News

Browsing: News

Feds Raid At Least Five Vegas Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 9, 2010 Dispensaries, News

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted raids early Wednesday on at least five medical marijuana dispensaries in Las Vegas, Nevada, and reportedly seized patient and financial records, but made no arrests.

The federal search warrants and supporting affidavits stemming from what she called ‘an ongoing law enforcement operation’ were sealed by federal court order, said Natalie Collins, spokesperson for the local U.S. Attorney’s office, according to the Associated Press.

The dispensaries raided Wednesday by federal agents and local police included Happiness Consultant, Salvation Haven, Nature’s Way, Organic Releaf, & Holistic Solutions.

National Guard Soldier Faces Court-Martial For Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 8, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: Brent Wojahn/The Oregonian

Spc. Richelle Golden got a doctor’s authorization to legally use medical marijuana — and her caregiver was her former Guard commander. But, apparently in a cynical attempt to deny her retirement benefits, she faces a court-martial anyway.

Spc. Richelle Golden of the Oregon Army National Guard suffers from two incredibly painful autoimmune diseases. When she got to Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington state back in February, she arrived in a wheelchair, expecting to stay a few weeks and be medically retired from service. She immediately reported that she legally used cannabis to combat pain and nausea, and produced her Oregon medical marijuana card.

Now it’s five months later, and Golden is still at Joint Base Lewis-McChord facing court-martial, caught between the laws of her home state, which allow medicinal marijuana use with a doctor’s authorization, and the U.S. Army, which forbids it under any circumstances, reports Julie Sullivan at The Oregonian.

Bob Marley’s Daughter Pleads Guilty To Growing Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 8, 2010 Culture, Growing, News

Photo: Makeda Marley’s MySpace

Bob Marley’s daughter Makeda pleaded guilty to growing marijuana in her home. Sentencing is October 10

The youngest child of reggae icon Bob Marley has admitted she grew marijuana in her Philadelphia-area home.

Makeda Jahnesta Marley, 29, pleased guilty Tuesday to having “nearly a dozen” large marijuana plants inside her home in Cain, Pa., about 30 minutes west of Philadelphia, reports the West Chester Daily Local News.

Marley was arrested in 2008 after police claimed they found her removing plants from her basement when officers arrived on a domestic dispute call.

Marley told the court at a February hearing that she had spent all the money from a trust fund she got from her father’s estate when she turned 18.

Makeda was born just three weeks after her legendary father died in 1981. She was the youngest of Bob’s 13 acknowledged children.

Last year, Marley marketed a “Liv Luv” line of clothing, with hoodies and t-shirts marked with the Liv Luv logo.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 10. Thomas Schindler, Marley’s attorney, said he will seek probation.

Daycare Worker Finds Marijuana Stashed In Baby’s Diaper

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 7, 2010 News

Photo: Orlin Wagner/AP

Marijuana was found stashed in a baby’s diaper in Waco, Texas. The father, David Shepherd, was arrested on Saturday.

A young Texas father was arrested after a worker at his daughter’s daycare found marijuana stashed in the girl’s diaper.

The daycare, Waco Child Development Center in Waco, Texas, called police to report the find, reports CBS News Affiliate KWTX.

Police said the father must have hidden the small baggie of marijuana in the diaper and then forgot about it.

When a worker started the change the girl’s diaper, the cannabis was found.

Police arrested 23-year-old David Shepherd on Saturday.

Man Passed Out In Truck Busted For 242 Grams Pot, Xanax

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 7, 2010 News

Photo: WINK

Daniel Dunn was passed out when a deputy arrived, but the officer finally shook him awake. When a drug dog alerted on his pickup, he decided to make a run for it.

A road patrol deputy arrested a Florida man after he fled from his pickup Saturday at 2 a.m. After his capture, deputies found 242 grams of marijuana, Xanax, and “other drug related items” in the truck.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a report of a man slumped over the steering wheel in a pickup in Port Charlotte, Fla., reports WINK News. Upon arrival, the deputy shook the sleeping Daniel Jacob Dunn, 21, 3740 Easy Street (perfect), until he finally woke up. A “strong odor of marijuana” was coming from the pickup, according to the deputy.

A K9 unit was called to search around the vehicle, and the dog alerted for the presence of drugs.

At that point, Dunn, apparently deciding to make a run for it, got out of the truck and fled, causing a foot chase. After making some pretty impressive evasive moves for someone who must have been Xanaxed to the max, Dunn was finally tackled by the officer a couple of blocks away.

Judge: Pot-Slinging Sheriff’s Statements Can Be Used In His Trial

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 6, 2010 News

Photo: Steve Jahnke/The Southern Illinoisan

Gallatin County Sheriff Raymond Martin is transported to the Jackson County Courthouse in Murphysboro, Ill. Martin, already accused of dealing marijuana while on duty, also faces federal charges that he tried to have witnesses killed while he was jailed awaiting trial.

A southern Illinois sheriff accused of selling marijuana on the job has lost in his bid to prevent federal jurors from hearing jailhouse statements he made that led to charges of plotting with his wife and son to have two potential witnesses killed.

Raymond Martin’s quest to have interviews with two investigators last January ruled inadmissible as evidence during his trial was rejected by U.S. District Judge J. Phil Gilbert on Friday.

The sheriff’s trial is scheduled to start Monday, September 6, in Benton, Ill., reports Jim Suhr at STLtoday.com.

Federal agents arrested Martin last year on charges he trafficked marijuana while serving as sheriff of Gallatin County, Ill. He allegedly supplied a pot dealer and threatened to kill the man when he said he wanted out.

At least twice, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration agent’s affidavit, Martin pulled his service revolver to press the point that it would be “that easy” to make the dealer “disappear.”

While Martin was jailed on those marijuana charges, authorities claim he masterminded a scheme between September and December 2009 to have witnesses assaulted and possibly killed. None of the witnesses were actually harmed.

Marijuana Smokers Gather In Mexico, Demand Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 6, 2010 Global, News

Photo: AFP

People pose with a joint during a marijuana legalization rally in Mexico City on Sunday, September 5, 2010.

With much of the nation in the throes of a bloody drug war against violent cartels, more than 200 people gathered Sunday in a Mexico City park to smoke marijuana and demand its legalization.

The activists braved pouring rain to rally on the popular tourist drag of the Alameda to have a smoke-in protesting marijuana’s illegal status in Mexico, reports AFP.

Mexico is among a handful of Latin American countries that allow for possession of small “personal use” amounts of marijuana and other drugs.

The limit for marijuana is five grams, between an eighth and a quarter-ounce. Amounts greater than than can still get you jailed and/or fined.

Army Vet, 80, Busted In Pot Raid; Had Given Names To Plants

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 6, 2010 Growing, News

Photo: Winona Daily News

An 80-year-old Minnesota man is facing felony charges after a marijuana raid, with police claiming he is the leader of a what they called a “large-scale grow operation.”

Welcome to the world of American drug enforcement, where an old man tending a few plants — at least some of which he had apparently given names — passes through the Drug War looking glass and becomes magically transformed into a major grow-op.

Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, police raided a location just south of Winona, Minn., near a family campground on August 24. They say they found an outdoor greenhouse, three firearms, and Army discharge papers dated from 1953 belonging to the man, reported Leif Knutson at My Fox 9.

The elderly suspect, Donald John Everding, had “several” cannabis plants more than eight feet tall as part of an “elaborate” grow operation, police said, reports Matt Christensen at the Winona Daily News. (Hey, you ever notice how, with the cops, grow-ops are seemingly always either “elaborate” and “sophisticated” or “dangerously primitive”?)

Michigan: Marijuana Patient Dies A Week After ‘Gestapo’ Raid

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 3, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: The Oakland Press

Sal Agro looks at what was left of his medical marijuana garden after cops raided his home. Agro, 67, didn’t get to live his final days in peace. Police officers ripped the place apart and seized his plants a week before he died.

Remember Sal Agro!

A Michigan man who spoke out last week about police tactics after an August 25 medical marijuana raid at his home died on Thursday.

Sal Agro, 67, died due to a heart attack, according to family members. He recently had hip surgery, reports Carol Hopkins of The Oakland Press.

After the raids, Agro, a retired GM worker and beloved Lake Orion sports coach, walked through areas of his home to show where police had ripped apart beds and clothing, looking for marijuana.

Several marijuana plants he was growing for medical use were torn out and confiscated by police.

Michigan Judge Allows Medical Marijuana Defendants’ Use

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 3, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: Fox 2

A district judge in Ferndale, Michigan said Thursday he would allow state-approved medical marijuana defendants to keep using cannabis while out on bond — in sharp contrast to a Waterford judge’s statement Tuesday that said pot use by defendants in a parallel case would be a bond violation.

“They have every right to use whatever medications” their physicians authorize, Ferndale District Judge Joseph Longo said.

The contrast in treatment for those arrested in metro Detroit’s first major medical marijuana raids showed just how differently judges can interpret the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, according to Wayne State University law school professor Bob Sedler, reports Bill Laitner of the Detroit Free Press.

Previous 1 … 424 425 426 427 428 … 490 Next