Culture

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta reverses position on medical marijuana, supports cannabis as a therapeutic substance

By William Breathes on August 9, 2013 Culture, Medical, News, Say what?

Wikimedia commons/Dnd523.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Arguably the most well-known doctor in the United States this week has announced that he is now in favor of legalizing medical cannabis and that he was wrong to speak out against medical marijuana in the past.
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanja Gupta says that five years ago, the research he was seeing just wasn’t there to prove that cannabis was a beneficial substance in America. At the time, Gupta rallied against cannabis, even penning an article in 2009 titled “While I Would Vote No on Pot”. But he now says his position was flawed, and it was mostly at due to his own willful ignorance on the matter.

Attorney General Eric Holder says major changes to drug policy coming

By William Breathes on August 8, 2013 Culture, Legislation, News

Attorney General Eric Holder.

Attorney General Eric Holder yesterday told NPR that too many people are in jail for nonviolent drug crimes and that there is a great need for federal drug sentencing reform in the United States.
“The war on drugs is now 30, 40 years old,” Holder told NPR. “There have been a lot of unintended consequences. There’s been a decimation of certain communities, in particular communities of color.”

The decriminalization of marijuana (infographic)

By William Breathes on August 5, 2013 Culture, Say what?

We’re of the belief that the marijuana-ignorant just need the facts to help them understand this plant. Like the costs: nearly $7.7 billion in annual enforcement costs and $1 billion simply to prosecute all just for cannabis.
The folks over at Top-criminal-justice-schools.net put together this interesting infographic on cannabis decriminalization across the U.S. to help us keep it all together.

Border patrol finds ganja on pot smoker pop star Justin Bieber’s bus.

By William Breathes on July 30, 2013 Culture, Say what?

Wikimedia commons/Joe Bielawa.

“You, pass me that joint.”

When entering the United States at one of our many border locations, it is best to not draw attention to yourself if you are – by chance – bringing something less-than-legal back into the country with you. Not drawing attention to yourself is impossible, however, when you’re the world’s biggest teen boy pop sensation traveling in a million-dollar tour bus as Just Bieber found out Sunday.
While en-route from Canada back to the U.S. the bus was stopped by patrol agents at the U.S./Canadian border. The Biebs, however, wasn’t around to catch the charge – that went to his bus driver.

Pro-pot ad pulled from NASCAR event after complaints from anti-pot lobby

By William Breathes on July 29, 2013 Culture, Follow that story, News, Say what?

NASCAR fans were bombarded with hundreds of alcohol ads over the weekend without batting an eye, but apparently a single advertisement celebrating cannabis as a safer alternative was too much for people to handle and had to be pulled before too many people could see it.

Should marijuana bans for athletes be dropped?

By William Breathes on July 24, 2013 Culture, News

Denver Broncos all-pro linebacker Von Miller is appealing a four-game suspension, reportedly after testing positive for marijuana (and possibly Molly).
When it comes to pot use, however, a number of major sports organizations are amending their policies related to positive tests — and Marijuana Policy Project spokesman and Amendment 64 proponent Mason Tvert believes the NFL and other leagues would be well-advised to do the same. Denver Westword has the full story.

Stoner MacGyver marijuana product review: FindTheBest.com vaporizer finder

By William Breathes on July 19, 2013 Culture, Products, Stoner MacGyver

Stoner MacGyver.

Now and then, companies send us medical marijuana-related products ranging from vaporizers to board games to books. We’ll be showcasing them in our quasi-regular product review section, Stoner MacGyver.
The latest? This week, we’re helping you find the best vaporizer with FindTheBest.com.

Australian professor: legalize marijuana to curb binge drinking

By William Breathes on July 10, 2013 Culture, Global, News

Flickr.comtd>

An alcohol awareness poster in Sydney, Australia.

Legalizing marijuana can protect Australia’s youth from the dangers of binge drinking.
That’s the message from Robin Broom, director of the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Australia’s primary, government-funded alcohol research group.
Room, a professor at Melbourne University, tells the (Melbourne-Victoria) Herald-Sunthat Australia needs to be progressive with this issue and work towards a legalized and controlled market for cannabis. He says that it should be sold through state stores, not unlike how some U.S. states handle alcohol sales.

Box Corner: I love you Mary Jane

By William Breathes on June 28, 2013 Box Corner, Culture

Today is my 15th anniversary with Miss Mary Jane, a long and torrid love affair that will not end with a baby named “North”. I’ve tried a lot of other drugs (most of them, in fact), including trying to smoke the insides of a banana peel because The Anarchist Cookbook apparently wanted to ruin a day of my life. These, in no particular order, are the things I’ve learned about herb.

Three men sentenced to death by hanging for selling weed in Malaysia

By Jack Daniel on June 20, 2013 Culture, Global, News

Malaysia.

Deep in the conservative heartland of the upper Malaysian peninsula, the state of Kelantan was once known for its secluded location and coastal piracy, but today is known more for the strict Islamic order that has been put in place by the long standing hardline government. It is that draconian set of laws that has three friends facing death by hanging after being found guilty of selling weed in a hospital parking lot.
The isolated region has been ruled by the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) since 1990. With a Muslim population of over 95%, the PAS has managed to pass local laws in Kelantan that segregate supermarket lines, as well as public seating, by gender. They have restricted public performances by women if any men are present, and have placed outright bans on many traditional Malaysian forms of theater.

Browsing: Culture