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Bath Salts = Bad Idea [Infographic]

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 7, 2012 News, Products

Those of us who have been through a few media cycles of hysteria over the “latest drug menace” are always skeptical when the mainstream whips itself up into a fine frenzy over the newest chemical bug-a-boo threatening the citizenry.

But even a stuck clock is right twice a day, and it appears that there’s some substance behind the negative publicity surrounding “bath salts,” which in no small part due to sensationalist press coverage, have become the latest quasi-legal drug craze to sweep the nation.

Although bath salts are sold through a loophole as a harmless substance used for relaxation, people are ingesting them seeking euphoria. In addition to experiencing altered moods, some bath salts users are having psychotic episodes marked with agitation, hallucinations and violent behavior.

Medical Marijuana Headed For New Hampshire Governor’s Desk

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

ReLegalize Indiana

Two New Hampshire senators added their support to SB 409 on Wednesday, as the New state Senate voted 13-9 to approve a final draft of the bill. The same final draft was approved by the House in a voice vote Wednesday morning. Now that the House and Senate have passed identical language for SB 409, the bill will be presented to Gov. John Lynch, who has threatened a veto.

Senate President Peter Bragdon (R-Milford) and Sen. Fenton Groen (R-Rochester) joined the majority in support after having previously voted in opposition. A co-sponsor of the bill, Sen. John Gallus (R-Berlin) was not present for today’s vote.

Marijuana Dispensaries Not Linked To Crime: New Study

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2012 Dispensaries, News

THC Finder

Medical marijuana dispensaries are not linked to neighborhood crime, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The University of California at Los Angeles study, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, found that neighborhoods with medicinal cannabis dispensaries in Sacramento were no more likely to have crime than other neighborhoods, reports Jason Koebler at U.S. News.

According to the study’s authors, their new research may debunk a 2009 report from the California Police Chiefs Association that claimed marijuana dispensaries “have been tied to organized criminal gangs, foster large [marijuana growth]operations, and are often multi-million-dollar profit centers.”

Pro-Legalization Cops Seek Assistant Media Relations Director

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2012 News

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

LEAP Is Hiring

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is seeking a talented and motivated individual to work in its media relations department on a part-time basis. LEAP is a nonprofit organization representing police officers, judges, prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals who want to legalize and regulate marijuana and other drugs after witnessing the failure of the “War On Drugs” up close.

The assistant media relations director will report to and work alongside LEAP’s full-time media relations director in efforts to inject the voices of pro-legalization law enforcers into high-profile news coverage of the rapidly advancing public debate about failed drug policies.

Specifically, duties will include but are not limited to:

• Writing op-eds and letters-to-the-editor.

• Drafting, editing and distributing press releases.

• Making follow-up pitch calls to reporters and producers.

Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana: New Poll

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 6, 2012 Culture, Legislation, News

uri.edu

Two-thirds of adults in the United States believe the “War On Drugs” has been a failure, and a majority continue to call for the legalization of marijuana in the country, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,017 American adults, 68 per cent of respondents believe that America has a serious drug abuse problem and it affects the whole country.

One-in-five Americans (20 percent) think the country’s drug abuse problem is confined to specific areas and people, and five per cent say America does not have a serious drug abuse problem.

Pot Decrim Seen As Unlikely In DC; Region’s Toughest Penalties

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 5, 2012 Legislation, News

A Brookland Girl

D.C. Councilman Claims Federal Prosecutor Won’t Let Them Decriminalize

D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Tuesday said District officials should focus on implementing the new medical marijuana program, but should also “keep open their options” when dealing with recreational users. But at least one member of the D.C. Council claims that a federal prosecutor won’t let the council decriminalize cannabis.

Currently, D.C. has the toughest marijuana penalties in the region, reports Tim Craig of The Washington Post.

First-time offenders possessing any amount of cannabis can get up to six months behind bars and a $1,000 fine. In next door Virginia, first time offenders caught with up to a half ounce of pot top out at just a month in jail and a $500 fine.

Rhode Island General Assembly Votes to Decriminalize Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 5, 2012 Legislation, News

Reason

Bills Would Replace Criminal Penalties for Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana with a Fine

The Rhode Island House and Senate on Tuesday voted in favor of twin bills that would reduce the penalty for possession of marijuana to a $150 civil fine for most offenses.

H 7092 and its companion bill, S 2253, would make possession of up to an ounce of marijuana a civil infraction — similar in seriousness to a parking ticket — and would remove the criminal penalties that currently exist.

Marijuana possession is now punishable in Rhode Island by up to a $500 fine and up to a year in jail.

These bills received overwhelming support in both chambers, passing with a vote of 50 to 24 in the House and 28 to 6 in the Senate.

Cannabis Industry Group Sponsoring Medical Marijuana Business Conference

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 5, 2012 Dispensaries, News, Products

NCIA

More Than 200 of America’s Cannabis Entrepreneurs Expected to Attend

The National Cannabis Industry Association announced Tuesday that the organization will be the Premier Sponsor of the National Marijuana Business Conference to be held at the Sherman Street Event Center in Denver on November 8 and 9, 2012.

More than 200 medical marijuana dispensary operators, infused product manufacturers, and related entrepreneurs are expected to attend the conference produced by MMJ Business Daily, an online news service for medical cannabis professionals.

NCIA Executive Director Aaron Smith and Director of Public Affairs Steve Fox will both be on hand at the conference to provide analysis of how November election results will affect the medical marijuana industry moving forward both nationally and on a state-by-state basis.

Coalition Pressures New York Leaders To End Marijuana Arrests

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 5, 2012 Legislation, News

Drug Policy Alliance

An online advocacy campaign features powerful video testimonials from people who have been illegally searched and falsely charged for marijuana possession in New York City

Major Online Advocacy Campaign Features Powerful Video Testimonials; Hundreds Traveling to Albany to Pressure State Leaders

Drive to Pass Bipartisan Legislation Comes on Heels of Cuomo, Bloomberg and Kelly Announcing Support for Closing Major Loophole in State’s Marijuana Decriminalization Law

On the heels of the announcement by New York Governor Cuomo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly of their support for ending the practice of arresting individuals for possessing small amounts of marijuana in public view, a major coalition of local and national organizations is launching a massive effort in the final weeks of the legislative session to win reform.

Medical Marijuana Supporters To Converge On D.C. July 4

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 4, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Medical marijuana patients and supporters will converge on Wednesday, July 4, in the nation’s capitol for the Rally to Reschedule Marijuana as Medicine and 43rd Annual Smoke-In. Oddly, given the fact that the event continues to be labeled a “Smoke-In” after four decades, attendees are being asked not to smoke cannabis.

The event will begin at noon across from the White House at Lafayette Park (located at 16th Street and H Street). Scheduled to appear are medical marijuana pioneer Dennis Peron, Richard Eastman, Kim Quiggle, John Pylka, Miguel Lopez, Julia (curator of petermcwilliams.org) and Wayward Bill at a rally to educate elected officials and voters, march and demonstrate for First Amendment rights, and the right to choose marijuana as medicine.

Demonstrators will tell President Obama, “Keep your promise,” asking him to end the federal raids against state-legalized medical marijuana dispensaries.

The U.S. Marijuana Party, chaired by Wayward Bill, will be holding it’s first annual political convention at the Smoke-In.

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