-month reduction in his punishment, according to federal court records reviewed by our friends at the OC Weekly.
In July 2013, U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna sentenced John Melvin Walker to a term of 262 months in prison, but this week amended the punishment to a term of 168 months for the conspiracy and efforts to evade federal tax obligations.

Colorado police chief fears second-hand high in scenario that has never happened

By William Breathes on April 18, 2014 News, Say what?

Pueblo, Police Chief Luis must have a lot of time on his hands. This week he publically announced his fears that if his officers ever have to respond to a pot club (they haven’t ever) that they may get a contact high.
“I am concerned that if there are some kind of disturbance inside one of those clubs and our officers get there, they will be entering a structure that will be nothing but laden with [marijuana]smoke,” Pueblo Police Chief Luis Velez told Denver’s KUSA. His biggest worry: that they’ll be too high to drive afterward. Seriously.

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Wisconsin Governor signs limited CBD bill into law

By William Breathes on April 18, 2014 Medical, News

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker gave final approval to a bill that legalizes cannabis-derived CBD oil for children and adults suffering from severe seizure disorders. Sort of.
Patients don’t actually get any access to the oil that many have found relief from using until doctors petition the feds for access. Read on for more.

Reefer Madness alive and well in Colorado as media, cops makes pot connections in recent deaths

By William Breathes on April 18, 2014 Opinion, Products

The story of Richard Kirk allegedly killing his wife after eating a pot cookie has spread like wildfire. But what news reports aren’t telling you (or are burying at the bottom of their stories) is that the guy was also potentially on prescription painkiller drugs. But apparently people will still believe that marijuana is somehow more dangerous than prescription painkillers.

Rhode Island legislature kills seven marijuana-related bills in committee

By William Breathes on April 18, 2014 Legalize It, News

Update 4/18/14: Sorry Rhode Island, no pot legalization – no matter how limited – for you this year. After meeting yesterday, the state House Judiciary Committee decided to table seven marijuana-related bills until next year.
Lawmakers were apparently not swayed by public testimony earlier this week in favor of legislation that would have legalized sales of up to an ounce of cannabis at a time to adults 21 and up as well as the personal cultivation of one plant at a time.

Denver cops pledge greater presence, “discretion” with smokers at annual 4/20 rally

By William Breathes on April 17, 2014 Culture, News

Denver police after last year’s shooting in Civic Center Park.

There’ll be a lot of pressure on Denver police officers working this weekend’s annual 4/20 event at Civic Center Park. Organizers have been asked to discourage public smoking even though lighting up at 4:20 p.m. on April 20 is arguably the gathering’s most sacred tradition — and security concerns are higher than ever given a still-unsolved shooting last year that resulted in one day’s worth of festivities being canceled.

Federal charges against ten more in Michigan caregiver case brings total to 37

By William Breathes on April 17, 2014 Medical, News

Federal officials have now brought charges against ten additional people in Michigan for allegedly using the state medical marijuana program as a front for illegal sales and cultivation, bringing the total number of people “busted” in the sting to 37.
According to the feds, the group called themselves the Medical Marijuana Team and was growing in multiple small towns in the western part of the state as caregivers for medical marijuana patients.

Author William Breathes