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Rapper Webbie Arrested For Marijuana In Tennessee

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 7, 2011 Culture, News

Rapper Webbie, 25, faces marijuana charges after being stopped in Tennessee.

Down South, they call it the “rap tax.” Rapper “Webbie,” 25, faces marijuana charges after authorities arrested him Monday in Marshall County, Tennessee.

Law enforcement pulled over a car with four people inside which was speeding on Interstate 65, according to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. As the vehicle pulled over, an officer saw a passenger in the front seat throw what looked like marijuana out the window, reports WBIR.

Upon further investigation, cops found Webster Gradney (“Webbie”) in the front seat with a cardboard box containing $13,240 inside, and two ounces of marijuana.

They also found a loaded .357 revolver and $916 when they searched 22-year-old Michael Abbott. The driver, Derric Watson, 34, was driving with a suspended license. Tyrone Terrio, 34, was also in the car.

The four said they were on their way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana after Webbie’s performance in Louisville, Kentucky the day before, according to police.

All four men were taken to the Marshall County Jail. Webbie faces charges of possession “with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver” and tampering with evidence. His bond was set at $21,000.

U.S. Atty. Threatens ‘Quick, Direct Action’ Against Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 6, 2011 Dispensaries, News

Photo: TPM

Obama appointee U.S. Attorney Michael Ormsby threatened both Washington dispensary owners and the landlords who rent to them on Wednesday.

“We are preparing for quick and direct action against the operators of the stores. We intend to use the full extent of our legal remedies to enforce the law.”

~ U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby

A U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington decided to throw his weight around Wednesday, announcing that he’s notified landlords that “marijuana stores” are illegal, and warning them of the penalties they may face.

The strong-arm tactics by U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby, an Obama appointee, seemed designed to intimidate landlords into evicting medical marijuana dispensaries who are tenants. The dispensaries have become increasingly common in Washington state, with one count placing their number above 120 and rapidly rising.

Marijuana continues to be prohibited for any purpose by federal law, and according to Ormsby, dispensaries are “specifically” subject to “enforcement action and stringent federal penalties.”

Michigan Judge Says Medical Marijuana Is Illegal

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 6, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: Townhall.com

Judge Mark Somers claims that Michigan’s medical marijuana law is illegal, since federal law bans the weed.

A suburban Detroit area judge claims that Michigan’s medical marijuana law is illegal, and is trumped by federal drug laws which classify cannabis as a Schedule I substance.

Dearborn District Judge Mark Somers ruled in March in a case involving a man who was caught with pot before he received a medical marijuana card, reports The Associated Press. The patient, Robert Brandon, unsuccessfully tried to have his case dismissed.

Colorado Congressman: Feds Should Butt Out Of Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 6, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: OutFront Colorado

Congressman Jared Polis: “I don’t see a federal role. Just as the policy of prohibition failed nationally with alcohol — it’s now up to states and counties — I think we should do the same with marijuana”

Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis said on Wednesday that the federal government should not be in the business of regulating marijuana use by Americans.

“I don’t see a federal role,” Congressman Polis said in a “Washington Unplugged” interview, reports Brian Montopoli at CBS News. “I don’t think that the federal side should be coming in and second guessing what states are doing.”

Polis represents a state — Colorado — that allows medical marijuana use. There is also a push in the Rocky Mountain State for full legalization.

“Just as the policy of prohibition failed nationally with alcohol — it’s now up to states and counties — I think we should do the same with marijuana,” Polis said.

Colorado’s medical marijuana regulatory structure has been a model for other states, according to Polis, who pointed to the monitoring of production and dispensaries as well as background checks.

Border Patrol Agent Arrested On Marijuana Charges

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 6, 2011 News

Photo: Hemp Beach TV

A U.S. Border Patrol agent in western Arizona was arrested after “bundles” of marijuana were allegedly found in his patrol vehicle, authorities said on Tuesday.

The Border Patrol’s Yuma sector said the agent, whose name wasn’t released, was arrested after two colleagues found he had numerous packages of cannabis stashed inside a marked Border Patrol truck after encountering the suspect while patrolling on Monday, according to Reuters.

Ballsy Robbers Steal Pot-Growing Trailer From Cannabis Cup

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 6, 2011 Growing, News, Products

Photo: William Breathes/Westword

Robbers drove the 28-foot Growbot trailer away in full view of security guards.

A big pot-growing trailer known as the “GrowBot” was stolen from a medical marijuana trade show in Denver over the weekend, and the owner on Tuesday offered a $5,000 reward for its return.

Greg Childre, who builds custom grow trailers for a variety of crops at his manufacturing plant in Georgia, said the trailer was stolen from the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup in Denver late Sunday night, according to Reuters.

In a fucked-up but ballsy move, the 28-foot GrowBot trailer was just driven out of the trade show parking lot — according to Childre, in full view of security guards.

Ex-Cop Pleads Guilty For Robbing Marijuana Dealer

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 5, 2011 News

Photo: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia police officers Christopher Luciano, left, and Sean Alivera, right, were involved in the robbery of an undercover officer posing as a marijuana dealer

One of two former Philadelphia police officers arrested in October in an undercover sting admitted Tuesday to helping drug dealers rob a purported marijuana courier.

Christopher Luciano, 23, pleaded guilty to all counts on which he was charged: robbery, conspiracy, kidnapping, official oppression and possession of a drug with intent to deliver, reports Joseph A. Slobodzian at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Common Pleas Court Judge Lillian H. Ransom set sentencing for June 7. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Diviny said Luciano faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and could be sentenced to as much as 67 years.

Worth Repeating: What Does ‘May Recommend’ Mean?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 4, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: Triple5Light

Welcome to Room 420, where your instructor is Mr. Ron Marczyk and your subjects are wellness, disease prevention, self actualization, and chillin’.

Worth Repeating

By Ron Marczyk, R.N.

Health Education Teacher (Retired)

National Cancer Institute “Unexplains” Possible Cancer Cure To Nation

So, let me get this straight: We, the cancer patients in the U.S., “misinterpreted” the NCI website information on cannabis? It’s our error? We screwed up? We got it totally wrong? It’s our fault due to our poor reading skills?

We misunderstood the term physicians “may recommend” cannabis to their patients. How stupid of us!

Marijuana Legalization Bill Dies In Washington Legislature

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 4, 2011 Legislation, News

Photo: 420List.org

A bill that would have legalized marijuana in Washington state — supported by every state legislator from Seattle, as well as the city’s mayor, city attorney and several City Council members — is officially dead in Olympia, the state capitol.

House Bill 1550 didn’t even advance out of the relevant committees by Friday evening, a key cutoff date for the 2011 Legislature, reports Chris Grygiel at the Seattle P.I.

Sponsored by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-Seattle), the measure would legalize marijuana, have its sale regulated by the state Liquor Control Board, and impose a tax of 15 percent on cannabis.

Vermont Considers Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 4, 2011 Dispensaries, News

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Directory

The Vermont Legislature is expected this week to consider a bill that would legalize medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.

Cannabis has been legal for medicinal purposes in Vermont since 2004, for those with qualifying illnesses, including cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis and who sign up for the state’s registry. The law allows patients to grow their own marijuana, but advocates say many of the seriously ill individuals find that a daunting task, leaving them with the prospect of buying black market pot on the street.

The state’s medical marijuana registry specifies, “The Marijuana Registry is neither a source for marijuana nor can the Registry provide information to patients on how to obtain marijuana,” reports Terri Hallenbeck at the Burlington Free Press.

The answer, according to advocates, is to legalize a small number of medical marijuana dispensaries, nonprofit businesses that would grow cannabis and sell it to patients on the registry.

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