News

Cannabis decriminalization efforts underway worldwide

By Jack Daniel on October 15, 2013 Global, News

As we reported here last week, lawmakers in the Caribbean nation of Jamaica, citing progressive new pot laws in states like Colorado and Washington here in the U.S., will begin to move forward with talks regarding the decriminalization of marijuana on the irie isle.
The potentially good news out of Jamaica came hot on the heels of an announcement out of Switzerland, where as of October 1st, adults over the age of 18 who have been accused of small-scale possession will face a misdemeanor and a fine of 110 Swiss Francs – or about $100 U.S. – rather than the standard court appearance and possible ding on their criminal record.

California marijuana legalization/regulation proposal filed for Nov. 2014 ballot

By William Breathes on October 15, 2013 Legalize It, News

Shortly after 4:20 p.m.–when else would it be, haha–last Friday, Oct. 11, California’s first open-sourced ballot initiative (read it here: MCLR.pdf) officially filed its paperwork for the November 2014 electoral ballot. In other words, despite the lack of leadership by state lawmakers, we’re officially one step closer to California’s era of legalized recreational marijuana.
OC Weekly has the full story.

L.A. targets 38 dispensaries for shut-downs thanks to voter-approved bans

By William Breathes on October 14, 2013 Medical, News

City Hall is starting to make its move against the majority of marijuana dispensaries in town that were made illegal when voters passed Measure D, a May ballot initiative that only allows 135 or fewer older pot shops in L.A. to survive.
Some counts put the number of cannabis retailers in Los Angeles at more than 1,000, though the City Attorney’s office says it’s more like 800. For now, the office said today that 38 locations are being prosecuted. LA Weekly has the full story.

Florida attorney donates $250,000 to 2014 medical marijuana legalization in Sunshine State

By William Breathes on October 14, 2013 Legislation, Medical, News

John Morgan.

Orlando attorney John Morgan has become the face of a growing grassroots medical marijuana ballot initiative campaign in Florida.
Morgan, who has recently taken to radio airwaves to get his message across, has also put his money where his mouth is by donating more than a quarter-million dollars to the People United for Medical Marijuana campaign.

Prescription drugs and alcohol top drugged driving accident survey, marijuana comes in last

By William Breathes on October 14, 2013 News

Driving impaired isn’t cool, regardless of what substance you’re on. But a Columbia University study of alcohol and drugs in fatal crashes shows that marijuana impairment is among the least common factors, while alcohol and prescription drugs remain the highest.
According to the, 31.9 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes come up positive on drug screens. Add alcohol to the mix, and you become 23 times more likely to get in an accident than someone who is just solely drinking.

Denver considering $999 fine/year in jail for smoking legal cannabis in your backyard

By William Breathes on October 14, 2013 News, Say what?

Mile High City, Colo.

Denver City Council today will be considering a measure that would it a fine of up to $999 and a year in jail for public consumption of marijuana as well as consuming marijuana on your private property if your neighbors happen to smell it and complain. Seriously. For more, check out Denver Westword‘s local coverage.

Westword has also put together a list of five things in Denver that smell worse than cannabis smoke (not that cannabis smoke smells bad to us at all).

Justin Trudeau, Canadian Liberal Party leader, blasts Canada’s new medical marijuana laws (VIDEO)

By William Breathes on October 11, 2013 Global, Medical, News

Justin Trudeau.

The leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, Member of Parliament Justin Trudeau has been honest about his cannabis use in the past few months.
But now he’s drawing attention to the medical cannabis use of thousands of Canadians that is being threatened by law changes that prohibit home cultivation and force patients to purchase from state-regulated outlets. Trudeau has said the changes stem from the current prime minister’s “nanny state” approach to marijuana.

Mass. marijuana dispensary owners miffed as cities pass dispensary moratoriums

By William Breathes on October 11, 2013 Legislation, Medical, News

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Thursday heard an earful from some wicked-pissed prospective dispensary owners who say that they can’t find a place to do business in the medical marijuana-legal state.
More than 400 people packed the boardroom of a Holiday Inn in Somerville, Mass. yesterday for the first and only public hearing regarding state licensing.

New York police testing e-cigarettes for cannabis

By William Breathes on October 11, 2013 News, Say what?

Cloud vape pen.

Pen-vapes. Man, we all thought we were pretty stealth at first with them. Taking puffs at baseball games, in restaurants, in airports, on trains, planes and buses. But guess what? It’s no secret that that us ganja tokers figured out how to put cannabis in e-cigarettes anymore. The cat is out of the bag (of sticky-icky).
Case and point: cops in Nassau, New York are testing e-cigarettes for pot when they find one of the devices on suspected drug criminals.

America’s first hemp harvest in 50 years complete

By William Breathes on October 11, 2013 News

Last week, we told you about the beginning of America’s first hemp harvest in more than fifty years, which started in late September in southeastern Colorado. This past weekend, that harvest continued with 45 volunteers from six different states, who converged on grower Ryan Loflin’s 55-acre hemp plot to finish hand-harvesting his historic plants.
“We had a great group of people,” Loflin says.
Now, he’ll begin the hard work of separating the different parts of the plant and processing them. Denver Westword’s Melanie Asmar has the full story.

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