Toke of the Town — Marijuana and Cannibis News

UK: Liberal Democrats Plan To Legalize Cannabis

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 29, 2010 Global, Legislation

Don’t ask me why they do it, but Brits traditionally mix their cannabis with tobacco. Hey: If they legalize before the U.S., maybe we could learn from them.

Dutch-style cannabis cafes would be permitted in the United Kingdom under “secret” Liberal Democrat plans, reports James Slack at the Daily Mail.

A “leaked policy document” reportedly calls for the decriminalization of marijuana. The paper also suggests allowing possession of cannabis, “social supply” to adults and cultivation of the plants for personal use.

The document follows an internal party vote that commits the Liberal Democrats to making it “no longer a crime for the occupier or manager of premises to permit someone to use cannabis on those premises.”

Private Club In Colorado Allows Marijuana Use On-Site

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 29, 2010 News

Graphic: Party Pelican

The voters of ski haven Breckenridge, Colorado legalized up to an ounce of marijuana last November. Now they have their first smoke-easy.

If you’re 21 or older, you can get high at a private club on Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado — but town officials are considering a law to prohibit marijuana consumption at such venues.

For a monthly fee, members of Club 420 in Towne Square Mall can rent or buy vaporizers in an exclusive lounge, reports Robert Allen at Summit Daily News. Marijuana is not sold at the club, which neither permits or prohibits use of the herb.

The club opened on April 20. Owner Collette Wilson said it is not connected with medical marijuana dispensaries. Members must be at least 21 and agree to the club’s rules.

“(Members) also agree not to inquire, seek or try to receive any cannabis from any of my employees,” Wilson said.

Wilson, a former middle and high school math teacher (where was she when I was learning math?), said the club offers a better alternative to “cars with smoke billowing out — to me, that’s inappropriate,” she said.

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Drug Test Cheat

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 29, 2010 News

Photo: CleanWizz.com

A Florida pilot pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Pittsburgh to conspiring to sell a product designed to help people beat federally mandated urinalysis drug tests.

Stephen Sharp, 41, of Port Orange, Fla., sold a powdered drink mix over the Internet that he said was 100 percent effective in helping fellow pilots and other transportation workers such as truck drivers and train engineers beat the drug tests, reports Brian Bowling at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The product was advertised as clearing urine of the metabolites of marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs so that individuals could beat the test, thus meet safety standards adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

New Study: Urine Testing For Marijuana Doesn’t Work

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 29, 2010 Global, News

Graphic: OC Weekly

Workplace urinalysis programs don’t work for identifying employees who are under the influence of drugs, and do not significantly reduce job accident rates, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Addiction.

Scientists at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada reviewed 20 years of literature relating to the effectiveness of workplace drug testing, with a special emphasis on marijuana, which is the most commonly detected drug.

‘I Love Jack Herer’ Tour Kicking Off In The Pacific Northwest

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2010 Culture, News

Graphic: From The Heart Entertainment, LLC

The “I Love Jack Herer” Tour, kicking off April 30 in Seattle, will honor the memory of the much-loved hemp activist and author who died April 15.

“We will gather in his memory, remember his vision and celebrate his legacy with the I Love Jack Herer Tour,” said Janice M. Johnson of From The Heart Entertainment, LLC.

Originally conceived as a way to raise money to help Jack and his family with the huge bills from his medical care, the Tour is now moving forward to raise money for Jack’s family to help with the remaining expenses.

After the Seattle kickoff on April 30, the Tour continues to Olympia, Wash., on May 1, Portland on May 8, and Eugene, Ore., on May 9.

Admission to the show is $10. Non-perishable (canned) food will also be collected at the doors for donation to local food banks. Bringing two or more cans of food will get you $2 off the admission price.

Man Tries To Force Down Marijuana With Double Cheeseburger

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2010 News

Photo: Pasco County Sheriff’s Office

Samuel Collins: Can I get fried with that?

When a Pasco County, Florida sheriff’s deputy walked towards Samuel Collins’ Honda Del Sol about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Collins had a bag of marijuana in his mouth, the deputy reported.

Turns out that was just the appetizer. To help swallow the baggie, Collins, 28, grabbed a double cheeseburger with both hands and started “shoving the burger into his mouth,” according to officers, reports Drew Harwell at the St. Petersburg Times.

The deputy stopped Collins after seeing a McDonald’s bag fly out the window. As he approached the stopped car, he yelled for the occupant to “spit it out,” but the deputy said Collins continued to chew and swallow until he grabbed the suspect by his left arm and pulled him to the ground.

At that point, Collins spit out the baggie and a small, clear wrapper of marijuana. The deputy also found a joint on the passenger seat of Collins’s car, according to the police report.

New Zealand: Police ‘Testing Courts’ In Garden Supply Case

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2010 Growing, News

Graphic: Joe McGarry

Lawyers say New Zealand police are testing the courts in their unprecedented drug bust targeting gardening equipment suppliers, which the cops are claiming “are complicit in cannabis cultivation.”

Police on Tuesday raided indoor gardening stores, including all 16 branches and the headquarters of Switched On Gardener, busting 35 businesses and more than 100 homes throughout New Zealand, reports Michael Dickison at the N.Z. Herald.

Officers claimed the gardening supply businesses were the “cornerstone of the illicit cannabis cultivation industry.”

Auckland barrister Andrew Speed said police would have to prove the gardening shops knew their equipment would be used to grow “illegitimate herbs.”

Los Angeles D.A. Really Hates Pot Legalization Initiative

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: L.A. District Attorney’s Office

Los Angeles County D.A. and California Attorney General candidate Steve Cooley hates pot and opposes legalization. He probably thinks you suck hard, too.

Pot-hating, publicity-loving Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, who has claimed medical marijuana dispensaries are illegal operations, is now targeting the legitimacy of a November ballot initiative to legalize recreational cannabis and allow local governments to tax and regulate it.

In an April 13 letter (PDF) to Attorney General Jerry Brown, Cooley claims the title and summary for the measure is “wrong and highly misleading” and should be disallowed, reports Peter Hecht at The Sacramento Bee.

Cooley, an ambitious hot-dogger of a Republican who’s hoping to replace Brown as attorney general, claims the initiative falsely offers “major tax and other benefits” for state and local governments by regulating marijuana similarly to alcohol.

Uniformed Cop Caught Smoking Pot In Patrol Car

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2010 News

Photo: KDFW

Wesley Lamb was tokin’ it up in his police cruiser when apprehended by fellow officers.

A Fort Worth, Texas police officer has been caught smoking marijuana while wearing his badge and uniform in his patrol car.

According to the Fort Worth Police Department, 24-year-old Wesley Lamb is being charged in connection with the incident, reports KDFW.

Lamb is facing a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, and a felony charge for “tampering with evidence.” Dude apparently tried to get rid of the joint when he realized the gig was up.

A “tip” two days ago led fellow police officers to Lamb, who was spotted getting high in his cop cruiser, according to the department.

Choke On This: Florida Bong Ban Passes

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on April 28, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: Customs and Border Protection

Florida Rep. Darryl Rouson says these are “destructive utensils” that “destroy communities”

A bill passed Wednesday will make it illegal to sell bongs and other glass pipes in Florida.

The “Bong Bill” passed unanimously by both the Senate (36-0) and now by the House (115-0) heads to the desk of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for his signature, reports Brian Hamacher at NBC Miami.

The bill outlaws the sale of the pipes by businesses that don’t make at least 75 percent of their money from tobacco sales, or if they make more than 25 percent of their money from selling the pipes.

Violators could face up to a year in jail.