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‘Synthetic Marijuana’ Returns In Slightly Different, Legal Form

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 27, 2011 News, Products

Such a tasteful logo, too.

You may have heard a few months ago that the Drug Enforcement Administration had banned “synthetic marijuana” (actually not much like marijuana, and quite a bit more dangerous) on the federal level — but that didn’t settle the issue once and for all. The stuff’s back again, in a slightly different form. Developers have changed the chemical just enough so that the form made illegal by the DEA is no longer present, thereby allowing it to be sold.

One of the most popular brands of the synthetic marijuana — sold as incense to get around rules applying to substances for human consumption — is called Barely Legal, reports Jerome Burdi at the Orlando Sun-Sentinel.

Barely Legal is part of the comeback of artificial cannabis substitutes specifically designed, first, to get around the ban on marijuana, and now, to get around the ban on the original form of synthetic marijuana, which contained the chemical JWH-018. This is done by tweaking a couple of molecules just enough so that it’s no longer “illegal.”

Goodman Runs For Congress On Cannabis Legalization Platform

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: KOMO News

Congressional candidate Roger Goodman, left, advocates the legalization of marijuana and protecting the planet.

What if we could elect a real, live drug policy reformer to Congress? A candidate who has that background — and unabashedly advocates the legalization of cannabis nationwide — is running for the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington state, and he has an excellent chance to win.

Washington state Rep. Roger Goodman had in February initially announced he would run in the 8th District against Rep. Dave Reichert, a right-wing Republican, but now that Rep. Jay Inslee is vacating his seat in the House to run for Governor, Goodman will be running for that open seat in the reliably liberal 1st District where he lives, the candidate told Toke of the Town in an exclusive interview Friday afternoon.

“My number one priority is planetary health,” Goodman told me. “We need to pay attention to that, and we need to foster justice in our society.

“Cannabis policy reform is actually a part of both of those major issues, and my training as a lawyer, an environmentalist, a former Congressional chief of staff, a state agency director, and now as a legislator and reformer for years, qualifies me not just on cannabis reform but on qualify of life issues and on true progressive leadership,” he said.

Bolivia Set To Withdraw From U.N. Treaty Banning Drugs

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Global, News

Photo: Shroomery

Defiant Bolivian President Evo Morales — himself a former coca grower — holds up a coca leaf. Due to the United Nations’ banning of the ancient practice of chewing coca leaves, Bolivia is moving toward withdrawing from the U.N. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

The South American nation of Bolivia is set to withdraw from the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, adopted in 1961 to outlaw “illicit substances” across the planet. It plans the move in protest of the U.N.’s classification of coca leaves as an illegal drug.

President Evo Morales — who, not coincidentally, is also leader of one of the country’s biggest coca producers’ unions — has asked the Bolivian Congress to pass a law that would take the nation out of the Single Convention, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Morales, an Aymara Indian who came to power as the leader of coca growers in the Chapare region, has moved away from the forced eradication of coca plantations while at the same time stepping up efforts against cocaine traffickers, with record seizures.

Cretin Congressman From TX Holds Up Marijuana Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: America’s Voice

Take a gander at this Howdy Doody-looking asswig (Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas). It only takes one moron to hold up the progress of an entire nation of 300 million people, when it comes to ending marijuana prohibition. (If this clown truly represents the 21st District of Texas, I feel sorry for y’all.)

What’s that? You’re excited about the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, are you? You’re invigorated by the idea of saving millions of taxpayer dollars, and finally putting law enforcement priorities where they belong?

Maybe you’re pumped about the possibility the these United States could finally end the 74-year-old nightmare of cannabis prohibition, and stop putting people in cages for growing and using a demonstrably harmless plant?

Well, simmer down, weed lover. It seems that the opinion of one good-old-boy Congressman from Texas outweighs yours.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), also known for his anti-immigrant policies, has said his House Judiciary panel will not consider the Barney Frank/Ron Paul bill. Period.

Scientists Want To Dig Up Shakespeare To See If He Smoked Pot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 24, 2011 Culture, Global, News

Graphic: Wikipedia/Steve Elliott; Idea: Peaceful Soul

Shakespeare: “Why write I still all one, ever the same, And keep invention in a noted weed?” (Damn long-haired hippies.)

Doobie, or not doobie? That is the question. A team of paleontologists wants to dig up William Shakespeare to find out of he used marijuana.

They didn’t just come up with this out of thin air; some recent evidence actually suggests that Shakespeare may have gotten high. Now Francis Thackeray, an anthropologist and director of the Institute for Human Evolution at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, has placed a formal request with the Church of England to unearth the Bard, reports David Edwards at The Raw Story.

The playwright is buried under the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and the planned analysis is of the “nondestructive” variety, according to Thackeray, reports Alec Liu at FoxNews.com.

“We have incredible techniques,” Thackeray said. “We don’t intend to move the remains at all.” The team instead plans to conduct a forensic analysis using state-of-the-art technology to scan the bones.

Marijuana Minister Gets 6.5 To 13 Years In Prison

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 23, 2011 Growing, News

Photo: WHTM

Robert Henry: “My growing and smoking, it harms no one.”

A Pennsylvania man who says he smokes marijuana daily for religious reasons was sentenced to a lengthy prison term on Wednesday after telling the judge that he is being persecuted for his spiritual beliefs.

Robert Henry, 51, formerly of Fannettsburg, was given a sentence of 6.5 to 13 years in prison for growing and selling cannabis, reports Myles Snyder at WHTM.

A jury last month found him guilty of “manufacturing marijuana” with intent to deliver, conspiracy, and possession of “drug paraphernalia.” Henry reportedly wore a T-shirt featuring a marijuana leaf and the words, “I Am Not A Criminal” and “Legalize Marijuana” to his trial on April 14. At Wednesday’s hearing, he had on an orange jail jumpsuit and shackles.

Franklin County Senior Judge John Walker also ordered Henry to pay $50,500 in fines, undergo a drug treatment program and avoid contact with his codefendants in the case, reports Jim Tuttle at Public Opinion.

“I liken what the government is doing to me to the way the Nazis treated the Jews during World War II,” Henry said.

‘New Approach Washington’ Files Initiative To Legalize Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 22, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: Don Skakie

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes: “Ending marijuana prohibition and focusing on rational regulation and taxation will free up law enforcement resources to combat violent and property crimes, and it will restore respect for government and the law”

There’s a new move afoot to legalize cannabis in Washington state. The newly formed political action committee New Approach Washington on Wednesday filed an initiative to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in the state. Sponsoring the measure are prominent civic leaders, along with members of the public health and legal communities.

The initiative would authorize the Washington State Liquor Control Board to regulate the production and distribution of marijuana for sale to adults 21 and older through state-licensed stores. A new marijuana excise tax would be earmarked for prevention, research, education, and health care. State and local retail sales taxes would be directed to the general fund and location budgets.

Unfortunately, the initiative would not allow the cultivation of marijuana by recreational users (medical marijuana patients in Washington are already allowed 15 plants). Cannabis users would be required to buy their supply at state-licensed stores. Another possible sticking point is the codification a THC blood level of of 5 ng/ml as per se driving under the influence; that would criminalize any driving by most medical marijuana patients, although very few daily medicinal users would be impaired at that level.

U.S. Conference of Mayors: War On Drugs Is A Failed Policy

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 22, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: The Weed Blog

United States Conference of Mayors Unanimously Passes Resolution Calling the War On Drugs a Failed Policy Driving Over-Incarceration and Racial Disparities

“The war on drugs — declared 40 years ago this weekend — has been the principal driver of mass incarceration in America,” said U.S. mayors in a resolution adopted on Monday at the United States Conference of Mayors’ annual meeting in Baltimore.

The mayors pointed out that the U.S. has by far the highest incarceration rate in the the world, with 2.4 million of its residents in prison or jail, including about 500,000 Americans behind bars for drug law violations — an increase of 1,200 percent since 1980.

In their resolution, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) officially endorsed pending bipartisan federal legislation, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2011, sponsored by Virginia Senator Jim Webb and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.

Legislation To End U.S. Marijuana Prohibition Coming Thursday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 22, 2011 Legislation, News

Graphic: Drug Policy Alliance

The first bill ever introduced in Congress to end federal marijuana prohibition is coming on Thursday, June 23. Historic, bipartisan legislation which would end the United States’ war on marijuana — and allow states to legalize, tax regulate and control cannabis commerce without federal interference — will be introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).

Co-sponsors of the bill include Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.)

The legislation would limit the federal government’s role in marijuana enforcement to cross-border or interstate smuggling, allowing people to legally grow, use or sell marijuana in states where it is legal.

4:20 Time? Shipment Of Pot-Stuffed Clocks Busted In Illinois

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 22, 2011 News

Photo: NBC Chicago

All four sides of the 36 clocks had marijuana concealed in them — about a half pound on each side, and a pound at top and bottom.

Police have recovered 132 pounds of marijuana hidden in a shipment of wooden clocks in Illinois.

Roberto Carlin, 38, of Cicero, was charged with marijuana possession and possession with intent to deliver, according to Cicero Police spokesman Ray Hanania, reports NBC Chicago.

The bust came down on Monday, when Cicero Gang and Narcotics Officers were notified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that a shipment of three packages containing clocks with cannabis hidden inside had been sent from Kentucky and was addressed to a Cicero address, according to officials.

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