A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released this week says there is a link between smoking synthetic cannabis (Spice, K2) and acute kidney injury and even kidney failure. But as for how much of a link there is, scientists aren’t exactly sure.
| Addy, one of the participants in the study. |
CNN compiled a report on stoned driving this week focusing Washington state’s passage of Initiative 502 that set the THC blood limit for a driver at five nanograms per milliliter of blood.
While the report no doubt scared a few people into thinking high drivers are a menace, it also shows that impairment doesn’t necessarily happen at five nanograms and that stoned drivers may be safer than people think.
| A High Times Cannabis Cup trophy. |
Update (1:30 p.m. Feb. 15): According to the Medical Cannabis Cup website, the event is still happening and has been moved about an hour East to San Bernardino, California at the National Orange Show Event Center, 689 South E St. Tickets are still on sale at the event website.
| tokeofthetown.com |
Congrats New York City, your mayor finally listened to something you had to say. Starting next month, having a bag of weed out in public won’t necessarily mean jail time like it does currently. As long as you have an ID on you and no warrants, the boy (or girl) in blue will be letting you go.
Dr. Dennis Clark is a 40-year physician in private practice and longtime resident of Long Beach, CA but on April 12, 2012, he got no respect from OCSD. Deputy Michael Thalken and five other deputies raided Clark’s home and allegedly told him to “shut up and sit down” when he asked to see if his name was on the warrant. During a two-hour search, the officers confiscated the doctor’s laptop containing patient information, copies of his tax returns and his 2011 Hyundai Sonata, and they questioned him about his views on medical marijuana.
Last November, Clark sued OCSD and Thalken at the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse, claiming that the deputies violated his constitutional rights. According to Clark, deputies obtained the search warrant by tricking Superior Court Judge Andre Manssourian, a former prosecutor, into granting the raid. It’s true that Thalken failed to tell Manssourian the home belonged to a licensed physician or that there was no evidence the doctor violated any state law. OC Weekly has the full story.
| tokeofthetown.com |
Last October, Aldwin Rendardo Gooden stepped off a flight from Kingston, Jamaica in Gatwick Airport in the UK where he lives and was immediately detained for the two boxes containing about 44 pounds of marijuana he was packing in his luggage. Sadly, that’s not all that uncommon around the world (even I’ve been stopped coming back for Jamaica for simply smelling like ganja).
A federal grand jury in Michigan has charged an Orange County man tied to Huntington Beach, CA with money laundering and trying to illegally sell more than 100 kilograms of high-quality marijuana.
According to U.S. Department of Justice records obtained by OC Weekly, Kenneth Hien Vu (a.k.a. Kenny Nguyen) is a leader of “a nationwide marijuana-trafficking and money-laundering enterprise.” OC Weekly has the full story.
| biglotterywinners.com |
| Bob Erb. |
A Canadian marijuana activist and winner of a $25 million national lottery last November is putting his money where his mouth is.
The Province reported last week that Bob Erb, 60, has vowed to meet any donations to Sensible British Columbia campaign for marijuana decriminalization and legalization. Erb has already donated $120,000, and says he’ll donate up to $500,000 more to match donations.
Last year, the city of Anaheim brought in the Drug Enforcement Agency to help enforce a ban on medical-marijuana dispensaries that has been in effect since 2007. The DEA decided to go after assets, including a $1.5M building where $37 of pot was sold. Talk about a favorable return. OC Weekly has the story.