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Puerto Rico marijuana decriminalization bill shelved until next year

By William Breathes on November 18, 2013 Follow that story, Global, News

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A proposal for marijuana decriminalization of up to 14 grams of cannabis in Puerto Rico lost any chance of moving forward in 2013 after the lower house adjourned for the session.
While certainly a setback, the bill’s sponsor Senator Miguel Periera says he will reintroduce the legislation next year.The bill, which would have also lowered the penalties for possession of between 14 grams and an ounce to a fine of up to $500 and a maximum of six months in jail, heads to a yet-to-be-determined legislative committee in January.

Former NFL WR Sam Hurd sentenced to 15 years in prison for talking like a coke dealer

By William Breathes on November 14, 2013 Follow that story, News, Stoned Sports

Wikimedia commons/Robert W. Gordon.

Former NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in federal prison, accused by the feds of being the kingpin behind a start up cocaine smuggling operation. The sentence is much lower than most expected.
Federal sentencing guidelines stipulated somewhere between 27 and 34 years. But U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis says Hurd was charged more with talking about being a cocaine dealer than ever actually being one.

Big money behind Michigan bill to sell marijuana through pharmacies

By William Breathes on November 13, 2013 Follow that story, Medical, News

Michigan state capitol.

As we told you earlier this month, a number of Republican Michigan state lawmakers have begun drumming up support for a bill that would allow medical marijuana to be sold through licensed pharmacies. All of that is dependent on the long shot that feds would reschedule cannabis. We called the bill a “load of crap” since it would force patients to give up their right to cultivate cannabis at home and said the whole thing reeks of big, corporate lobbying from pharmaceutical companies wanting to cash in on cannabis in a state that recently banned dispensaries.

Colorado passes 25 percent statewide recreational marijuana tax

By William Breathes on November 6, 2013 Follow that story, Legalize It

Votes are still being counted, but the suspense when it comes to the two biggest measures on ballots statewide is over — if there was ever any at all. The Denver Post has made the call on Proposition AA, the marijuana tax measure, and Amendment 66, an education proposal, with the former winning handily (the count is 64.6 percent yeah to 35.3 percent nay with 55 percent of the vote counted at this writing) and the latter getting crushed (66.1 percent “no” to 33.8 percent “yes,” also with 55 percent reporting). Denver Westword has the full story.

Colorado could have more than 100 recreational marijuana stores by 2014

By William Breathes on November 5, 2013 Follow that story, Legalize It, News

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Denver, Colorado.

Come January 1, there could be as many as 100 recreational marijuana shops open to consumers.
According to statistics released by the state Marijuana Enforcement Division, 136 current medical marijuana dispensaries have applied to switch over to recreational cannabis stores. The division also saw 28 applications from edibles makers and 174 applications for independent grow operations. All of the October applications are expected to be finished by the MED before the New Year.

Inside the International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Denver, part two

By William Breathes on November 1, 2013 Follow that story, Global, Legalize It

Photos and more below.

Editor’s note: This is part two of correspondent Shannon Brandt’s reports about the International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Denver last week. To read part one, click here.
A logo is often regarded as a condensed, compressed, symbolic summoning-up of everything that a big entity means to represent in everyday life. In most cases, the logo can even be seen as the most visible sign of the collective intelligence seething and rattling away behind it. Denver Westword has the full coverage.

Denver lawmakers rewrite marijuana smell ordinance, allow for backyard toking

By William Breathes on October 31, 2013 Follow that story, Legalize It, Say what?

A proposal that would have outlawed Denver residents from smoking cannabis in their own backyards has been snubbed out.
According to a draft of the newly-rewritten proposal, cannabis consumption in your home would remain legal. That includes your backyard. The new proposal also scales back proposed punishments for public consumption from $999 or a year in jail to a $100 fine or 24 hours of community service. The new language still makes it illegal to openly display or distribute cannabis in public.

Florida Supreme Court sets dates for medical marijuana petition showdown

By William Breathes on October 30, 2013 Follow that story, Medical, News

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The Florida Supreme Court will decide whether a medical marijuana citizen initiative can move forward starting December 5.
As we told you earlier this week, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has raised some rather serious objections to the People United for Medical Marijuana initiative that would put the medical cannabis issue to voters in November 2014. So far, supporters have collected more than 100,000 signatures out of the 683,149 needed by Feb. 2014.

Florida synthetic “Mr. Nice Guy” Defendants Get Reduced Prison Sentences

By William Breathes on October 29, 2013 Follow that story, News

Dylan Harrison and John Shealey, the head honchos behind Mr. Nice Guy, one of the largest synthetic-smokable operations, received reduced prison sentences on Wednesday.Both men were facing serious time after being charged for unlawful distribution of controlled substance analogs. Broward-Palm Beach New Times has the full story.

Florida Attorney General challenges citizen-driven medical marijuana initiative

By William Breathes on October 25, 2013 Follow that story, News

TokeoftheTown.com

Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi is challenging a proposed medical marijuana ballot initiative in her state’s Supreme Court, arguing the measure would leave the qualifications for medical cannabis patients too broad and would create a free-for-all tantamount to outright legalization. Besides, she says, medical marijuana is federally illegal.
Basically, she’s using the exact same tired arguments that politicians have been using for years even though nearly half of the states in this country have medical marijuana laws and the federal government has (for the most part) allowed them to all continue without interference.

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