News

Browsing: News

No Smoking In This California Town — Unless It’s Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 22, 2010 Culture, News

Finally, someplace gets it right when it comes to smoking.

Medical marijuana will not be subject to the smoking ban adopted by the Sebastopol City Council on Tuesday — at least for the time being.

The council unanimously(!) voted to remove medical marijuana from the proposed ordinance and focus only on the use of tobacco after a series of speakers, several of whom said they used cannabis for medical purposes, expressed fears that the ordinance would interfere with their legal use of pot.

Colorado Springs Cops Face Lawsuit Over Seized Pot Money

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 22, 2010 Dispensaries, News

Photo: MusicbizFormation

“$14,000? What $14,000? Oh yeah, THAT $14,000. OK, just say he was money laundering, threaten him with the DEA, and we’ll keep the cash.”

Here’s a scenario which, unfortunately, could become all too familiar in the near future. A pot-phobic local police department, still angry and in denial over the legalization of medical marijuana, steals — I mean, “seizes” — cash from a dispensary owner, accuses him of “money laundering,” and threatens to call in federal agents if the owner squawks.

Sound unlikely? Guess again. And welcome to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

A medical marijuana dispensary owner said he intends to sue the Colorado Springs Police Department over what he said was the illegal seizure of $14,000.

Marijuana Advocates Protest DEA Raids In Michigan & California

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 22, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: NBC 25

Michigan protesters say Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel is targeting medical marijuana patients who speak out

Coordinated and lively protests were carried out Wednesday by medical marijuana patient advocates in both Saginaw, Michigan, and San Diego, California, against the Drug Enforcement Administration for raids it conducted earlier this month.

The raids were made despite an official Justice Department policy issued in October 2009 discouraging such enforcement.

The Michigan Medical Marijuana Association organized the Saginaw protest march, and Americans for Safe Access (ASA) organized a rally at the federal courthouse in San Diego.

Feds Kick Pro-Legalization Cops Out Of Drug Conference

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 22, 2010 Legislation, News

Graphic: LEAP

Either you support the failed Drug War party line, or your opinion isn’t welcome. That seems to be the policy at a U.S. government-sponsored substance treatment conference in Chicago next week. Innovative solutions like legalization aren’t even allowed at the table.

A group of police officers, judges and prosecutors who support legalizing and regulating drugs is crying foul after a federal agency reneged on a contract that gave the law enforcers a booth to share their anti-prohibition views at the Chicago conference.

After accepting registration payment from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at first told the police group that its booth was being cancelled at the National Conference on Women, Addiction and Recovery “because of overbooking and space concerns.”

Prop 19 Would Fix Police Priorities, Make Money, Protect Public

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 22, 2010 Legislation, News

Graphic: Yes On Prop 19

Proposition 19, the California ballot measure to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis, would enable the state to steer police resources toward more pressing matters, generate hundreds of millions in revenue to fund vital services, and protect children, roadways, and workplaces, according to a new nonpartisan report.

The report (PDF) confirms that Prop 19 will enable state and local governments to tax marijuana and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

According to the report, “Proposition 19 allows local governments to authorize, regulate, and tax various commercial marijuana-related activities… We estimate that the state and local governments could eventually collect hundreds of millions of dollars annual in additional revenues.

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), which provides nonpartisan fiscal and policy advice, released the report Tuesday.

Proposition 109 would enable California to sensibly adjust police priorities, according to the report.

NORML Opposes Obama’s Pick Of Bush Holdover To Head DEA

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 21, 2010 News

Following Recent Raids, Medical Marijuana Advocacy Groups Call On President Obama To Withdraw Nomination of Michele Leonhart To Be DEA Administrator

Obama’s DEA Head Must Follow Stated Medical Marijuana Policy, End Obstruction of Marijuana Research, and Base Marijuana Rescheduling On Science Rather Than Ideology

A coalition of organizations supporting medical marijuana patients and providers is calling on President Obama to withdraw his nomination of Bush holdover Michele Leonhart to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Leonhart, currently the DEA’s acting administrator, has not demonstrated that she is capable of leading the agency in a thoughtful manner at a time when 14 states have enacted medical marijuana laws and science is increasingly confirming the therapeutic benefits of the substance, according to NORML.

CA: Redding City Council Rejects Marijuana Tax

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 21, 2010 Dispensaries, News

Photo: The Sacramento Bee

Medical marijuana entrepreneur Stephen Gasparas operates a Redding warehouse where he grows medical marijuana for patients.

Redding won’t be joining a growing group of California cities looking to fix budget deficits by taxing medical marijuana.

A City Council majority on Tuesday evening strongly rejected the idea of taxing the city’s 19 medical cannabis dispensaries, reports Scott Mobley at The Redding Record Searchlight.

“There are people who abuse it (medical marijuana), and people who don’t, and that is the people (this tax) would impact,” said council member Dick Dickerson, who, along with Mary Stegall, strongly opposed the concept of taxing medicinal cannabis.

Tempest In A Teapot After UK Official Calls For Drug Decrim

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 21, 2010 Global, News

Photo: CanIdoit.org

Don’t ask me why they do it, but Brits traditionally mix their cannabis with tobacco. But they’re just like Americans in another way: Most of their politicians are reactionary cowards.

The chairman of the Bar Council for England and Wales, Nicholas Green QC, has said it is “rational” to consider “decriminalizing personal drug use.”

Other politicians, terrified at even the faint appearance of taking a stand or displaying any leadership qualities at all, quickly and predictably attacked Green’s remarks, claiming they “sent out the wrong message on drug use.”

Taking this step would save billions of pounds (drug-related crime costs the British economy £13 billion a year), free up police time, cut crime and improve public health, reports Christopher Hope at the Telegraph.

Presumably, actually being rational about drugs is considered quite a radical position.

WI: Dane County Residents Will Vote On Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 21, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: Gary Storck

Wisconsin patients ask: Is My Medicine Legal Yet?

Dane County, Wisconsin citizens will vote in November on whether they think the state should legalize medical marijuana. The County Board voted unanimously to place the advisory referendum on the ballot, making the county the state’s first to introduce a medical marijuana resolution.

The ballot question will ask: “Should the Wisconsin Legislature enact legislation allowing residents with debilitating medical conditions to acquire and possess marijuana for medical purposes if supported by their physician?”

Sup. John Hendrick of Madison, who introduced the resolution Thursday, said he was surprised at the board’s unanimous approval — but he won’t be surprised if the referendum passes by a 70-30 margin or better, reports Devin Rose at the Wisconsin State Journal.

California Blacks May Be Swing Vote On Prop 19 Pot Legalization

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 20, 2010 Culture, News

Photo: CBS13

Bishop Ron Allen: “I don’t think they understand how many lives are going to be lost. In our community, legalizing drugs — I don’t think they clearly understand the carnage.”

A group of black pastors, priests and other religious leaders has come together in recent weeks to peddle Reefer Madness and fight against Proposition 19, the California ballot measure that would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana.

Bishop Ron Allen of the International Faith Based Coalition and his followers have opened a new, potentially crucial front in the battle over Prop 19, reports Jesse McKinley of The New York Times, pitting those afraid of more widespread use of pot against those who see legalization as a sane exit strategy in the war on cannabis.

At a recent rally on the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento, several pastors allied with Allen used over-the-top language trying to inflame a tiny crowd, describing marijuana as “the most sinister drug,” and asking that “the demonic spirits be cast back into hell.”

Previous 1 … 436 437 438 439 440 … 490 Next